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Ford Authority

Ford Bronco, Ranger Plant Manager No Longer With Company

By now, it’s no secret that the sixth-generation Ford Bronco has faced many production-related challenges since its launch. Those include supplier-driven hardtop woes that continue to plague the SUV, as well as a handful of Ford 2.7L V6 EcoBoost engine failures that are currently being investigated by the NHTSA. Ford has ditched certain features in an effort to speed up deliveries, but the 2022 Bronco and Ford Bronco Raptor both sold out rather quickly, and demand still far exceeds supply. Now, the Detroit Free Press is reporting that Michigan Assembly plant manager Erik Williams – who oversaw production of the Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger, is no longer with the company as of last Thursday.

It’s currently unclear what led to Williams leaving his position, as both he and FoMoCo have yet to comment on the situation. “We do not comment on individual personnel matters. However, we can confirm he is no longer with the company,” Ford spokesman Said Deep told the Free Press. Ford also hasn’t yet named a replacement for Williams, who has been employed by Ford since 2004.

Ford’s Bronco-related engine and hardtop woes have only complicated the SUV’s launch amid numerous supply chain shortages and extreme demand over the past couple of years. From the day that Ford started taking reservations for the new Bronco, it was overwhelmed as its website crashed, and demand for the SUV quickly exceeded its production capacity. Today, roughly two years later, Ford is still trying to catch up on its existing Bronco orders.

At the same time, CEO Jim Farley has recently placed a major focus on quality, even going so far as to hire quality turnaround specialist and former J.D. Power Vice President Josh Halliburton as its new executive director of quality, who recently stated that the automaker’s quality issues will begin to subside as early as next year.

We’ll have more on the Bronco soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Bronco news and continuous Ford news coverage.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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Comments

  1. Jj

    Fords are junk . Don’t buy anything from them .

    Reply
    1. JOHN

      You are a PURE idiot! If ANYTHING is junk, it is Dodge/Ram, Honda, Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai

      Reply
      1. Stahlilama

        Are you high? Kia and Hyundai? They’re top of JDP list.

        Reply
        1. Car junkie

          JDP list is junk because all of its data is flawed. If you buy a new vehicle, you have less than 30 days after you purchase it to submit the survey. How is that accurate?

          Reply
    2. Xranger19

      So don’t buy one crybaby.

      Reply
    3. Big Gene

      Never had any issues with our Fords. Now my chevy friends have nothing but issues especially with the Z71 trucks.

      Reply
    4. Chevette

      Yout right get a chevy and you will be happy

      Reply
  2. Rp

    All complex products that are mass produced and sold for less than it would cost to hand build… are junk. Any company over 125 years old and still winning awards have seen their share of good times and bad times. All vehicles are disposable; do your homework before you spend a year’s salary or more on a brand new vehicle built by any company or better yet, build it yourself if you can find the parts.

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      Give me some of your informed nonsense Robby. I’m all ears.

      Reply
    2. J Willis

      There is a lot of the “good enough, I can’t see it from my house” attitude these days.

      Reply
  3. Rj

    Stop overloading jobs, cutting out inspectors and bring back parts in house.
    You get what you pay for.

    Reply
  4. Brett Boyd

    I put made my reservation in March of 2020 for my Bronco WildTrack. I still do not have it. The most annoying thing is that there is no communication from Ford or my local dealership.

    Reply
    1. JOHN

      My Wildtrack took about 15 months to get… You NEED to get ahold of the dealer you placed your order with, eliminate a few options, and have them escalate it and you will be driving one sooner than later.

      Reply
      1. Dan Alstott

        Not true at all. We order our Wild Track in March 2020 also. Then this past Feb. 2022 dropped it clear down to the base model and still nothing.

        Reply
        1. Jim

          Really

          Reply
    2. Mark T

      They have been taking long, but that doesn’t sound right. Either your order was lost, or the back-up is horrible. 🤞

      Reply
    3. Jim

      Where do you live. Does that make a difference.

      Reply
  5. John

    I think it’s bad business for a company , not to keep people informed of what is going on with there vehicles order. Ford just keeps on putting out vehicles and they don’t have everything for them to deliver a product to the consumer. That’s just bad business!

    Reply
  6. Larry

    If Ford were the only car company with problems!
    But all Companies GM and Chrysler plus the car companies overseas have problems. They don’t escape recalls are supplies demands. If man makes it is not perfect.

    Reply
    1. James

      Ford is having a lot more problems than the others. Ford’s new CEO has been driving the company into the ground ever since he took over, he only cares about what the Government wants (EVs).

      Reply
      1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

        Verifiably moronic.

        Reply
  7. Shailo

    This is the CEO’s fault. Jim Farley has been putting all focus on EVs instead of practicality and quality. The CEO has even been diverting chips to their EVs (which few people want) instead of giving them to their regular vehicles. Typical fashion they fire someone else but not the person responsible.

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      Yes, be like Wally. Do better.

