- Ford is extending its warranty on certain 2021 and 2022 trucks and SUVs due to a potential engine issue
- An improperly-made valve could break and fall into the engine
- Most of the problematic engines failed early and have already been replaced under a recall
Ford is providing a ten-year engine warranty to owners of certain 2021 and 2022 Ford and Lincoln trucks and SUVs that were initially subject to a recall for potential engine failure. The warranty applies to vehicles in Canada and the U.S. The recall and warranty cover specific versions of the 2021 and 2022 Ford Bronco, F-150, Edge, and Explorer; and Lincoln Aviator and Nautilus. All issues are strictly with the 2.7L and 3.0L Nano EcoBoost (turbocharged) engines.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had been involved in a probe into the problem as early as 2022, and finally closed it in early November due to the automaker’s cooperation with the recall and coverage.
The problem is due to intake valves that may not have been properly manufactured by a supplier that made them between May and October of 2021. It seems that when their grooves were being ground, the valves got too hot — and this, in turn, made them brittle. If they broke when the engine was running, they fell into the combustion chamber and caused catastrophic engine failure.
In its report to NHTSA, Ford said not all valves made during that period were defective. It also said that if an engine contained the faulty valves and was going to self-grenade, it wouldn’t take long before it did just that. The “vast majority” of failures happened before 20,000 miles (32,186 km) and that more than half of them occurred before 5,000 miles (8,046 km).
The automaker further said that the rate of reported failures due to the valves “has steadily decreased since November 2021.” In short, Ford was saying that if an engine hasn’t blown up yet, it’s likely that it won’t.
Under the recalls issued by NHTSA and Transport Canada, dealers perform an engine cycle test to determine if the engine contained the defective valves. If it does, the dealer replaces it at no charge to the customer.
The extended warranty in Canada covers vehicles for ten years or 240,000 km, whichever comes first. In Canada, that warranty is referred to as Field Service Action 24S55, and it applies to just under 12,000 vehicles here, according to a Ford of Canada representative. That’s for vehicles covered by the recall, even if they passed the engine cycle test.
If you suspect you own a vehicle that might be affected, but you haven’t received a recall notice, you can check on the recall pages at Ford Canada’s website, or at Lincoln Canada’s site; or call each brand’s customer service number. You’ll need your vehicle identification number (VIN), the 17-digit mishmash of letters and numbers that’s on your ownership or visible on the driver’s side of the dash through the windshield. By law, recalls must be mailed to vehicle owners. If you move or buy a used vehicle, then no matter what brand it is, register your address with the company to ensure you get any that apply to your ride.
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