Toronto, Ontario — Ford Motor Co. is recalling 583 models of the 2023 Ford Bronco in Canada and another 7,527 units in the United States (U.S.) for rear quarter windows that could potentially fall out of vehicles equipped with a hardtop.
According to Transport Canada, the safety issue lies in “a glass panel that (could) detach from a moving vehicle (to) create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash.”
Recall information filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) says that the windows in question are made at a supplier in Ohio and then shipped to another supplier that installs them in the hardtop.
Installing the windows involves a two-step primer process, including a clear coat primer that activates the adhesion that holds in the glass.
Reportedly, the company that puts the windows in the hardtop shut down for two months and then restarted production in November 2023 with “multiple new operators.” The company claims that one of these new operators didn’t use the clear coat primer, leading to the glass not being properly fixed in place.
While Ford is recalling and will inspect all hardtops from the facility in question, it estimates that only about 46 percent are actually affected by the lack of clear coat primer.
As per Transport Canada, Ford will be mailing recall notices to owners of all affected vehicles. Dealers will inspect the glass and, if necessary, reinstall the panels for free.
The NHSTA says that drivers with affected vehicles “may observe wind noises, rattle noises or a water leak prior to a potential rear quarter glass panel separation.”