      Reply
    2. Car junkie

      Jim Farley is only picking up the pieces left by his predecessor (Jim Hackett). Hackett was very profit driven. The real enemy of Ford is the Ford family (majority stockholders of a very diluted valued stock). They pick the CEOs of the company. Most future company operational decisions must be ramrodded through them before approval for production. Product Quality Control has been lacking since Alan Mulally retired.

      Reply
  8. Jackie

    What’s up with delivery/ shipping issues. New ranger, Ford says was built 4/18/22 and still waiting for delivery? Crazy.

    Reply
  9. Tyler

    They get rid of the production people and all they do is put the car together. What about the engineers who come up with thr crappy design? The car doesn’t go together correctly because 1+1 doesn’t equal 3…

    Reply
  10. Gary E

    They had to scapegoat someone for the ongoing build quality and launch issues at MAP. Instead of admitting they got rid of all STA employees who knew something about supplier requirements and replaced them with new inexperienced engineers from other departments and or cheaper college grads with zero experience in supplier requirements. This is just a repeated issue from the Explorer launch fiasco.

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      Show your details that he’s wrong Einstein.
      All talk!

      Reply
  11. ELH

    Ford and its F-150 ICE still rule the roost. My son just laid $35,000 on a new F-150 4-door with a bundle of useful options. He has been a pickup owner since 1965 and he says the new F-150 is the finest truck he has ever driven. Even with the smallest available engine, he says it tows his 20′ pontoon boat like it wasn’t even there.

    Reply
    1. Ed T

      Your SON has been buying trucks since ’65??? Congrats on this internet thing.

      Reply
    2. Doug

      Is that with trade in? $35k doesn’t buy a supercrew in these times… They start at $39k.

      Reply
  12. Bruce Holberg

    NHTSA Recalls to date
    Ford. 45. 20% of all recalls
    Chrysler. 17. 8%
    GM. 17. 8%
    All you need to know

    Reply
    1. Bent1

      Look at long term resale values, other two pale in comparison.

      Reply
  13. Best Bronco

    Ordered one in July 2020. Delivered January 2022, loaded with Lux package, leather, advanced 4wd. Six months and 12,000 miles later; awesome technology. The happiest trouble free most advanced vehicle ever. Zero dealer visits and a lot of smiles, compliments and awe from passengers, wife, strangers and me, the owner. C’mon Ford is crazy talk.

    Reply
  14. Jim Elsasser

    Ive had a 2 door big bend on order for going on 9 months. No word as to why the hold up. Ford is really sucking out the excitement of getting a new vehicle. Ford will pay the price in the long run.

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      They’re doing it out of incompetence but I’m sure Mr. Authority will defend anything.

      Reply
  15. JD

    I love my 2017 FORD F150 FX4 XLT 4X4 with 5.0L coyote engine with the 6 speed automatic. I have almost 70,000 miles on it, and it has been flawless.

    Reply
  16. Bent1

    What do Ford employees have to say about the firing & quality concerns at Ford?

    Reply
  17. Steve K

    I’ve had my 4-door Bronco 2021 Big Bend w/2.3L engine since October of 2021, and have had zero problems with it. It’s an incredible amount of fun, and I am very happy with it.

    Reply
  18. Joseph Rosamilia

    I bet Henry Ford really proud of the way his company is being run

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      Yawn

      Reply
  19. Ray H

    Shallo comented that EV’s were vehicles “that few people want”. What rock have you been living under? EV’s and PHEV’s are in extremely high demand in many of the biggest domestic markets. With Gas $5-$7 a gallon and depending where one lives, EV’s and PHEV’s don’t stay on the lot more than an hour or two. Wake up folks; ICE vehicles are fading fast!
    As for communication, I waited for 18 Mos. for my ’22 Bad-Squatch, but Ford AND my Dealer let me know the schedule every step of the way! Even got a pic of it coming off the assembly line!
    You need to register your email with Ford AND find a better dealer!

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      Maybe you should work in customer relations instead of making stupid comments Robert. Walter.

      Reply
    2. Ron H

      Thanks for sharing the communication and delivery. I reserved my two door 7 speed manual on 8/14/21 , actual order date through dealer was 12/1/2021, received multiple communications from Ford for status, build date was 4/18/21 shipped to dealer on 5/11/2022. This is a sweet little Bronco that has already proven to be capable off road, no issues. Did the hard top Black Diamond with a hitch. Not sure what glitches occur for others but this was my reality. Clearly the dealer plays an important role, and likely its a vehicle selection combination that impacts the delivery. But for me , Just a Happy Bronco owner

      Reply
  20. Dave Mathers

    When a sports team is losing the coach is the first one to get the axe. That’s what happened here.

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      I wish you would get the axe for these terrible responses.
      Just stop already.
      You’re embarrassing yourself.

      Reply
  21. Xranger19

    Bad time to buy any new vehicle truck or car any make their all having issues not just Ford the others just hide it.

    Reply
  22. Tony S

    We knew we had a wait for up to two years for our bronco big bend, but canceled the order last Monday, after waiting 8 months. Two reasons… so many sitting out in the elements, waiting for chips, and so many for resale on Carvana…that gave us pause, felt like that those were red flags.

