2023 Hard Top Improvements?

I have a 23. No leaks or creaks but the sound dampening is unsticking in back.

Mine was built the end of October 2022 and is going in next week to have the rear window seal replaced. It’s definitely not as bad a some I have seen but it does allow water in so they are replacing it! Dealership has been great to work with! Borgman Ford in Grandville MI! Couldn’t ask for better service!!

I shall look at my 23 tomorrow to see if I can see any issues with the finish. I've not looked at it, above what you can see from standing on the ground... Maybe I should do this in a dark area. So I cant see any issues 😬

Mikes2021Bronco

I shall look at my 23 tomorrow to see if I can see any issues with the finish. I've not looked at it, above what you can see from standing on the ground... Maybe I should do this in a dark area. So I cant see any issues 😬

I only saw the water seeping in when I had car headlights behind me! Then looking closer you could see where it had been coming in. No puddles inside.

Stick in the Mud

Curious if anyone has done a comparison on the 23 hard top vs 21-22, if they’ve changed anything in terms of materials, weather sealing, etc. I’d hope they’d be thinking about at least minor improvements given the problems. Are any 23’s cracking? Leaking?

Can’t speak to the 2023s hard tops
But my Wildrak 2022 I’ve had for 8 months no leaks at all. And I take it through automatic car wash almost weekly.
zero issues

“The whole thing seems overblown. It's a doors-off, off-road vehicle built with a lightweight plastic top meant to be thrown in the shed when removed. “

I hear this a lot, but when test driving a Jeep earlier this months I found it to be two orders of magnitude quieter, haven’t heard of any hard top cracking or snakeskin issues (possibly because theirs is textured, I wonder if Ford insisted on smooth), doesn’t have snapping tie rods, and hasn’t had the supply chain issues Ford has. I’m sure Jeep has their own problems (I’m aware of the old “death wobble” complaint, however I believe they’ve fixed it), but noise, leaking, cracking hard tops - none of these should be so easily explained away just because it’s an off road vehicle.

Stick in the Mud

“The whole thing seems overblown. It's a doors-off, off-road vehicle built with a lightweight plastic top meant to be thrown in the shed when removed. “

I hear this a lot, but when test driving a Jeep earlier this months I found it to be two orders of magnitude quieter, haven’t heard of any hard top cracking or snakeskin issues (possibly because theirs is textured, I wonder if Ford insisted on smooth), doesn’t have snapping tie rods, and hasn’t had the supply chain issues Ford has. I’m sure Jeep has their own problems (I’m aware of the old “death wobble” complaint, however I believe they’ve fixed it), but noise, leaking, cracking hard tops - none of these should be so easily explained away just because it’s an off road vehicle.

The MIC top definitely has texture to it. That’s why it is difficult to wrap or paint. And and snapping tie rods probably has to with the fact that the Bronco has IFS as opposed to the solid front axel of the Jeep. Regarding interior noise, I found that the soft top I drove at OffRoadeo was surprisingly quiet and my MIC top isn’t much louder that either of my Mustangs or my wife’s Escape. And the noise really depends on the conditions of the road I am on. No popping from the panels yet or any leaking.but there are simple ways to address those When they come up. I know this though, for whatever shortcomings these vehicles have, they are all around tremendous offroads and a far better on road driving experience. We will see how it goes in six months and a year.

I bought a 2021 (post-recall) hard top from another Bronco owner for cheap because it was leaking. On my 2022, it hasn't leaked at all. 🤣 I think some of the problems people have had may be more related to needing to adjust the front mounting brackets or the latches, both of which are surprisingly easy adjustments.

These hard tops have definitely been hit or miss. To @Sulley's point, some of the issues are tied to the Bronco itself, not the roof (see SB 21-2403 as an example). Mine went into the shop three times for a water leak before the issue was resolved, and after multiple seals had been replaced. The last being the door and window track seals.

One of my issues with the design of these hardtops is the drainage - water just pools up there until the vehicle starts moving. Opportunity to just sit and slowly leak in. My concern now is longevity. Although I understand the design and I do love the hardtop and style, I imagine that in time there will be improved designs that are backwards compatible with current model years, or at least I hope. Swapping the HT for a future improved model is definitely something I would consider.

All that being said, I absolutely love my Bronco, or I would no longer be an owner.

To be fair, almost every off-road vehicle with a removable top has had leak issues - Jeep, Toyota, older Land Rovers have all seen their fair share of leaks. Even Mercedes, for as much as they cost, has seen their share of sunroof leaks. In vehicles with panoramic roofs, like my old F150, just change the word "leak" to "rattle", and it's just as every bit annoying. I don't think I'd want to own a Bronco with a solid, non-removable roof though. It's well worth the hassle.

