Ford Edge EcoBoost problems are drawing fresh attention from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has opened a defect petition involving 2015 to 2018 Ford Edge SUVs equipped with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. The petition is not a recall or a full investigation, but it marks the beginning of a review into reports of coolant intrusion and sudden power loss.

NHTSA Petition Covers Nearly 500,000 Ford Edge SUVs

According to an NHTSA document, the petition covers 2015 to 2018 Ford Edge SUVs powered by the 2.0-liter EcoBoost. The affected population is nearly half a million vehicles in the U.S.

Regulators have received 1,563 reports involving sudden power loss, with the complaints pointing to coolant entering the engine. So far, the reports do not include crashes, fires or injuries, but the volume of complaints was enough for the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) to begin reviewing the issue.

Owners report that the engine can suddenly lose power while displaying an “Engine Coolant Over Temperature” warning. After the vehicle cools down, the engine may restart with a rough idle before the check engine light appears with a cylinder misfire.

Coolant Intrusion Raises Engine Concerns

The complaints echo issues previously raised in lawsuits involving the EcoBoost engine’s open-deck cooling design. According to those lawsuits, the design can allow coolant to enter the combustion chambers through weak areas in the engine block, cylinder head or head gasket.

Coolant intrusion can lead to corrosion, misfires, overheating and sluggish performance. In the most severe cases described, the engine can fail and require a full long block replacement, potentially leaving owners with a significant repair bill if their warranty has expired.

NHTSA Petition Is Not a Recall

NHTSA’s current action should be distinguished from a recall. The agency has opened a defect petition to review the available evidence and determine whether a full defect investigation is warranted.

NHTSA could eventually grant the petition and launch a broader investigation. It could also deny the petition if the available evidence is determined not to justify further action.

Ford has already recalled more than a million vehicles equipped with EcoBoost engines for other problems. The latest petition, however, specifically concerns coolant intrusion and sudden power loss in 2015 to 2018 Ford Edge SUVs.

What Ford Edge Owners Should Watch For

Owners of affected model years should pay attention to unusual drops in coolant and “Engine Coolant Over Temperature” warnings. Rough starts, persistent misfire codes and a check engine light appearing alongside coolant alerts are also symptoms to watch for.

Anyone noticing these issues should document the symptoms and have the Ford Edge checked as soon as possible. Reporting the problem to NHTSA can also help advance the review.