Whereas rebooting the full-size Bronco SUV, Ford additionally launched the Bronco Sport. It is a downsized tackle its massive brother, however simply as rugged and pleased to go play off-road. It is also not the primary time Ford introduced one thing prefer it to market. The Bronco II arrived in 1984 to a heat reception from automotive critics. That is the place the similarities finish, hopefully, as a result of the Bronco II had some critical points.

The issue was with the steadiness management that might, and did, depart the shiny aspect down. What’s scary is that Ford knew the Bronco II had rollover points. Engineers instructed fixes, however widening the monitor or decreasing the middle of gravity would have delayed its launch. When these points went public by way of Client Studies, that was the start of the Bronco II’s finish. Legend even has it that Geico refused to jot down insurance policies for the Bronco.

Ford offered round 700,000 fashions, and estimates for the loss of life toll by means of rollover accidents vary between 500 and 800 individuals. Its substitute was the 1991 mannequin yr Explorer, which additionally had rollover points, and people weren’t fastened till it bought a wider monitor and unbiased suspension for the 2002 mannequin yr.