It appears Ford didn’t thoroughly test the new EcoBoost engine design. Millions of vehicles could ultimately be involved in a safety recall.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening an investigation into the sudden stalling of V6 Ford engines used in the F-Series pickup. The turbocharged engine is already subject to two class action suits alleging that the intercooler design is defective. Both suits allege that 2011 and 2012 model F-150 trucks with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine contain a dangerous defect that causes the vehicles to shake violently, shudder and stall when drivers attempt to accelerate.
These safety and legal matters are now looking like just the beginnings of potentially prolonged and image-damaging actions about Ford’s claimed fuel economy breakthrough with the downsized EcoBoost engine. (Read AutoInformed on Another Lawsuit Filed against Ford EcoBoost V6 Engines and Class Action Suit Filed Against F-150 EcoBoost Engines for Stalling)
The Office of Defects Investigation or ODI says it has received 95 reports alleging incidents of reduced engine power during hard accelerations in model year 2011 through 2013 Ford F150 trucks equipped with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection (GTDI) engines.
Ford has issued three technical service bulletins related to intermittent stumble/misfire on acceleration from highway cruise in humid or damp conditions in some MY 2011 and 2012 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines.
The most recent Ford bulletin, TSB 13-3-3, includes procedures for diagnosing a condition related to moisture accumulation in the Charge Air Cooler during extended highway cruising at constant throttle in humid or damp conditions. It also includes repairing the problem by reprogramming the powertrain control module with the latest calibration and installing a new CAC and air deflector plate.
About one-third of the reports received by ODI say that the incidents occurred while driving in humid or rainy conditions. Many complaints allege safety concerns associated with overtaking vehicles. No related crashes have been reported to ODI to date. A Preliminary Evaluation is now open to gather information from Ford and -Series owners to assess whether the best-selling F-150 pickup has a safety related defect.
