Bronco 2.7 Engine Issues

[Jeeperjamie]

So far so good I'm glad I cancelled my order for a Bronco.

I originally preferred it because it drove better on the road. I wanted the much greater cargo room in the Gladiator but didn't need it. I did need a cargo area large enough to handle a dog kennel.

I was pretty surprised when I actually got to drive a 4 door and found that.
1) The cargo area was small Very small. (about the size of a Wrangler's. I expected a bit larger).

2) The interior looked and felt cheap. Lots of crappy rubbery materials with horrible feeling switches. Leather options were terrible. In most cases you couldn't get simple black, tan, or grey.

I went and test drove a Mojave and it drove nearly as well as a Bronco on the road and with a topper has all the room I could ever want.

I do miss the power. The 2.7 can get to almost 400 hp and 400 ft-lbs of torque with nothing more than a tune from a vendor who will offer a powertrain warranty.

That's what I liked about the one I drove, the power was awesome. I think it was larger inside than my JKU and I don't mind the cheap interior, we didn't get leather, just built a base model but to my surprise you can get a ton of options including lockers, switches, metal front bumper with bull bar, and metal fenders on 35's with 4.7 gearing for just over $45,000.

Not sure about the Mojave edition but compared to my Max tow, the bronco comfort wise and how it handled has mine beat hands down. With that said, it doesn't matter to me because I still wouldn't part ways with my JT for one or do I prefer one over my JT, but the wife loves it.

Sponsored

 

[dcmdon]

That's what I liked about the one I drove, the power was awesome. I think it was larger inside than my JKU and I don't mind the cheap interior, we didn't get leather, just built a base model but to my surprise you can get a ton of options including lockers, switches, metal front bumper with bull bar, and metal fenders on 35's with 4.7 gearing for just over $45,000.

That's where the Bronco has the Jeep beat in a way that should appeal to the purists.

You can get a base bronco with the turbo 4 which has plenty of torque for off roading and a 6 speed MT with all the off-road toys. Lockers, 35s, 4.56 gears, etc. a/k/a. "BaseSquatch"

And if you want the bigger engine its $1700 + about $2000 for the mandatory AT.

 

[Elff]

I got tired of the Bronco Chit Chow. Been waiting since July 2020. Ordered my Gladiator end of November and it arrived in 41 days.
I ordered from the same dealer I ordered my Bronco from because they were great and it wasn't their fault Ford kept changing the rules

 

[Shopshirt]

That's what I liked about the one I drove, the power was awesome. I think it was larger inside than my JKU and I don't mind the cheap interior, we didn't get leather, just built a base model but to my surprise you can get a ton of options including lockers, switches, metal front bumper with bull bar, and metal fenders on 35's with 4.7 gearing for just over $45,000.

Not sure about the Mojave edition but compared to my Max tow, the bronco comfort wise and how it handled has mine beat hands down. With that said, it doesn't matter to me because I still wouldn't part ways with my JT for one or do I prefer one over my JT, but the wife loves it.

I drove a sport without Max Tow and I have to say Other than the obligatory jeep play in the steering wheel, it didn't feel that much rougher on the road. I'm curious to see how much the Max Tow package makes a difference.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I drove a sport without Max Tow and I have to say Other than the obligatory jeep play in the steering wheel, it didn't feel that much rougher on the road. I'm curious to see how much the Max Tow package makes a difference.

In all honesty the broncos and the wranglers probably should be more compared to each other than a gladiator. If I was in the market for a bronco it would probably come down to whether I wanted a Jeep Wrangler or Ford bronco I don't know why we compare it to a gladiator. I wouldn't expect a gladiator to drive better than a bronco I would expect a gladiator to drive like a truck because that's what it is a Jeep truck. As far as it driving like a Wrangler it's pretty close to how mine felt on 35's when I just had a spacer lift in it.

 

[dcmdon]

In all honesty the broncos and the wranglers probably should be more compared to each other than a gladiator. If I was in the market for a bronco it would probably come down to whether I wanted a Jeep Wrangler or Ford bronco I don't know why we compare it to a gladiator. I wouldn't expect a gladiator to drive better than a bronco I would expect a gladiator to drive like a truck because that's what it is a Jeep truck. As far as it driving like a Wrangler it's pretty close to how mine felt on 35's when I just had a spacer lift in it.

That's logical but not really true. Many of us Gladiator owners like the bed but don't need it.

For me it was Gladiator vs Bronco. Simply because the Bronco is for most people a better Wrangler than the Wrangler. And the pickup body is a want for me, not a need.

I NEEDED to be able to carry a dog kennel. If the Bronco did that, it would have met my needs better than the gladiator. The gladiator has more room, but the kennel isn't heated or air conditioned Wien its in the back of a gladiator with a topper.

Funny thing is that the kennel fits in my wife's Volvo wagon. Ha.

 

[NachoRuby]

The local Ford dealership has 4 Broncos, including one with the 7 speed manual. If I were in the market for a vehicle, and the sticker price was the real price, I'd go pick that one up. But we just bought a new (used) JKU, and I haven't even had the Gladiator for a whole year yet.

So two big ifs 1) if that 7MT bronco was priced at the real MSRP of $37500 and 2)If I weren't enamored with my gladiator, I'd seriously consider it. But the gladiator hasn't made me mad yet.

