Thank You Ford

[Maine Bronco]

Well, it’s Christmas 2025 and I can’t begin to tell you what a disappointment my 2022 Ford bronco sport Big Bend is.



I’ve been a die hard Ford customer having owned F1 50s, Mustang, fusion, transit and bronco.



As a road salesman I ran into some of the usual little bumps along the way with this vehicle up until I retired in April 2025.



Today I’m a senior citizen living on a fixed income and apparently the transmission has failed.



Although the vehicle has 130 some odd thousand miles with over 80% being highway miles on it, I don’t think a transmission should go away in three years on a new vehicle.



The dealer quote to fix this is $8200 for a rebuild for 11,000 and change for another one. In either case I just cannot afford it. I have a $17,000 plus balance on my Ford credit loan and 36 months to go.



So I’m faced with a few options. The only ones that are available to me;



Park a useless vehicle and continue making a $537 a month car payment.



Take a credit hit and tell Ford to come pick it up.



Wait for a new class action lawsuit since this vehicle is known for tranny issues.



In any case, while I am still weighing these options. In the meantime if you’re looking at a Bronco Sport I would caution making that choice.

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[rocks]

130K is a lot of miles on a BS. I'm curious if you ever had any maintenance done on the trans. If I were a on road salesman, I would never have gone with a BS. I would have gone with a Toyota or Honda. You are lucky you never had issues with the 1.5L.
You are in a tough position. I wouldn't put $8200 in the BS but your situation may require that. I wish you well.

 

[Ernest T]

130K is a lot of miles on a BS. I'm curious if you ever had any maintenance done on the trans. If I were a on road salesman, I would never have gone with a BS. I would have gone with a Toyota or Honda. You are lucky you never had issues with the 1.5L.
You are in a tough position. I wouldn't put $8200 in the BS but your situation may require that. I wish you well.

Sounds like the $8200 is the cheapest way to extricate the OP from the situation without a hit to the credit report. Even that is a gamble given the other driveline issues that year is known for.

 

[rocks]

Sounds like the $8200 is the cheapest way to extricate the OP from the situation without a hit to the credit report. Even that is a gamble given the other driveline issues that year is known for.

True. With that number of miles, other things may pop up but he is in a very tough position but being retired means less miles per. Like you say, the only option may be the $8200 trans job.
He can also try a buy another vehicle now and let Ford pick up the BS. Credit shot but he would have another vehicle.

 

[Whpony96]

There is a lot of missing maintenance info from the OP. Let's be VERY CLEAR lack of proper maintenance on your part is not Ford's fault.

 

[rocks]

There is a lot of missing maintenance info from the OP. Let's be VERY CLEAR lack of proper maintenance on your part is not Ford's fault.

Many owners read this and fail to perform any transmission maintenance.


AI Overview

For a Ford Bronco Sport, Ford officially recommends changing the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) at
150,000 miles for normal driving,

 

[jkernitzki]

Many owners read this and fail to perform any transmission maintenance.


AI Overview

For a Ford Bronco Sport, Ford officially recommends changing the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) at
150,000 miles for normal driving,

IMO, 130k in 3 years (more than three times the national average) would qualify for a severe duty maintenance schedule. In that case, every 30-60k for trans fluid is more appropriate.

 

[rocks]

IMO, 130k in 3 years (more than three times the national average) would qualify for a severe duty maintenance schedule. In that case, every 30-60k for trans fluid is more appropriate.

Is 80K highway miles severe duty? Maybe, maybe not. I don't follow automanufacturers' recommendations on many things. Oil and trans would be two. I do many sooner.

 

[Whpony96]

One thing that has changed over the last 20 years with Ford. Ford NO LONGER wants your vehicle to last for 10+ years. Ford's "Lifetime" is the day the warranty expires. My 2018 Explorer actually stated in the owners manual that the CVT's fluid was "lifetime" and never needed changed. Well look online at all the Ford's CVT issues. You can bet your bottom dollar I didn't follow that rule and I changed that fluid every 10000mi. (And the whopping 6-8oz of fluid was opaque black at that point too.) I knew Ford was changing it's viewpoint on longevity the day they removed dipsticks from automatic transmissions. DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT follow the owners manual for any listed fluid maintenance.

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