U.S. auto safety investigators have expanded their investigation into engine failures at Ford Motor Co. to cover nearly 709,000 vehicles.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also stated Document released on Monday On its website, the company upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis, moving one step closer to a recall.
The investigation currently covers Ford’s F-150 pickup truck, as well as the Explorer, Bronco and Edge SUVs and the Lincoln Nautilus and Aviator SUVs. All models are from the 2021 and 2022 model years and come with either a 2.7-liter or 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engine.
The agency said that under normal driving conditions, the engine could lose power due to an alleged valve failure that caused catastrophic engine failure.
The agency launched an initial investigation last May after receiving three letters from property owners. Initially, the investigation looked into problems with the Broncos’ 2.7-liter engine.
Ford has since reported 861 customer complaints, warranty claims and engine replacements (including other models). No collisions or injuries were reported.
The company told the agency in documents that defective intake valves typically fail early in a vehicle’s life and that most failures have already occurred. The company told NHTSA it made changes to the valve design in October 2021.
Ford said in a statement Monday that it was working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support the investigation.
The agency said it will evaluate the frequency of the problem and review the effectiveness of manufacturing improvements Ford has made to address the problem.
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