- Thread starter
- #1
I I have 2 Bronco Sports. Both 2021 year models. One is a FE and the other an OBX. FE has 70,000 miles, OBX has 45,000. Both had incorrect fluid levels in one or both of the differentials, and the OBX also had the incorrect fluid level in the transmission. Here is my account of this ordeal. The biggest problems were with my OBX. About two months ago, a slight noise was noticed coming from the rear of the car, especially when turning to the right. I wasn't really sure what it was but it didn't go away and it started to get louder and more noticeable. I decided to take it in and have it looked at and that's when I was told it would need a new rear differential. They said the damage was already done and nothing could be fixed. This vehicle has only ever been on the highway and has been driven very conservatively. I questioned why it had failed and was told it was due to the gear oil being low. The new rear differential took about 3 weeks to arrive and was about $1400. I didn't leave the car at the shop that whole time, I continued to drive it around town in the meanwhile as the damage was already done. When the new differential finally arrived, I told them to check the fluid level on the front differential and also on the transmission. At this time, I also scheduled my FE to go in and have all the same fluids checked on it just to be safe. On the FE, the rear fluid level was fine and the transmission level was fine, but the front diff level was low. I had them top it off and that was that for the FE. Now back to the OBX, while it was in there for the new rear diff and having the other fluids checked, the report came back that the transmission and front diff had the incorrect levels of fluid and both were low. The front diff was topped off, the transmission was apparently low enough that they felt the need to open it up and the report was that there was metal in what fluid it had and that a screen/filter was clogged in the valve body. Now, after this point, I'm not exactly sure what happened or why. I had never had any transmission issues or suspected any issues with the transmission on this car, but I told them to fix what needed fixed and fill it up with the correct level of transmission oil. This was done and then the car wouldn't go into gear. Neither forward or reverse worked. After some back and forth with the shop, it was finally determined that the valve body needed replaced. So more time in the shop and more money out the window. All in all it was around $4000 for all the repairs on the OBX and it's back on the road driving perfectly fine now. We just completed a 1,500 mile trip over Thanksgiving with both vehicles and noticed no problems at all. Happy to be back on the road, but frustrated in the problems and with the experience that I've had. I know there are others that have shared having to have the differentials replaced, I just wanted to chime in and say that yes, this is a problem that I can confirm with both my Bronco Sports. Maybe it'll save someone else some money and a headache down the road. Picture is just showing my Broncos. You may notice the exhaust hanging down on the FE....that's for another post
Sponsored
Last edited:
