NHTSA Opens Probe into Ford Pickup Truck Engine Stumbling

Posted: May 27, 2013 at 4:59 am

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun a preliminary investigation into 95 complaints that Ford F-150 pickup trucks may stumble during hard acceleration.

The probe covers about 400,000 trucks produced between 2011 and 2013 and equipped with Ford’s 3.5-liter turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline engine.

The NHTSA notes that the company has issued three service bulletins about 2011-2012 vehicles stumbling under humid conditions.

Ford said in March that the engine’s intercooler may accumulate moisture that could affect combustion upon hard acceleration. The company suggests dealers reprogram the powertrain control module, install a new intercooler and air deflector plate.

 

A lawsuit filed in Louisiana in February describes the problem in 2011-2012 model F-150s, asks the court to grant the complaint class-action status and demands that Ford either recall the affected trucks or compensate owners.