Bronco hardtop is coming apart: Ford launches a wide recall

© A. Krivonosov

Ford has announced a recall of 16,200 Bronco SUVs from the 2021–2022 model years. The issue affects vehicles fitted with the Molded-In-Color hard top: the outer layer of the panel can crack, delaminate and, in the worst case, tear off while driving.

At risk are two-door and four-door Broncos built from 23 September 2020. For the two-door version the risk window runs through 13 January 2022, and for the four-door through 22 October 2021. According to the report reviewed by SPEEDME journalists, the affected fleet includes 15,045 vehicles of the 2021 model year and 1,155 of the 2022 model year.

The cause is not in how the SUVs are driven but in how the roofs were built. Ford notes that the process and equipment parameters at supplier Webasto Roof Systems were not properly dialled in during that period. Environmental exposure could trigger delamination of the panels, followed by detachment of part of the outer shell.

Drivers can spot the warning signs early: progressive delamination on the roof and noticeably louder wind noise at speed. The vehicle itself does not lose control, but a fragment torn off the roof becomes a road hazard for other cars. Ford reports 25 warranty claims, two field reports and two customer complaints in the United States, with no crashes or injuries on file.

Dealers are required to inspect the hardtop and replace it free of charge if necessary. The first notifications to owners will go out on 27 May 2026, and the letters confirming the repair procedure are expected on 5 November 2026. Until a full remedy is in place, Ford has barred dealers from demonstrating or delivering new vehicles caught by the recall.

For a Bronco owner the takeaway is simple: if the roof has started to crack, peel or suddenly grow louder at speed, this is no longer a cosmetic issue. The VIN can be checked under campaign 26S32, and waiting until November with obvious signs of a defect is a bad idea.