A criminal investigation has been opened into the way Ford tests the emissions of its vehicles.
The US Department of Justice took action after Ford alerted the US Environmental Protection Agency to potential problems in February.
Ford said the issue did not involve the use of defeat devices, which were at the centre of the emissions scandal involving Volkswagen in 2015.
VW was found to have used software that could cheat emissions tests.
Emissions testing in the US has two parts: testing on the road and computer modelling.
The modelling generates mileage and emissions data submitted to regulators.
Ford employees raised concerns about the computer modelling and, in particular, the figures Ford engineers used for road load, which involves the weight of the vehicle and other data.
“We are fully co-operating with all government agencies. Because this matter is still in the preliminary stages, we cannot predict the outcome, and we cannot provide assurance that it will not have a material adverse effect on us,” Ford said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ford has commissioned outside experts to investigate its testing procedure, a process which is expected to last several months.
