The Office of Defects Investigation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into 2021 Ford Bronco models equipped with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.
This follows scores of reports of catastrophic engine breakdowns, many of which occurred with less than 5,000 miles on the odometer.
Over the last year, specific incidents have been documented on social media and forums, prompting owners to not only file complaints on the NHTSA's website, but also to petition the ODI personally to examine the subject in the hopes of a recall.
Under typical driving situations, the vehicle's motive power may be lost without notice due to catastrophic engine failure caused by a faulty valve in 2.7 L Eco-Boost engines.
Ford is collaborating with the NHTSA, according to a spokeswoman for the company. They also confirmed the statement they gave us in April when we submitted our first report:
"We're aware of a small number of engines that have this issue, and we're looking into it.
Customers will be covered by the vehicle's five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty if they have any problems."