Ford is in trouble in the courts again. After a billion-dollar lawsuit over its 1L EcoBoost three-cylinder engine just a few years ago, the auto powerhouse is being sued again in a class-action lawsuit over its bigger 2.7L V6 version. This engine is fitted in six Ford and Lincoln models and they all had to be recalled so that the fault could be addressed. This came at a massive cost to the Blue Oval car manufacturer and caused significant embarrassment, and the trouble’s not over yet.
Ford is under duress with another lawsuit over its EcoBoost engine
In 2024, the EcoBoost intake valve issue was addressed in a recall, but this was not enough for all the affected Ford customers. Matthew Barkus from Pennsylvania and Dan Silberman from New York are the two plaintiffs taking Ford to court in the new class action lawsuit.
Barkus purchased a 2021 Ford F-150 with a 2.7L EcoBoost engine while Silberman decided on a 2021 Ford Bronco with the same powertrain. Neither driver actually experienced any vehicle faults, but they say they wouldn’t have bought these models or paid as much as they did if they had been aware of the potential engine problems.
Barkus and Siblerman’s lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, claims:
“Ford has yet to provide an adequate remedy, such as a replacement of their defective valves, or compensate consumers for the amount they overpaid for these defective vehicles.”
Which models were affected by the fault and how was it addressed?
These are the Ford and Lincoln models that had to be recalled due to a potential fault with the intake valve:
- Ford Bronco
- Ford Edge
- Ford Explorer
- Ford F-150
- Lincoln Aviator
- Lincoln Nautilus
The problem that Ford had to address in its far-reaching recall of 90,736 vehicles had to do with intake valves at risk of fracturing or failing completely. All affected models were manufactured between May 1 and October 31, 2021, and all were fitted with either the 2.7-liter EcoBoost or the bigger 3.0L version. It took a number of owner petitions in 2022 to get Ford’s attention, and action was taken some time thereafter.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that a faulty intake valve could lead to catastrophic engine damage and ultimately, a complete loss of power.
Owner notifications were sent out during the second week of October and Ford started calling vehicles in to service centers to replace Eaton Corporation’s intake valves with those within specification for hardness. This was done at no charge and those who had already fixed their vehicles before the recall were compensated.
Ford also provided an extended warranty of 150,000 miles or 10 years via a customer satisfaction campaign.
The background of Ford’s first lawsuit over Ecosprt, Focus, and Fiesta models
The first lawsuit claimed that Ford Motor Company was aware of the defective 1.0L EcoBoost engines installed in the 2016 to 2021 Ecosport, Focus, and Fiesta models but allowed them to be sold for years and did nothing to address it until forced to do so. The fault had to do with a risk of the oil-drive belt tensioner arm fracturing. This would lead to power loss, catastrophic engine failure, or activation of the limp mode, all of which posed safety risks for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
The aggrieved plaintiffs say Ford failed to adequately address the issue or disclose the severity of the defect and demanded equitable relief in the form of vehicle buybacks, damages, and penalties. At present, owners can’t sell their vehicles. Ford has offered temporary engine replacements, but replacement parts are not expected until later this year.