Ford recalls over 456,000 Bronco Sport and Maverick cars due to loss of drive power risk

I am super glad I did not buy these vehicles

I got a hybrid Maverick a couple months ago and have been extremely happy with it. One of the best cars I've ever owned, honestly; and I've owned a shitload of cars over the years.
I honestly don't know why anyone would buy a Bronco.
They're completely synonymous with OJ Simpson to me.

I was seriously looking at the Maverick a couple of years ago to replace my 10 year old Subaru Outback. Its versatility, low MSRP, hybrid drive train, low maintenance interior, and a few maker-friendly features seemed like a good fit, even with some cheapness and exterior styling that didn't quite work for me. Then I saw the wait times on the hybrids, the upcharge on any Maverick, the incessant upselling to the Ranger (which I think looks better, but it is a rather different value proposition altogether), and calculated my actual fuel usage patterns compared to purchase price, and said fuck it.

Instead I had the world's most unimpressive mid-life crisis and just got a new Outback But Now With More Outback. I am feeling smug about it now, LOL.

- Man, my Outback has like the second largest interior volume in the Subie lineup, and with the seats down I can safely haul 8-foot boards. Wagons are great.
I bought a hybrid Maverick back in late Jan with no markup and no wait time. Just walked in to a dealer one day when I was driving by. I had to take the color and options combo that was there, so I didn't get all the options I wanted; but it was fast and at MSRP. I've been super happy with it so far.
We also looked at the Outback Wilderness and the EV Subaru. My girlfriend loved the color highlights on the Wilderness.
- Out of idle curiosity, what trim package/options did it have? Now TBF, I was looking when the market was in some post-COVID weirdness and the Maverick was just released, so I am not surprised it's easier to find them now, but I still only really saw the value in the low end trim and probably would have passed on a Lariat or something. I loved the idea at 22k or whatever it was then, much less so at $36k for the ICE only.
  I kept hemming and hawing and finally was just about resolved to start doing some very tacky aftermarket things to my 2013 Outback, when I saw that the Wilderness had just come out and did a less stupid version of most of the stuff I was considering and would likely have a pretty gentle depreciation curve (for a new car). I didn't love all the contrast on the bodywork, so I was happy to get the all-black at MSRP and a nice interest rate. Price was only a touch more than what I had been cross-shopping, and the Wilderness package was the "mid-life crisis" part of my otherwise very sensible mid-range AWD station wagon purchase. I do not think my wife is too worried, and now neither gravel parking lots nor curbs hold any intimidation for me!
I use a maverick as a work truck and every time I take down a ladder without straining I smile.
- There's definitely a place for a proper compact pickup in the US market, and the Frontier, Tacoma, and the Colorado/Canyon were all outgrowing the segment. The Maverick just didn't quite work out for my needs at the time. Have you run into any of the power-cut issues the recall is addressing?

Just after their most famous customer was recalled as well...

It's Ford. This should surprise no one by now.

Bronco sport is not the same as Bronco. It's made in Mexico as opposed to Bronco which is made in Michigan. Ford's in general are pieces of shit, but a ford made in Mexico is even worse. Maverick is made in the Mexico plant too. Both have had extensive quality issues.