1,646 of the
2,470 complaints filed about the Ford Ecosport
are about the engine —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
Kept like revving the engine like it was whining tight never show no check engine light nothing ever showed up was driving down the road and the car completely shut off no warning signs no nothing all was coming out of it like a oil pump or something had went out in the car.
NHTSA complaint #11763855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicles service engine light has been on for over a year now. I have contacted the service department and Ford Dealership. I was told that it was covered under Ford and I would not be charged. I have called the Ford Customer Service Department about my vehicle, but nothing seems to be correct. I am making a car payment, but I am not getting service down on my vehicle especially when it's not my fault, I have these issues. I thought better of Ford. Every time I get gas in my vehicle it will not start, it's so frustrating and embarring I still have a warranty on my Ford, I am completely disgusted I literally sit there and repeat 3 times, and it finally starts, I have done everything it says to do I even replaced a purge valve, and my light comes back on. Also, when I am driving my car acts like its losing power. So now they are staying I may have a small gas leak and for me to have them put my car on a Smoke Machine. I just want my car fixed so I will feel safe driving I am even afraid to drive to [XXX] to see my daughter my car is a 2021. Also, I have either 2 recalls or 3 recalls, and I have an issue with my powertrain: Action Recommended. warning light. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11762065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While having oil changed at the Ford dealership, I was told there was a small oil leak. I made an appt for a diagnostic test for the following week. I was told the diagnostic test showed a cracked valve cover. I had it repaired while they had the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11761983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, smoke was observed coming from the rear of the vehicle, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle needed a tune-up. The contact later received a notification through the mobile application indicating that the engine had multiple misfires. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred after a recall-related engine replacement had previously been completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and denied the contact's request for a buyback. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
NHTSA complaint #11761908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2019 Ford EcoSport suffered sudden low oil pressure and catastrophic engine failure 10 months after receiving service under Safety Recall 23S64. NHTSA Campaign 23V905. The Authorized dealership is refusing to inspect the vehicle or honor Ford's engine replacement remedy, claiming the recall is closed and too much time has passed. This leaves me with an un-remedied safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11761519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1.0L EcoBoost suffered a repeat failure following Recall 23S64, Metro Ford of OKC confirmed in writing that prior dealer workmanship caused the failure, and Ford Corporate (Case # CXH-08846832) is completely unresponsive, leaving the vehicle inoperable and unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11761274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Statement of Problem & Safety Risk: I am filing a complaint regarding a persistent, critical safety defect on my 2020 Ford EcoSport. This vehicle previously suffered an engine failure linked to Ford Recall 23S64 / NHTSA Campaign 23V-905 (oil pump drive belt/tensioner failure causing loss of oil pressure). An engine assembly replacement was performed under the recall around 58,000 miles. Despite having the recall service performed, the replacement engine has now experienced a secondary failure. The vehicle’s wrench light illuminated, and the car went into severe "Limp Mode" while being driven, resulting in an immediate loss of accelerator power and engine torque. This creates an extreme safety hazard, causing a sudden loss of drive power in traffic and exposing the engine to potential oil starvation, complete engine seizure, and loss of power braking assist. Manufacturer & Dealership Non-Compliance: Both Ford Motor Company customer service and local Ford dealership management have stonewalled our requests to diagnose and address this recurring safety hazard under the active federal recall. They have refused to assist or provide appropriate loaner transportation while the vehicle remains unsafe to operate. I request that NHTSA document this failed recall repair, investigate repeat oil pump belt/engine failures on vehicles serviced under Campaign 23V-905, and compel Ford Motor Company to honor its safety recall obligations. This is an ongoing problem these cars are junk and the consumer is stuck paying for it. I am not sure what date to put underneath here because the issue is ongoing
NHTSA complaint #11760700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"I am reporting a severe, high-risk safety and under-hood fire hazard involving a 2020 Ford EcoSport tied directly to federal Safety Recall 23S64 [23S64]. The vehicle suffered a catastrophic loss of internal oil pressure, leading to an official diagnostic scan by Kerry Ford confirming a hard-stored P0015 Camshaft Timing defect [23S64]. The dealership is actively evading the federal recall remedy by falsely claiming the failure is just a bad sensor [23S64]. The vehicle is now experiencing critical failure symptoms: it is consuming extreme amounts of gasoline rapidly and filling both the interior cabin and exterior air with a heavy, toxic odor of raw fuel while running, making it entirely unsafe to operate in public traffic [23S64]. Furthermore, our auto lender has verbally stated on a recorded line that they are refusing repossession because the car holds zero value, forcing a hazardous, un-remedied federal safety defect to remain stranded on a residential property [23S64]."
NHTSA complaint #11760733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter, a cracked flex pipe, exhaust clamps, turbo connection, and a vacuum pump assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was then informed of an unknown recall. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the following day while driving the vehicle, the check engine warning light was flashing, and the low oil pressure message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the engine long block and the turbo needed to be replaced, and coolant needed to be added to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was repaired, but after a while, the A/C became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the A/C was unplugged, the wires were stuck in the clutch pulley, the amp micro fuse, the wiring, and amp fuse needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 37,028.
