Ford to Recall Broncos With Dampers That Could Break

While CEO Jim Farley recently announced Ford’s plans for a potential Raptor-style supercar based on its Dakar Rally racer, the company now has to address an issue on its formidable off-road SUV, the Bronco. Nearly 150,000 units in the U.S. and another 9,000 or so in Canada will be recalled, covering the 2021-2024 model years.

Affected Broncos were manufactured between September 23, 2020 and July 23, 2024, all of them equipped with Bilstein dampers. That means the recall only impacts Badlands models and others equipped with the Sasquatch package.

In some cases, the mounting flange between the external reservoirs and the rear shock absorbers may corrode and fail. If this happens, the external reservoir(s) could break and detach from the vehicle, compromising not only the Bronco’s ride and handling but also the safety of other road users driving behind.  

Possible trouble signs include a bouncy or noisy ride and fluid leaking from near the rear wheels.

Photo: Marc Lachapelle

According to Ford, approximately 30 percent of the recall population could have the defect, which is not insignificant. Owners will be notified by mail later this winter. However, the corrective actions are still under development at the moment.

In all likelihood, dealers will have to replace the mounting flange between the external reservoirs and the rear shocks if any trace of corrosion is found during the inspection. A rustproofing solution or modified component could alternatively be applied.

The Bronco’s next recall will be the twentieth since the new generation was launched in the summer of 2020. Last fall, the 2024 Bronco and Ranger were recalled because the nuts for the ball joints that connect the front upper control arms to the steering knuckles may not have been properly tightened and could separate. The good news is that only 219 units are affected in Canada.

Watch: 2021 Ford Bronco Wildtrak Review

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