Anyone else having stress cracks on their new Bronco hardtops

I noticed stress cracks on the hardtop of my brand-new Bronco. I thought Ford would have fixed this by now, but it looks like the issue is still happening. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this something they’ll replace under warranty?



This is a known issue and is covered under warranty. I had the same problem with my 2022 Bronco, and they replaced the top for me. I really thought they’d have solved it by now.

Finley said:
This is a known issue and is covered under warranty. I had the same problem with my 2022 Bronco, and they replaced the top for me. I really thought they’d have solved it by now.

Nope, they haven’t fixed it. There are still big issues with cracking, delamination, and honeycombing on the MIC hardtops. They were supposed to be lightweight and innovative, but they just don’t hold up.

If you’re thinking of getting a 2025 Bronco, I’d recommend paying extra for the painted hardtop. It might save you a lot of headaches compared to the MIC tops.

@Cameron
Why would the painted top be any better?

Sky said:
@Cameron
Why would the painted top be any better?

The painted top uses a different material, SMC, which is more traditional and durable compared to the MIC construction. When I pre-ordered my 2021, I had to switch to a soft top because of delays with the MIC tops. Looking back, I’m glad I avoided them.

@Marin
Exactly. The painted top is made using a more standard manufacturing process, similar to what Jeep does. The MIC tops were supposed to be groundbreaking, but they’ve been nothing but trouble. If you look at forums, you’ll see that almost every MIC top has issues eventually.

Sky said:
@Cameron
Why would the painted top be any better?

The painted tops are sealed with a base coat and clear coat, so they’re more protected. But keep in mind, the glossy finish can scratch easily if you’re not careful when handling the panels.

@Cameron
When I showed the cracks to the salesperson, they said it would be a warranty issue. I thought they’d fix it before selling the car, but it seemed like almost every Bronco on the lot had the same problem. This one was just the worst I saw.

This is worrying. I’ve had my 2024 Bronco since October, and so far, no cracks. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

I got a 2022 Black Diamond with a soft top because I expected the hardtops to have issues like this. So far, the soft top has been holding up better than I expected. I’d still like to upgrade to a hardtop eventually, though.

When I tried filing a warranty claim, Ford said the damage was caused by chemicals and not covered. We’ve only ever used soap and water to clean it. I’ve tried twice, but Ford just doesn’t seem to care.

Yikes. After reading this, I checked my Bronco, which I picked up in December, and noticed some small cracks. They’re not as bad as yours yet, but I’ll keep an eye on them.

Simple solution—don’t buy those ones.

Should be covered under warranty, but if it’s not, that’s just bad.

Lior said:
Should be covered under warranty, but if it’s not, that’s just bad.

This was on a brand-new Bronco at the dealership. I was just looking for a new car.

Bran said:

Lior said:
Should be covered under warranty, but if it’s not, that’s just bad.

This was on a brand-new Bronco at the dealership. I was just looking for a new car.

It’s a known issue, and they should replace it under warranty. If you’re buying, make sure it’s in writing that they’ll replace the top. Honestly, the dealership should have started the warranty process before selling it. It’s not a good look for Ford to have cracked tops sitting on the lot.

I’ll take it anyway!

My Bronco had similar cracks, and my dealer replaced the back section without any hassle. The replacement seems better, but now the back piece is darker than the front sections, which still show a honeycomb pattern. I’m going to see if they’ll replace those too.

At first glance, it looks like scratches, but they’re definitely cracks.