WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE 2.7L BRONCO?

A random problem with Ford’s 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine is baffling both owners and the brand itself, leading to unhappy Bronco owners. Based on online posts by who are believed to be owners, the new Ford Broncos with the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 are dropping their valves, leading to broken engines that must be replaced. The issues go back as early as July of 2021, with owners posting about the problem on forums, recording 47 vehicles being affected so far.

A dropped valve is one of the worst problems that can happen with an engine, as the valve drops into the combustion chamber where the piston is moving up and down, causing it to bounce around and make unwanted contact with just about everything it can. The event usually results in the destruction of the piston, head, and cylinder walls, rendering the engine essentially useless.

In order to fix the problem, Ford has had to replace the entire engine for customers that have been affected. So far, 27 complaints about the problem have been filed with the NHTSA for 2022 alone.

The most concerning part of the problem seem to be that it can happen to any vehicle at seemingly any time, and Ford hasn’t yet figured out what is causing the valves to drop. A dropped valve is usually the result of the valve keepers falling out or breaking, or the valve stems could be breaking off entirely.

The Drive reached out to Ford about the problem and received this in response:

“We are aware of a select number of engines with this concern and we are investigating. If any customers are experiencing issues, they will be covered under the vehicle’s 5-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.”

Some rumors around those same forums are saying that the valves that Ford received from the supplier were not properly heat treated, leading to early failure. This claim has not been backed up by anything official, however, but hopefully, Ford can find the cause of the problem and notify owners before they’re left stranded by the side of the road.