Ford F 150 Ecoboost

NHTSA is investigating the 2011-2012 F-150 with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 for potential loss of power braking assist. There are two allegations of crashes from this issue, and a recall could affect an estimated 250,000 of the pickups.

Typically when we report on the findings of an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it's because the government body has discovered a safety issue and prescribed a recall. In this case, however, NHTSA has closed an investigation into a reported performance deficit without ever getting to the recall stage.

According to Automotive News, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching a probe into 400,000 Ford F-150 models over possible acceleration problems. According to the article, NHTSA has received 95 reports "alleging incidents of reduced engine power during hard accelerations" on 2011 to 2013 F-150 models equipped with the company's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine.

Ford's twin-turbocharged 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 has proved popular with customers, with more than 180,000 finding homes in driveways and garages since launching in 2009. Ford has but a single facility in the United States turning out this engine, Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1. Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 is also home to the 3.7 liter V6 that kicks out over 300 horsepower in the Mustang and continues to sell at full tilt in the F-150.

The week-long Ford F-150 EcoBoost Challenge is over and Carlee Mallard of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina has emerged victorious. Mallard achieved a rather impressive 28.3 miles per gallon (not as spectacular as the 32.281 mpg that CleanMPG averaged back in May) during her week behind the wheel of the F-150. Additionally, Mallard rounded up 56 volunteers for her community service event, which included collecting donations for the Raleigh YWCA for distribution to families affected by Hurricane Ire

We can't say we're surprised. After our first sampling of the latest Ford F-150, which received four brand-new engines for the 2011 model year, we signed out the two V6 offerings as the ones most worthy of buyer's consideration. And, lo and behold, Ford F-150s equipped with V6 engines are outselling their V8 counterparts for the third month in a row and the first time since 1985 that V8s weren't the dominant powerplant option in Ford's full-size pickup.

After surviving some of the most heinous abuse that the engineers at Ford cold dream up, the same 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 engine that pulled logs, raced in Baja and towed 11,300 pounds for 24 hours straight will be dissected in front of the crowds at this year's Detroit Auto Show. The stunt gets started on January 15 at 11 a.m., and Ford is hoping to be able to show off exactly how well its new V6 workhorse held up against the equivalent of 160,000 miles of torture.

2011 Ford F-150 Ecoboost – Click above for high-res image gallery

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost Desert Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost Desert Racer – Click above for high-res image gallery

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost smokes its tires – Click above for high-res image gallery

2011 Ford F-150 engine options – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost is one of the worst kept secrets out of Dearborn, and the crew at PickupTrucks.com have managed to snag some of the first shots of a SuperCab FX4 model undergoing testing.