Ford EcoSport engine problems, 2018–2022
1,647 of the 1,854 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford EcoSport 2018–2022 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2018 (669), 2019 (408), 2020 (348). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin, 1 recall campaign, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Ford EcoSport engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 18% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2021 in depth | 220 | 85% | 55k | 4 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 348 | 87% | 71k | 4 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 408 | 89% | 68k | 12 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 669 | 92% | 68k | 17 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2018: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 48 · 2023: 339 · 2024: 751 · 2025: 374 · 2026: 116
Across the model years, half of the 623 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 51,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Driving back to North Carolina from Oklahoma my cars Low Oil Pressure light came on and dinged continuously. I was in the middle of Tennessee when this happened. The car lost all acceleration. I took it to a dealer the next morning and was told there is metal shavings in my oil. My oil level was fine.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the engine oil pressure light illuminated with a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed due to a lack of oil pressure.
Low oil pressure light came on while driving. I had to pull over immediately after have looked at it is caused by a belt and the whole motor will have to be replaced. This car was manufactured in February 2019 and this is a know issue by ford that should have been communicated to consumers if you look up SSM4920
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the oil warning light illuminated and the message "low oil pressure" flashed on and off. The contact was advised to immediately stop driving the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle and the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the dealer.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 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 …
1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Aug 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
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Ford EcoSport
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Ford EcoSport problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Ford EcoSport years have the most engine complaints?
2018, 669; 2019, 408; 2020, 348. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2018 (92%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Ford EcoSport?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 23V905000 (2022). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Ford EcoSport?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 66,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 51,000 and 80,000. 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.