NHTSA complaint #11759174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter, a cracked flex pipe, exhaust clamps, turbo connection, and a vacuum pump assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was then informed of an unknown recall. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the following day while driving the vehicle, the check engine warning light was flashing, and the low oil pressure message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the engine long block and the turbo needed to be replaced, and coolant needed to be added to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was repaired, but after a while, the A/C became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the A/C was unplugged, the wires were stuck in the clutch pulley, the amp micro fuse, the wiring, and amp fuse needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 37,028.
NHTSA complaint #11759174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another dealer, Shottenkirk Ford Jasper (868 GA-515, Jasper, GA 30143); and the contact was informed that the vehicle had to experience the failure before the recall repair would be performed. The manufacturer was contacted by email, but was unable to assist with having the vehicle serviced. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11759201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure occurred a year after the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to the dealer, where it was determined that the engine and turbocharger needed to be replaced due to internal bearing failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The contact later received a letter stating that parts were available; however, the dealer stated that due to a limited supply, they could only service the recall if the vehicle had experienced the failure. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer to be repaired. Upon inspection, the mechanic discovered that the engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm was fractured, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11755410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A young teenage driver faced a terrifying highway emergency when her vehicle suffered an abrupt, dangerous loss of motive power at 70+ MPH on the interstate due to sudden turbocharger failure. Moving at high speeds in heavy traffic, the sudden drop in acceleration left the driver vulnerable to rear-end collisions from oncoming semi-trucks. The vehicle was driven into the shop with a failed turbocharger and a completely contaminated oil ecosystem. The engine block has not seized yet, but all components are highly contaminated. The affected components are preserved and available for federal inspection. The root cause is a completely choked oil pump pick up tube screen. After a week-long standoff where the consumer had to escalate the case to Ford Corporate to force the dealership to drop the oil pan, teardown photos revealed the intake mesh was blanketed and impacted by a thick, suffocating mat of degraded wet belt fibers. This debris choked off oil pressure, proving the dealer fraudulently certified Safety Recall 23S64 as complete while leaving the lethal hazard trapped inside. In addition to this extreme debris, internal Ford OASIS logs admit the technician snapped a tensioner bolt during the recall. They drilled it out but failed to clean the engine, trapping sharp metallic shards that circulated into the oil system, destroying the turbocharger seals and scorching the gaskets. The dealer was given urgent warnings on April 7, 2026, when the driver reported interstate stalling ("limp mode at 70+ mph") and an AutoZone turbo pressure code. The dealer treated this severe safety risk as a low-priority task, failed to check the oil pressure, and released the car. After the forced pan drop in July, Ford Corporate denied coverage for a new long block and turbocharger, instructing the consumer to pay over $8,000 out of pocket for repairs caused entirely by their own botched recall.
NHTSA complaint #11755154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
No issues with vehicle until failure, properly maintained, regular oil changes. While driving the vehicle the engine lost power and check engine light came on. The vehicle RPM's increased but had no power. Was able to drive the vehicle home but was at inconstant speeds / RPMS could not get above 40 MPH. Low oil light came on while driving home as well. Made appointment at Ford local dealership, they verbally told me the engine blew and there was no oil in vehicle and metal in oil pan. The vehicle never missed a oil change. As a result I had to replace the engine with a used one the dealership had. Total engine failure at 98956 miles. This appears to be a recall on the 1.0 engine for same issue. My wife and kids were in car when it failed, in traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11754811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On XXX, my 2018 Ford EcoSport experienced a sudden loss of engine oil pressure and loss of power while driving on [XXX], consistent with the failure mode described in Ford Safety Recall 23S64 / NHTSA Recall 23V905 (engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm fracture and/or oil pump drive belt degradation). The vehicle lost motive power on a public highway and had to be towed to Olathe Ford Lincoln, Olathe, KS for repair. The dealer has confirmed the failure is covered under this recall, but has stated repair parts are backordered with an estimated repair time of 2–3 months. I am filing this complaint to document that the defect described in this recall has actually manifested in my vehicle — a loss of engine power on a highway — which per Ford's own notice also results in loss of the mechanical vacuum pump required for power brake assist, creating a serious crash risk. I am requesting NHTSA log this incident against Recall 23V905 and evaluate whether a 2–3 month repair timeline meets the "reasonable time" remedy standard under 49 U.S.C. § 30120. I also did not receive and notice of the recall before the event occured, so that I could be proactive with the repair before the dangerous situation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11754007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
For 14 months, I attempted to get active recalls fixed on the car at Downtown Sacramento Ford, which claimed to be certified pre-owned per Folsom Lake Ford but had existing recalls and issues when I bought it in March of 2024. My car finally broke down on 07/11/26 and was towed on 07/12/26 to the Elk Grove Ford dealership and "looked at" on 07/13/26. Today is 07/26/26, and I am still in a rental that takes a lot more gas than my regular car. I was told that they fixed the recall, but there is an issue with the turbo boost, and it is covered under warranty. They do not know when they are getting the part, but they are "working on it". I missed 4 days of work just from 07/11/26 to today 07/26/26 ontop of another 20 missed days since purchasing the car due to maintenance and engine issues related to the ongoing recall.
NHTSA complaint #11752911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact stated that while slowing down, the RPM became extremely elevated, and the low oil pressure warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate, and the contact pulled over into a nearby parking lot and parked the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #11751843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.