NHTSA Expanding Investigation Into Ford EcoBoost Engines

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it would be expanding its investigation into late-model Fords equipped with EcoBoost engines. What initially started as a probe into 2021 model-year Broncos equipped with 2.7-liter turbocharged engines has evolved into a much broader look into several other models and the larger 3.0-liter EcoBoost motor.

Last summer, the NHTSA was prompted to launch an investigation into 2021 Ford Broncos after nearly 30 complaints were issued about the 2.7-liter motor cutting out at highway speeds. This was accompanied by a few petitions demanding the agency take action, prompting the NHTSA to launch a formal investigation. At the time, regulators were fretting over the possibility of “catastrophic engine failure” due to a presumed defect with the intake valves.


While the investigation has been ongoing, it has reportedly started roping in other models and Blue Oval’s larger 3.0-liter turbo used widely in its lineup. According to Reuters, the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation upgraded the investigation late last week to include an engineering analysis of the 2021-2022 Ford Bronco, Edge, Explorer, and F-150 — in addition to the 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Nautilus — equipped with either the 2.7 or 3.0-liter EcoBoost.


The NHTSA cited 328 customer complaints and 487 warranty claims relating to the vehicles under investigation. However, there have been no injuries associated with any of the above. This brings the total number of vehicles being looked into from roughly 25,000 to a whopping 708,000.


From Reuters:


Ford told NHTSA the defective valves were manufactured out of an alloy known as "Silchrome Lite" that can become "excessively hard and brittle if an over-temperature condition occurs during machining of the component."
Ford said a design change in October 2021 changed the intake valve material to a different alloy. Ford added it believed "defective intake valves commonly fail early in a vehicle’s life and has suggested that the majority of failures have already occurred."


While we don’t have all the necessary information, it sounds like someone decided to use cheaper materials on the alloy intake valves and it just didn’t work out. Since exhaust values are subjected to significantly higher temperatures, automakers know they can get away with something a little less robust on the intake side. Other automakers have used Silchrome intake valves in the past (often with hardened tips to improve durability) to help reduce manufacturing costs. But exhaust values are always made out of steel boasting higher temperature strength and resistance.


Implemented correctly, the above shouldn’t be much of an issue. But we’ve seen companies swap in underperforming parts after the vehicle designs have been completed in a bid to save money — sometimes to catastrophic effect. That seems a plausible scenario here based on the information provided by the NHTSA and Ford. However, we’re going to have to wait and see what regulators say after the investigative probe has concluded.


"During the investigation, multiple contributing factors were identified, which can lead to the fracturing of the intake valves in the subject engines," NHTSA said in a document pertaining to the investigation. "Ford acknowledged that a fractured intake valve can result in catastrophic engine failure and a loss of motive power and noted that following a valve fracture, a vehicle typically requires a full engine replacement."


This is a bummer for Ford, which has clearly been attempting to improve its reputation for reliability. Truth be told, this has become an issue for several brands — perhaps even the industry as a whole, if we consider how recall frequencies have jumped in recent years. But Ford has been eager to move away from any unpleasant associations. Just about everyone I’ve spoken to from the company in 2023 has said this has become their biggest priority.


My guess is that this will turn eventually into a formal or voluntary recall. While repairing the alleged defect is likely to be a costly endeavor for Ford, having it go unaddressed (assuming the NHTSA even leaves that as an option) may mean having to replace engines as more broken valves are sucked into the engine. That’s not going to help alleviate any consumer fears regarding the reliability of Blue Oval’s products and may end up being most costly in the long run.


[Image: Ford Motor Co.]

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Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Art_Vandelay Art_Vandelay on Oct 05, 2023

    It is strange, I worried about having a first year 2.7 EB, but it seems they got worse as the years went on while the early ones seem solid. I don't have the port injection the later ones got, but there haven't really been any reports of them gunking up. The early ones have a chain driven oil pump versus the stupid belt on the later models and they don't have this valve issue. I just rolled 75k with no drama so far.

  • 3-On-The-Tree 3-On-The-Tree on Oct 05, 2023

    I had drama early on, bought a 2014 F150 SuperCrew 3.5L Eco POOP with 52,000mi. Within a month it had a rear main seal leak. Got that fixed, next month it had a transmission leak which was a front pump seal, the dealer took out the transmission and fixed that. Next was a leaky driver side turbo, got that fixed. 30,000mi later the timing chain front cover started leaking. Then the passenger side turbo had to be replaced. The nail in the coffin was the rear main seal started leaking again with only 30,000mi on the new one. I asked the service manager if they would cover the fix it since it was out of warranty and stayed to him that it should not be leaking at 30,000mi or even 200,000mi and he said that things wear out and the previous mechanic could have put it in in correctly. Wrong answer. I got it fixed and traded it to carvana and bought a new 2021 Tundra Crewmax 4x4. Far superior truck. Luckily I had an extended warranty. I learned a valuable lesson, if you buy American get an extended warranty, and also Quality is not job 1 at Ford or any American car companies. Never again.

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