The top U.S. auto-safety regulator is opening an investigation into reported catastrophic engine failures with some Ford Bronco vehicles, yet another setback in the auto maker’s efforts to improve its quality record.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a filing made public this week that it was opening a formal investigation into a series of reports involving 2021 Ford Bronco SUVs that experienced loss of power at highway speeds. The probe covers nearly 25,500 vehicles, NHTSA said.
NHTSA said it had been weighing whether to open an investigation into the potential defect since late May, when the agency said it received multiple petitions from Bronco owners about the alleged defect. In a meeting last month with Ford Motor
F,
NHTSA staff learned the alleged loss of power is a result of catastrophic engine failures due to the engine valves failing, the agency said in the filing.
Ford didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
No injuries or crashes have been linked to the alleged problem to date, according to NHTSA’s filing.
An expanded version of this story appears on WSJ.com
Popular stories from WSJ.com:
