NHTSA Reviews Complaint of Engine Coolant Intrusion and Power Loss in 500,000 Ford Edge SUVs

September 15, 2026

Ford Edge engine power loss investigation — Federal safety regulators are reviewing a defect petition involving approximately 500,000 model-year 2015–2018 Ford Edge SUVs equipped with 2.0-liter EcoBoost engines over allegations of coolant intrusion and significant engine power loss. Mateusz Rostek/Shutterstock

Federal auto safety regulators are reviewing a petition involving approximately 500,000 Ford Edge SUVs over allegations that engine coolant intrusion can cause significant power loss. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation opened Defect Petition DP26008 on September 3, 2026. The petition covers model-year 2015 through 2018 Ford Edge vehicles equipped with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. At this stage, NHTSA has not determined that a safety defect exists, and the review has not resulted in a recall.

What Problem Is NHTSA Reviewing?

The petition asks NHTSA to investigate alleged coolant intrusion involving the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine used in certain Ford Edge SUVs. According to information associated with the petition, coolant intrusion may result in significant loss of engine power. Drivers may also see an “Engine Coolant Over Temperature” warning.

After the engine cools, the vehicle may run roughly and display a check-engine light associated with a cylinder misfire. Loss of motive power can potentially become a safety concern when it occurs while a vehicle is being driven, which is why the petition asks federal regulators to examine the issue.

About 500,000 Ford Edge SUVs Could Be Involved

The petition covers an estimated population of roughly half a million vehicles. Specifically, it concerns 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Ford Edge SUVs equipped with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. That doesn’t mean NHTSA has concluded that every vehicle in that population contains a defect.

It also doesn’t mean all Ford Edge SUVs from those years are necessarily part of the issue, because the petition specifically identifies vehicles equipped with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine.

Owners can check their vehicle information to determine which engine it has while monitoring NHTSA for additional developments.

This Is a Defect Petition, Not a Recall

The procedural distinction is important for Ford owners. NHTSA categorizes DP26008 as a Defect Petition, which means the agency is evaluating a formal request asking regulators to investigate an alleged safety problem.

NHTSA recognizes several stages or types of defect investigations, including Defect Petitions, Preliminary Evaluations, Recall Queries and Engineering Analyses. The agency says it generally works to complete a Defect Petition review within four months, although the circumstances of individual cases can vary.

After reviewing the petition and available information, NHTSA could decide additional investigation is warranted or determine that further action isn’t justified.

No Recall Has Been Issued From This Petition

Ford Edge owners should not confuse the opening of DP26008 with a new safety recall. As of the opening of the petition, NHTSA had not announced a recall tied to DP26008 and had not made a final determination that the alleged condition constitutes a safety-related defect. A recall could eventually result if regulators determine that a safety defect exists and affected vehicles require a remedy. The agency could also close the petition without opening a further defect investigation.

For now, owners don’t have a recall repair to schedule solely because DP26008 was opened.

Ford Edge Owners Can Report Their Experiences

NHTSA relies on several sources of information when evaluating possible vehicle defects, including consumer complaints, manufacturer information and other available data. The agency says there is no specific number of consumer complaints required before it will investigate a potential problem. Instead, investigators consider factors including the size of the vehicle population, how frequently a problem appears and the potential severity of the consequences.

Owners of potentially affected Ford Edge SUVs who experience unexpected engine power loss, coolant loss, overheating warnings, persistent misfires or related symptoms can report their experience to NHTSA. Keeping repair invoices, dealer diagnoses, warning-light information and dates or mileage associated with the problem may also help document what occurred.

What Ford Edge Owners Should Do Now

Owners of 2015–2018 Ford Edge SUVs shouldn’t assume their vehicle has a defect simply because it falls within the model-year range identified in the petition. They can check NHTSA’s vehicle database for existing recalls and investigation information and continue watching DP26008 for new documents or agency decisions.

It’s also important to remember that a VIN recall search answers a different question from an investigation search: a VIN lookup can show unrepaired safety recalls, but an open defect petition doesn’t mean an individual VIN has been recalled. Drivers experiencing sudden engine power loss or overheating should take the symptoms seriously and have the vehicle evaluated rather than waiting to see whether the federal review eventually produces a recall.

NHTSA also encourages consumers who believe they’ve experienced a potential safety defect to file a complaint through the agency’s website or contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.