 

[MPMB]

My wife still wants a Bronco. I would if it wasn't Ford. There's too much idiocy in that org, thinking they're they greatest with the success of the F150.

Why I really, really don't want to buy a Ford ever:
1. Rusting aluminum panels. How TF does aluminum rust, Ford? Because your air quality is s**t in the paint booths. And then ignore and deny the problem.
2. Sh*tty CVTs. The uncontrollable and unpredictable shuddering in the CVTs for the Focus and Fiesta was horrible. My s-i-l has a Focus, a buddy a Fiesta. Both with the problem. Ford ignored and denied the problem, until they couldn't.
3. 5.4L spark plugs that would blow out of the head. Took them 3-4 years to address it. After the "fix," spark plugs in the 5.4L would tend to break when you removed them.

Those are issues only because they were on my radar; I have no idea what other issues there are across the model lineup.

And with the Bronco issues - lengthy delay and crappy hardtop quality... no thanks.

///

As far as the engine problem goes, mass-produced, yet small # of incidents likely point to a supplier issue. And it's not uncommon. You see it in NASCAR. I remember years ago Hendrick Motorsports started to have engine failures among all the teams running HMS engines. Turns out they had a bad batch of valve springs. I think it was 8 teams, 4-5 engine failures in one race.

If it can happen in a competitive environment like NASCAR, it will definitely happen in a "low-bid wins" mfg environment.

 

[NotSo Bright White]

I for one am happy that Ford took so long. I ordered day one and waited, and waited, and waited. But then Jeep introduced the diesel and that was the end of my Bronco lust.
On a positive note, Ford keeps sending me sorry we can’t build a Bronco swag even though I got my deposit back months ago!

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

My wife still wants a Bronco. I would if it wasn't Ford. There's too much idiocy in that org, thinking they're they greatest with the success of the F150.

Why I really, really don't want to buy a Ford ever:
1. Rusting aluminum panels. How TF does aluminum rust, Ford? Because your air quality is s**t in the paint booths. And then ignore and deny the problem.
2. Sh*tty CVTs. The uncontrollable and unpredictable shuddering in the CVTs for the Focus and Fiesta was horrible. My s-i-l has a Focus, a buddy a Fiesta. Both with the problem. Ford ignored and denied the problem, until they couldn't.
3. 5.4L spark plugs that would blow out of the head. Took them 3-4 years to address it. After the "fix," spark plugs in the 5.4L would tend to break when you removed them.

Those are issues only because they were on my radar; I have no idea what other issues there are across the model lineup.

And with the Bronco issues - lengthy delay and crappy hardtop quality... no thanks.

///

As far as the engine problem goes, mass-produced, yet small # of incidents likely point to a supplier issue. And it's not uncommon. You see it in NASCAR. I remember years ago Hendrick Motorsports started to have engine failures among all the teams running HMS engines. Turns out they had a bad batch of valve springs. I think it was 8 teams, 4-5 engine failures in one race.

If it can happen in a competitive environment like NASCAR, it will definitely happen in a "low-bid wins" mfg environment.

Ford is why there are aluminum body parts today. Not a bad thing.

I have no knowledge on their CVTs, but they make a nice 10 speed that the GM trucks borrow.

There are pluses and minuses with all the auto makers.

 

[BowlofSoup]

First and foremost I am not looking to bash the Bronco and I realize this is a gladiator forum. I was just curious if anyone has been following what’s happening with their 2.7 engine? Seems some are failing after a few thousand miles. For those concerned about their gladiators, it looks like the grass isn’t necessarily always greener.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2021-ford-bronco-2-7-liter-engine-valve-troubles/

That sucks for the owners. I love the Ford turbo engines. My wife has one in her escape. I haven't experienced the 2.7 but I bet it's got some pep.

 

[MPMB]

Ford is why there are aluminum body parts today. Not a bad thing.

I don't have a problem with aluminum parts. It's the rusting of aluminum that's the problem.

 

[STLMike]

3. 5.4L spark plugs that would blow out of the head. Took them 3-4 years to address it. After the "fix," spark plugs in the 5.4L would tend to break when you removed them.

Not just the 5.4's. The 4.6's have that issue as well. I have a 2000 F150 that has blown plugs out of the head.
However, aside from the rusting in usual spots I can't part with it because it was my dads and I use it to haul wood for my wife's business. It's also my DD now that I sold my 2020 JT and awaiting my 22.

 

[JeepTaco]

Not just the 5.4's. The 4.6's have that issue as well. I have a 2000 F150 that has blown plugs out of the head.
However, aside from the rusting in usual spots I can't part with it because it was my dads and I use it to haul wood for my wife's business. It's also my DD now that I sold my 2020 JT and awaiting my 22.

Yep, the 3v 4.6 was also impacted from 05-08 and a half mustang gt's.

The spark plugs would break in the head due to a 2 piece ceramic design. If I recall correctly, adding penetrating fluid to the plugs, no more than 25 ft lbs in reverse torque, working back in forth to loosen them up and hope that one break. I still remember doing the plugs on my prior mustang and the screeching as they were coming out was nerve wracking.

 

[Challenger85]

I don't have a problem with aluminum parts. It's the rusting of aluminum that's the problem.

Are you talking about rusting or oxidation? Because aluminum definitely oxidizes, that’s why it needs a special “de-ox” when it’s installed for electrical feeders.

Sponsored