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      Now you’re giving mechanical advice.
      I wish i was as knowledgeable as you.

      Reply
  23. Ed T

    The new Broncos are chick cars…anytime I see a dude driving one I know he pees sitting down…and speaking of sitting down, unions have killed America…slow, lazy and wayyyy overpaid. And THAT, is why we are getting raped on the lot paying over 40g’s for a basic work truck…regular cab…half a car that last half as long as our foreign counterparts.

    Reply
    1. Ur greasy grimy grammy

      Robert pees sitting down while watching CNN.

      Reply
  24. Jeremy Hedlind

    LOL…..It’s only worth reading these comments so I can laugh.

    Reply
  25. Doug

    I have had a couple of chances on Broncos that looked great straight off the lot, but I just couldn’t go down the 17 MPG path.

    Reply
  26. Ur greasy grimy grammy

    You don’t know why?
    I thought you knew everything!

    Reply
  27. Ur greasy grimy grammy

    Genius

    Reply
  28. Robert

    You couldn’t give me a Kia or Hyundai. They need multiple engines during their lifetime. I’ll stick with my 07 4×4 4.0 litre Ranger with 275, 000 miles on it !

    Reply
  29. Mileyj

    Ok, bear with me as I’m (as most men would say “ just a woman”) a female with only a high school education, but I also have worked in the automotive industry (2 being Ford dealerships as a service consultant- silver medallion winner 7th out of 288) so I somewhat know how the BS goes!
    I’m one of those people that ordered a 2022 Bronco hardtop (basic model) in February & still haven’t received a build date or ANY communication! If the problem is with the hard top production company, I’m sure there is a contract and I’m sure the “fat cats” at Ford had to put in that contract that if “said company “ could fulfill the orders that contract would be (should be) null & void! Come on Ford, get your heads out of your ass & think of the consumer who works their ass off to buy one of your overpriced vehicles $ help support your “fat cat” lifestyle!

    Reply
  30. Mileyj

    Sad observation this morning going to work….it’s pretty damn sad when a massive house can be be built completely (after starting several months after I ordered my Bronco) & will undoubtedly spend Christmas init before I even get any communication!
    SO VERY SAD!!!!!!

    Reply
  31. Mileyj

    I guess from your previous comments you know everything (or at least think you do), I don’t profess to. I’m merely stating my frustrations just like everyone else, besides have you built a MASSIVE house & purchased the materials? Not as simple as even you might think. Relax dude, not everyone is a smart @ss AND did I ever ask for your (or anyone else’s) opinion on my statement…No. Relax , have a cocktail & let people vent without chiming in sarcastically.

    Reply
  32. John T.

    I just wish ford would communicate to the customer better about there status of there ordered vehicles. I ordered a 2022 bronco it’s been 7 months no word from them on the status, I have been incontact with my deal several time and they haven’t heard anything either. I’m a patient person ,but it sure would be nice to here something.

    Reply
  33. mikepapa

    Ford Family and incentives for Bronco is is deceptive at best. Only Bronco Sport! Ford excludes Bronco for veterans and First Responders. I know as a 47 police both Army military police and a Virginia police sergeant!! Combat decorated Vietnam 1969 and disabled service connected. DAV is displayed on Ford Incentive! If you are counting on Incentive OK reply good luck. After calls to Ford Marketing the best they could do is we are sorry. YOU GOT THAT RIGHT! But they were very helpful advising me to contact Virginia Consumer Protection as Ford Dealerships are independent franchises! The dealership’s blame Ford. All are liars with a license to steal from us the consumes!
    I earned my incentive Ford lost a loyal fan after 6 trucks to include Rangers F150,F250 & 350 diesels. The old ford built F150 in my home In Norfolk Virginia. Had friends and their dads retired there! Former brother-in-law executive retired there. Not a family friendly company with deceptive advertising! In my family your word is your bond, not Ford or Ford dealership!
    Drove Ford police cars, Ford M151 (NOT JEEP!) in Vietnam and Bronco police for beach patrol!
    Yes I WAS a Ford loyal fan! Not anymore. Will not be returning to dealership I reserved in Bronco Outerbanks 14 Oct 2020 and arrived JULY 2022, to be told no incentive! If Ford needs the $1000.00 I gladly let them keep it! I EARNED IT THEY FORFEIT LOYAL AND ETHICAL INTEGRITY!
    No problem no more fords for this Patriot. Rest assured I will take the Bronco other than the dealership purchased from.
    Everyone I know, family friends both civilian and military, police contacts I know will hear about ford and this dealership across the country.
    Good luck with EV BETTER BUILD SOME NUKE PLANTS TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY TO CHARGE THEM! That will take about 18 years if can get the permits!
    Vote American or vote democrat it’s our country. MP
    PS my son who as ordered a 2021 in South Carolina has been told maybe 2022 or 2023. Like,said build those ordered FIRST!!!

    Reply

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