Ford's EcoBoost Coolant Problem Reaches NHTSA's DeskTheTruthAboutCars.comTTAC News StaffTue, September 8, 2026 at 5:23 PM UTCAdd us on Googleford s ecoboost coolant problem reaches nhtsa s deskThe 2.0-liter EcoBoost's coolant intrusion saga has been trundling through courtrooms in the U.S. and Canada for years. Now it may get a federal audience.ford s ecoboost coolant problem reaches nhtsa s deskAccording to Ford Authority, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation has received a petition asking it to formally probe the engine, and the affected population is not small: over 500,000 2015-2018 Ford Edge models.Per the defect petition now open with ODI, coolant intrusion in these engines can cause a significant loss of power alongside an "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" warning. The complaint also describes vehicles that run rough after being parked and allowed to cool, sometimes throwing a check engine light for a cylinder misfire. The agency is evaluating the petition and has not decided whether to grant or deny it.AdvertisementAdvertisementNone of this is news to anyone who has followed Ford's turbocharged four-cylinders. Coolant intrusion and leaks have dogged the 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter, 2.0-liter, and 2.3-liter EcoBoost engines for years, across the Escape, Fusion, Edge, Lincoln MKC, MKZ, and others. The common thread is the open-deck cooling design, which invites premature gasket failure and, in the worst cases, cracks between the cylinders. The fix is a long block replacement - expensive, labor-intensive, and costly for owners.ford s ecoboost coolant problem reaches nhtsa s deskThe lawsuits already filed lay out a harsher version of events. According to Ford Authority, they point to an inherent defect that lets coolant leak into the cylinders, leading to corrosion, misfires, engine failure, and fires. The plaintiffs trace the problem to the design of the engine block and cylinder head, plus an inadequate head seal that lets coolant seep into the combustion chambers.Ford has acknowledged the issue. Acknowledgment and remedy are different things, and replacing a long block is neither cheap nor quick. Whether ODI opens a full investigation remains to be seen, but a half-million Edges is a large enough number to make the outcome worth watching.[Images: Ford]Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.