What Does the Priority Code Mean on My Bronco Order?

image: Ford

Whether you just got your first Bronco order in or you’ve been waiting a long time, one of the most popular questions in minds –– and typed on the forums –– is “How do I get my order the fastest?”

Outside of removing constrained parts from your build, there’s little you can do: Ford pulls orders based on dealer allocation, timestamp, priority code, and commodities. You’ve already picked your dealer and can’t change when you placed your order. That leaves the priority code as the only other area that can be altered. 

Let's take a look at how priority codes play into the process. 

Ford Priority Codes

Priority codes are 1-2 digits assigned to orders. These codes help dealers indicate to Ford which orders the motor company should look at first when scheduling for production.

What Are the Available Priority Codes at Ford?

When you place an order, it is assigned a priority code. Ford has a range of codes:

• 1-9: Ford assigns
• 10-19: Customer orders
• 20-80: Dealer stock
• 99: “Do Not Build”

Priority codes 10-19 and 99 are the ones available for dealers to give customers’ Bronco orders.

However, you may look at your order sheet and see a 20-80. Dealers may be ordering a stock vehicle but promising it to you, like in the case of specialty trims Bronco Raptor or Heritage Limited that can’t be ordered retail, or simply for the standard models of Big Bend through Wildtrak that they had allocation for and are holding as yours.

If you happen to look at your order and you have a 1-9, in most cases, you’re either in great shape (priority code 2 can show up when an order is being scheduled, for instance), or something unfortunate has happened to where Ford gives an order a special code to get it built ASAP.

For sure, the one code you don’t want if you’re trying to get your order quickly is 99. A Bronco order will never be built with a 99, and it could even force your order to be canceled, as happened recently.

I See My Code, and It’s Not 10

You can find out what priority code has been assigned to your order by looking on your order summary sheet, asking your dealer, or contacting Ford customer service.

If you look at your code and it’s 11-19, you might feel bummed, knowing 10s get looked at first. However, here’s a caveat on why it may not even matter for you. Since Bronco launched, Ford has said that 10-19 are equal weight ... among all dealers. A 19 at your dealer is not being compared to a 15 at the neighboring dealership by priority code alone. A difference in priority code only matters within the same dealer, when Ford is previewing similar builds. 

And even so, a higher code may be pulled for production before a lower, going back to commodity constraints and if it's a build Ford can produce.

So why might've your dealer given you a higher number? During this period of new orders coming in while unscheduled orders from 21-22MY customers are still in the banks, many dealers are assigning lower codes to the old orders and higher codes to the new orders. This will tell Ford they want to take care of those older orders first as much as possible. However, some dealers are placing all customers at, say, 19, no matter what. They might not have leftover orders, or they might not be trying to take that strategy within their own orders.

So, while priority codes are a very small part of the process in getting a VIN, they are one of the only areas that can be tweaked by dealers. However, before you get concerned and try to get a different number, ask your dealer how they are assigning codes so you can better understand when you might be pulled for production within their other Bronco orders.

Remember, priority codes only matter within your dealership. And even if you have a 10, it is not a guarantee of anything –– that you will be built as a 23MY or even built faster than someone else at your dealership. Being concerned with priority codes (outside of a 99) is likely not worth your energy.

For the best chance at getting your Bronco this year, stay in contact with your dealer. Removing current constraints will help you much more in the process. Your dealer might see your order has been passed over several months in a row and know it’s because of a part or package you can remove. If you’re willing to take it off your order, you may be pulled for production at the next previewing.

And if you want your Bronco how you want your Bronco, that’s totally understandable. Still, keep up your relationship with your salesperson and dealership. Helpful dealers will keep you updated where you stand in line with their orders and informed of what they know.

For more on this topic, head to the Bronco Nation forums!