The NHTSA wants to make sure Ford is on top of valve failures causing major engine damage in its EcoBoost V6 engines.
An engine failure in a new vehicle still under warranty is both expensive for the automaker and incredibly frustrating for the owner. Ford has had more than its fair share of engine problems of late, prompting federal authorities to open a broader investigation into the issue.
As covered by Automotive News, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) first began its investigation in July 2022, looking at over 25,000 2021 Ford Broncos fitted with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. The agency was prompted to act after multiple petitions requesting an investigation, along with 26 complaints concerning a loss of power at highway speeds and a failure of the engine to restart.
On Friday, the investigation was upgraded by the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation. The agency is now pursuing an engineering analysis to properly understand the scope of the problem in Ford’s 2.7-liter and 3.0-liter EcoBoost engines after details provided by Ford suggested that alleged defects were present across both engines. The investigation will cover multiple models with these engines, including the 2021-2022 Ford Bronco, Edge, Explorer and F-150. Similarly, 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Nautilus models will also be subject to scrutiny.