I'm more worried about the cracking issue people are seeing with Bronco tops. Fortunately, it hasn't happened to me but I park in a heated garage. We usually see sub-zero temps in the winter. I've conditioned the hard top twice so far with something called "Trim Sauce" and had some pretty great results... I'm ignorantly hoping that might help keep the plastics a little softer. If not, it at least looks great when it's clean.

I just got my 2Dr 2023 Badlands last Monday and so far no leaks. It looks just like my 2021 I traded it for. No changes in the hard top. My 2021 did have water build up when I was parked inclined in my drive way and then backed out it would run out onto my door armrest, but that’s an overall design flaw because there is no rain seal over the doors like other cars/trucks.

Stick in the Mud

Curious if anyone has done a comparison on the 23 hard top vs 21-22, if they’ve changed anything in terms of materials, weather sealing, etc. I’d hope they’d be thinking about at least minor improvements given the problems. Are any 23’s cracking? Leaking?

I’ve had my new 2023 Wildtrack 4 door with MIC hardtop for about 2 weeks now and it is leaking from above the back cross bar. Believe it is the seal from the removable midsection of the roof to the back portion. I park on a slight grade in my driveway - not sure if that has anything to do with it. I’ve yet to take this portion of the roof off yet and check the seal as it’s raining too much in Cali to do so - never thought I’d say that!

LUCKILY MY TOP HAS NO LEEKS ITS BEEN RAINING CATS AND DOGS SONAMA CAL NO OTHER PROBLEMS EATHER CAN'T WATE FOR SPRING 😎

b laird

LUCKILY MY TOP HAS NO LEEKS ITS BEEN RAINING CATS AND DOGS SONAMA CAL NO OTHER PROBLEMS EATHER CAN'T WATE FOR SPRING 😎

No leeks?

Tgorostiza

I’ve had my new 2023 Wildtrack 4 door with MIC hardtop for about 2 weeks now and it is leaking from above the back cross bar. Believe it is the seal from the removable midsection of the roof to the back portion. I park on a slight grade in my driveway - not sure if that has anything to do with it. I’ve yet to take this portion of the roof off yet and check the seal as it’s raining too much in Cali to do so - never thought I’d say that!

I hope re-seating the panels helps, and if not, that your dealer gets your seal replaced. keep us posted

Tgorostiza

I’ve had my new 2023 Wildtrack 4 door with MIC hardtop for about 2 weeks now and it is leaking from above the back cross bar. Believe it is the seal from the removable midsection of the roof to the back portion. I park on a slight grade in my driveway - not sure if that has anything to do with it. I’ve yet to take this portion of the roof off yet and check the seal as it’s raining too much in Cali to do so - never thought I’d say that!

I had the same issue. Took it to the dealer and they said it was a seal. Replaced the seal and next rain it’s still leaked. It does have to do with parking on an incline. I noticed that mine would only leak when I parked at home. I have been out during heavy rains and parked in flat level spots and no leaks. My driveway has an uphill slope when in pull in so I tried backing in so the front faces downhill and I haven’t had any leaks since. Hope this helps.

Rudedog1462

I had the same issue. Took it to the dealer and they said it was a seal. Replaced the seal and next rain it’s still leaked. It does have to do with parking on an incline. I noticed that mine would only leak when I parked at home. I have been out during heavy rains and parked in flat level spots and no leaks. My driveway has an uphill slope when in pull in so I tried backing in so the front faces downhill and I haven’t had any leaks since. Hope this helps.

Good to hear that parking downhill works to prevent the rain coming in. I’ll try that next time but need to get into the dealer to check out.

I have a 23 Badlands with both tops. Hard top hasn't leaked (yet) but wind noise issues are still definitely a thing (people have trouble hearing me over Bluetooth when I'm on the highway). I tried re-seating the front panels and that helped a little. I haven't gone thru all the adjustments in the thread on this topic.

22 Badlands 2 door. My hard top has been phenomenal. No leaks, discolorations, honeycombing, popping sounds. Wind noise is barely noticeable under 85mph. Headliner doesnt shed. No big gaps between each hardtop section. I clean it with a pressure washer and haven't seen any water get inside. I also have the Yakima roof rack on the OEM roof rails. The rack doesn't make any wind noise. Can't even tell it's up there. Overall I'm very happy with my hardtop so far.

Reading this tread I also have a leaking 23 badlands too. I had it in and ford replaced the seal and called it good. As someone else mentioned I park on a driveway facing up a bit. Either way I plan to take it back again. Good thing it fits in the garage.