Leaking Rear Shocks after 5000 Miles in 2024 BS BL

[Republikan]

Subject says it all. I took my 2024 Badlands to a local shop for an oil change and they flagged both leaky rear shocks and evidence of an oil leak.

The dealer (Sill-Terhar in Broomfield, CO) was very good about getting me an appointment and a valet to pick-up and drop-off the car. They had it overnight, replaced the shocks and did some troubleshooting and came to the conclusion that the "leak" was a spill. Zero cost to me (as it should be).

We shall see about the leak. I think they're probably correct. While I'm happy that the dealer made this a relatively painless process, it absolutely flabbergasts me that such a problem could occur in such a short time. I've driven it few miles not on pavement, and have towed a small (< 1300 lbs) teardrop trailer.

Just putting this out here for anyone experiencing the same.

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[Glamdring70]

Trying to understand what happened.

You took it to a 3rd party for oil.
3rd party claimed that shocks failed.
Ford service determined that 3rd party was wrong and leak was some kind of splash or spill.
Ford still replaced everything and covered the bill with valet service.
Car is driving great.

What problem occurred?

 

[Dude]

This issue has been noted before even by Ford (including specifically for Bronco Sports).. there are posts about just how much leakage has to be observed before the shock needs to be replaced

A dealership should investigate at the 5k mileage oil change point and will replace the shock under warranty (I have forgotten how long an owner has - i recall it being less than the 36 month/36k miles for the factory warranty but don’t quote me on that)

In your case all is well and the dealership replaced the shocks

there is a bulletin to check the rear shocks for leakage - seems that some Bronco Sports like yours do exhibit excessive leakage from the rear shocks not long after leaving the factory thus the need exists to assess the rear shocks

Perhaps not the best quality shocks

 

[Republikan]

Trying to understand what happened.

You took it to a 3rd party for oil.
3rd party claimed that shocks failed.
Ford service determined that 3rd party was wrong and leak was some kind of splash or spill.
Ford still replaced everything and covered the bill with valet service.
Car is driving great.

What problem occurred?

From the original post: "they flagged both leaky rear shocks and evidence of an oil leak."

The shocks were indeed faulty and were replaced. The engine oil leak evidence was deemed to be from a spill, not a leak. I will be keeping an eye on it moving forward.

 

[Republikan]

This issue has been noted before even by Ford (including specifically for Bronco Sports).. there are posts about just how much leakage has to be observed before the shock needs to be replaced

A dealership should investigate at the 5k mileage oil change point and will replace the shock under warranty (I have forgotten how long an owner has - i recall it being less than the 36 month/36k miles for the factory warranty but don’t quote me on that)

In your case all is well and the dealership replaced the shocks

there is a bulletin to check the rear shocks for leakage - seems that some Bronco Sports like yours do exhibit excessive leakage from the rear shocks not long after leaving the factory thus the need exists to assess the rear shocks

Perhaps not the best quality shocks

Thanks for the additional info. When these shocks go (or possibly before then) I will be inclined to replace with aftermarket.

 

[Bigband]

This type of issue is one of the things about modern automotive manufacturing that drives me nuts. I am sure that when the BS was designed the engineers and automotive designers determined the requirement for struts and shocks. Decades ago, the shocks would have been manufactured in house. Quality control would have been done by the manufacturer. If once deployed an issue popped up, they would correct.
Now so much of the components of the vehicle are outsourced. If there is a problem, like these shocks or the water pumps, it can take years to remedy.

 

[Dude]

"perfection is the enemy of good enough"

 

[Glamdring70]

Ah, it read to me like the damper oil was leaking and not two separate things.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

From the original post: "they flagged both leaky rear shocks and evidence of an oil leak."

The shocks were indeed faulty and were replaced. The engine oil leak evidence was deemed to be from a spill, not a leak. I will be keeping an eye on it moving forward.

Did you contact them and ask if they spilled oil when they did the oil change?

 

[Republikan]

Did you contact them and ask if they spilled oil when they did the oil change?

No, this shop doesn't seem like the kind of place to report something they did themselves as a defect, particularly since they knew the car is under warranty and wouldn't be fixing it at their shop. I'm just going to keep an eye on it.

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