Hey! Who Turned Out the Bronco's Gear Shifter Lights?

Ford. Ford did. Except technically, the motor company didn’t turn them off. It simply never turned them on. We’re talking about the gear selection letters on 2021-2026 Bronco trims.

Contrary to the tricks our minds play or what we’re expecting, these markers were never lit. Read on for more information, plus tips to navigate this design choice.

Should the Gear Shifter Have Lights? A Common Question about the Bronco

This frequently asked question comes up often in Facebook groups and forums, usually in a few variants:

• “Is my gear selector supposed to have lights?”
• “I swear the PRNDM had lights, but now mine aren’t working.”
• “The PRNDM letters look like they are supposed to glow. Are they?
• “If the gear selector doesn’t have lights, how can I know what gear I’m in?”

While some of us may be used to driving a vehicle with a dial, buttons, or a shifter that shows off your selection with a small light, the Bronco has never had backlit letters. This question mainly comes from owners of the automatic 10-speed transmission, but in case manual drivers wonder if their Bronco’s shift knob should have lights behind the gear pattern, the answer is no, it also does not.

So, whether you just picked up your vehicle or you’ve had it for some time and just noticed, don’t worry, nothing’s wrong!

Where to See the Bronco Gear Selections Instead

Rather than light the PRNDM indicators on the center console, Ford illuminated the letters on the instrument panel right behind the steering wheel.

For some, only having lights on the dash may feel like Ford is being cheap. However, much of the Bronco is aimed at heads-up driving, from the rubberized knobs and overhead auxiliary switches to the hero buttons front and center –– all meant to be easy to find and manipulate while you’re off-road, off-camber, and out in the elements. Additionally, many off-roaders who prefer an old-school experience feel that the fewer electronics installed in a vehicle meant to get wet, muddy, gritty, and dirty, the better.

So, while the gear selection setup may take some getting used to, rest assured that you don’t need to call up your dealership’s service center once you notice the letters are unlit.

Tips to Help You Forget How Other Vehicles Work

If you are having trouble seeing the lights on the dash, don’t forget that both your steering wheel and your seat can be lowered and raised.

At Bronco Off-Roadeo, guides will teach you how to set up your driver’s seat for optimal positioning –– with your head and shoulders comfortably against the seat, arms able to extend with wrists bent over the wheel, and the seat forward so you can heel-toe the pedals and raised to give you the best visibility over the hood. Give it a try! You may be surprised how much more you can see, and how much better you can control the vehicle, by sliding your seat forward and raising the cushion.

If you want more Bronco and trail basics, check out our Bronco Nation playlist that covers everything from vehicle equipment to driving techniques.

My favorite way to turn selecting your transmission mode into second nature? By getting out there and using my Bronco as much as I can. You’ll be putting yours into gear by feel without even looking at the dash or the center console, day or night.

Happy driving!

Sound Off

Did this throw you off when you got your Bronco? Do you think the vehicle should have lights in the center console as well as the gear selection displayed on the dash? Talk about it below.