Hole found in Cylinder of 2021 2.3 Ecoboost

SLFilms Bronco

Dec 23, 2025

Tue at 10:07 pm

Hello Nation. Looking to see if we are alone or if others have had this experience.
Mechanically stock 2021 Non Sas 2.3 Ecoboost.

No rock crawling nor extreme angles, but lots of snow, such, mud, sand and ruts.
We had a motive power failure after 115k flawless Miles.
Ford dealer, Whom we have had excellent experiences, pulled the valve covers and had to dig into the actual engine block with a borescope.
They discovered a hole in the engine block of our 2.3 cylinder wall between cylinders 2 and 3.
Looking for any input or if anybody else has heard of this.
Supposedly we are not alone with this issue but it is spoken of quietly among the tech world.
Thanks for any input. Chatting possibilities with our dealer now

Specs:
- Stock
- Non - Sass
- Stock Height
- 2.3 Ecoboost
- Automatic
- No Engine Mods
- No Performance Tune
- OEM Dealer Oil change every 3.5K miles
- OEM Dealer Transmission and Transfer Case fluids changed early at 75k Miles

Kenneth, AngusMac13

Sort by date

Reaction Score

Tue at 11:08 pm

Hole or crack?

Joined May 29, 2020 Member 546
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Eninty

Yesterday at 12:42 am

While I can be of no help with the issues you speak of but...... check around and see if you can get your hands on a crate 3.0 eco from the BRaptor.... just saying.... that is unless you have extended warranty covering the current issues.

2023 Wildtrak, Iconic Silver, Hard top, ordered 10/5, built 12/13, delivered 1/18

Yesterday at 5:17 am

I didn't care about a hole in the engine block of a 2.3 Bronco engine,
Because I didn't own a 2.3 Bronco engine....

Yesterday at 4:17 pm

It would seem quite odd that if your engine had a manufacturing defect where the engine block was cast with a "hole" between cylinders 2 and 3 that a problem would surface after 4 years and 115,000 miles of use. And what was the symptom of the "motive power failure"? Did the engine break, as in a crankshaft bearing failure, camshaft failure, overheating event that warped the cylinderhead or engine block? Blown headgasket? Did the hole allow coolant to mix with the engine oil?

I think the dealership needs to provide more information.

No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...

extra toasty

Yesterday at 5:23 pm

Eninty
It would seem quite odd that if your engine had a manufacturing defect where the engine block was cast with a "hole" between cylinders 2 and 3 that a problem would surface after 4 years and 115,000 miles of use. And what was the symptom of the "motive power failure"? Did the engine break, as in a crankshaft bearing failure, camshaft failure, overheating event that warped the cylinderhead or engine block? Blown headgasket? Did the hole allow coolant to mix with the engine oil?

I think the dealership needs to provide more information.

These engines look to be “ Time Bombs”💣

Eninty

Yesterday at 6:51 pm

If this is the case, I guess I will end up with two Fords with Cummins power plants. Now to find a 4bt 🤔

BN 1100, Desert Sand Everglades. Reservation 7/30/20. ordered 1/22/21, reordered 10/15/21 dropped tow and hard top, reordered 3/9/22 changed to Everglades. production date 9/7/22 rescheduled 9/14/22 completed 9/26/22, shipped 10/7/22, arrived 10/31/22, delivered 11/03/22

Mikes2021Bronco

You must log in or register to post here.