Following reports from multiple owners, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Ford Broncos equipped with the 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost engine.
“Under normal driving conditions without warning the vehicle may experience a loss of motive power without restart due to catastrophic engine failure to a faulty valve,” the safety regulator wrote in a document, describing customer complaints.
Its Office of Defects Investigation states that it has received 32 complaints from owners claiming to have been affected by this issue. Some allege that their SUV lost power while driving at highway speeds and that they were unable to restart it.
Read More: Ford Bronco Owners With The 2.7L V6 Engine Might Be Riding A Ticking Timebomb
Complaints from owners have extended well beyond NHTSA’s website. We reported last month that owners have been making similar complaints on forums, Facebook, and Reddit.
The ultimate cause of the issue has yet to be discovered but, based on owner complaints, it seems that the engines are dropping valves. The extent of the damage is such that Bronco owners report that their engines must be completely replaced after this issue presents itself.
“We are aware of a select number of engines with this concern and we are investigating,” Ford told The Drive in April. “If any customers are experiencing issues, they will be covered under the vehicle’s 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.”
With drivers allegedly losing power while traveling at highway speeds, though, there is a concern beyond the financial one. A sudden, catastrophic engine failure on the highway could increase the risk of an accident occurring.
NHTSA’s investigation does not amount to a recall but it is now looking into the issue and may eventually choose to initiate one. If it does, a potential population of 25,538 vehicles could be affected.
