Ford Bronco under NHTSA Investigation for Catastrophic Engine Failure

Under normal driving conditions, some V6-powered Broncos experience a loss in power.

The Ford Bronco has been the subject of an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) reports that three petitions were filed in March asking for a defect investigation into alleged valve defects on selected Broncos. These petitions fall under ODI numbers 11461178 to 11460125 and 11460124.

Ford Bronco under NHTSA Investigation for Catastrophic Engine Failure

According to NHTSA, 2021 Ford Bronco units were involved. All are equipped with the twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine. This alleged failure was the subject of 32 complaints to ODI.

The ODI will evaluate the issue and decide whether or not to grant the petitions.

The number of Bronco owners who have suffered such an engine failure has been documented in a thread on Bronco6G. There are currently 50 units on the list as of May 31, 2022. Some are just 3 miles old, while others are nearly 7,000 miles. All these Broncos share their 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.

Ford Bronco under NHTSA Investigation for Catastrophic Engine Failure

Although it is not confirmed, reports suggest that the problem lies in the valves used to power the 2.7-liter engine. They were purchased from a vendor. Bad valves can cause them to crack from heat.

This is still being investigated and it seems that not all 25,000 2021 Bronco units have been affected. It is not clear if other Ford products with the same EcoBoost engines are also experiencing the same problem.

Notable: The ODI did not disclose the date of the investigation into the Bronco units.