The highest U.S. auto-safety regulator is opening an investigation into reported catastrophic engine failures with some Ford Bronco autos, yet one more setback within the auto maker’s efforts to enhance its high quality report.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration mentioned in a submitting made public this week it was launching the probe, after receiving studies of 2021 Ford Bronco SUVs experiencing a lack of energy at freeway speeds. The examination covers practically 25,500 autos, NHTSA mentioned.
The regulatory company mentioned it had been weighing whether or not to open the defect investigation since late Could, when the company mentioned it acquired a number of petitions from Bronco house owners to take motion. In a gathering final month with
Ford Motor Co.
F -2.34%
, NHTSA workers realized the alleged lack of energy is a results of catastrophic engine failures because of the engine valves failing, the company mentioned within the submitting.
A Ford spokesman mentioned the auto maker is conscious of a choose variety of engines early within the launch of the Bronco that exhibited the alleged defect and it’s investigating the problem. If any clients are experiencing points, they’ll be coated beneath the automobile’s powertrain guarantee, the spokesman mentioned.
No accidents or crashes have been linked to the alleged drawback to this point, in accordance with NHTSA’s submitting.
Ford has probably the most recollects of any U.S. auto maker in 2022, having launched 45 of them this yr, in accordance with NHTSA knowledge. Daimler Vans North America LLC has the second-highest variety of recollects, with 27 this yr.
Ford issued a recall for about 39,000 giant SUVs in Could, citing studies of under-the-hood fires in autos that have been parked and turned off. In June, Ford recalled about 49,000 Mustang Mach-E autos due to a difficulty that would trigger a battery part to overheat and doubtlessly trigger the automotive to lose energy, the corporate mentioned. In the identical month, the automotive maker recalled greater than 3.3 million autos that it mentioned had a threat of rolling away when positioned in park.
“We proceed to be hampered by recollects and buyer satisfaction actions,” Ford Chief Govt
Jim Farley
mentioned in an April earnings name. “This has to alter.”
Stories of engine issues within the Bronco date to this spring, when a number of house owners filed petitions with NHTSA asking the company to open a proper investigation into the alleged drawback. The petitioners alleged that 2021 Broncos have been experiencing a lack of motor energy at freeway speeds.
“Some have barely averted main damage when their autos have had full energy loss at freeway speeds in visitors,” one proprietor wrote in a petition.
Ford recognized the foundation reason for the alleged defect as interference between the valve and piston inside the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engines, which can lead to the engine locking up, NHTSA mentioned. The regulator has recognized 26 studies that associated to the alleged defect within the Bronco.
NHTSA mentioned it opened the formal investigation to evaluate the scope, frequency, and potential safety-related penalties of the alleged defect.
Ford revived the Bronco in 2020 in an effort to seize market share from off-road-vehicle large Jeep—a model operated by world auto maker
Stellantis
NV. The Bronco’s launch was hindered by manufacturing snags that required roofs on some fashions to get replaced, delaying supply for some clients.
—Nora Eckert contributed to this text.
Write to Ryan Felton at [email protected]
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