2021 Ford EcoSport engine problems
220 of the 259 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford EcoSport name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 4 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 220 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 90 · 2025: 86 · 2026: 26
Half of the 74 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 34,000 and 67,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
259 complaints in all about the 2021 Ford EcoSport, 26 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford EcoSport engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Several times now my engine has shut off while driving and in the middle of coming to a stop. Luckily my breaks still worked with the vehicle shut down. I'd have to put in park and manually restart the vehicle to continue driving. This is something that puts myself and others on the road at risk
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Eco Sport. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle lost motive power and hesitated while accelerating. The low oil pressure, Wrench, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed.
I was driving my Ecosport when suddenly we heard a ding and a warning came on stating “low engine oil pressure”. We pulled over immediately, was advised by our dealer to not drive it.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle failed to accelerate above 65 MPH. The check engine warning light and wrench symbol warning were illuminated.
Engine failure on a 2021 model had to replace engine with only 66,000 miles on a new car
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 23V905000 HighDec 22, 2023 · 139,730 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
NHTSA investigation
- PE23015 Oil Pump Failureopened Sep 20, 2023 · closed Feb 14, 2024
- On September 20, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-015 to investigate instances of engine failure due to loss of oil pressure in model year (MY) 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport vehicles. Some consumers reported a low engine oil pressure warning lamp immediately preceding a complete loss or reduction of motive power while the vehicle was in motion. The investigation revealed that …
4 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 26L02 OtherAug 25, 2026
- Customer Satisfaction Program 26L02 Certain 2014-2021 Model Year Various Vehicles 1.0L Fox Classic Engine Timing Belt and Oil Pump Belt Interval Change
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0012 P0014 P0128 P0451 P0455 P0456 P0496 P04F0
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Ford EcoSport names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Ford EcoSport
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 50 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Ford EcoSport?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 220 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (85% of everything owners filed about it), and 4 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Ford EcoSport?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 23V905000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Ford EcoSport?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 55,000 miles; half of them between 34,000 and 67,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.