2018 Ford Ecosport

In December of 2021 my vehicle started to feel like it was "trying to die" for lack of a better words. On December 18th I took it to Firestone in Tulsa, Ok to have it check and the mechanic at the time told me to take it directly to Bill Knight Ford in Tulsa, Ok where it was purchased. On the way there the vehicle completely shut down while on the highway with every warning light coming on. It was left in a parking lot that night and was towed to Bill Knight the following Monday. They said there was a manufacturing issue with the engine and that it was known to Ford and that a new engine would need to be put in the vehicle. Not sure if this truly qualifies but was told there is a lawsuit pending because so many people have encountered this problem.

The vehicle had an intense loss of power and slowed down to a few miles per hour even with the gas pedal pushed down all the way. This put us in harms way until we could get out of the way of moving traffic. In a parking lot, the vehicle stopped and would not start. The engine light came on briefly before the event. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The service department indicated that the engine was bad and a new one would be needed. The vehicle was held by the service department for about a month until another engine became available. The failed engine was then replaced. The service documentation indicated that there was debris in the failed engine. Due to the extended warranty in place, only the $100 deductible fee was paid. While we are grateful that we did not have to pay the full price for the repair, our main concern is the sudden failure of the engine.

My car’s “low engine oil pressure” light came on at the end of a long road trip. I immediately began getting off the highway and trying to exit. That’s when the car stopped accelerating and I coasted to a stop in a neighborhood right off the road. I drove for less than 3 minutes after the light came on. My car was towed and the mechanic at the dealership told me it was a problem with the engine and I had no oil. I called my insurance, assuming a large pothole I hit on the road trip caused damage. But the adjuster found no evidence of damage at all. It turns out, the engine’s oil pump belt was shredded due to a tensioner problem. I googled this issue in my model car and discovered that the NHTSA is apredatory investigating this problem across 2018-2021 Ecosports. This is extremely concerning bc my car is barely 5 years old and only has 38,000 miles. Ford says the belt should last through 150,000 and it barely made it 1/4 of that. Because it wasn’t damaged and the vehicle isn’t recalled yet, I will likely have to pay nearly $8,000 out of pocket to repair my car.

I was doing 60 mph on a back road when I had sudden loss of engine power and the oil pump light came on. Car is now in the shop and cannot be driven due to oil pump failure and needing a whole new engine. The oil pump light was ONLY flickering and would not STAY ON the whole time until I had my check engine light come on and lost power. It has been inspected by Gallery Ford in Pekin, Illinois and I was told a new engine was required but they are on back order and no one new when they would get it in. They have a 2019 sitting on the lot for 7 months due to this same issue. This started happening on the freeway and it puts myself in the line of danger when people. When I am going slow or even stopped someone could easily not pay any mind and hit the car and seriously hurt my family and myself. I live in Ohio and just BARELY made it to my fathers house in Manito Illinois. I had to get it towed to the dealership.

October 10, 2023, vehicle was taking to dealership for oil leaks and check engine light. After inspection, the Mechanic replaced valve cover gaskets, new valve cover, injection o-rings, that was for oil leaks. Check engine light was for VMV valve, thermostat. Dealer had it for 4 days, mileage at 62,043. November 22, 2023, my elderly mom who I bought this car for was driving on a highway, lost complete engine while driving, completely stopped in the middle of the highway, the car is not drivable and suddenly stopped with no engine response to even drive it to the side. ON A HIGHWAY. She had to get people to push her off to the side of the road. Towed the vehicle to the dealer. The car has 63,265 miles and the mechanic has confirmed that the engine is completely defective due to no oil pressure in the car, oil pump wasn't working, so no oil in engine due to the belt breaking inside of the engine. Submitted for replacement of engine, is approved however there is a back order on the engine so we don't know when she will have it repaired. She has no other car. The engine lights came on only when the engine failed. I have read several complaints about the same problem with this car. This car is a danger to my elderly mother which cannot be reliable for her. Ford must repair this defective belt issue with a chain or something where the belt should last longer than 65,000 miles. This is a consumer problem as well, we cannot afford another engine replacement in 2 years after the warranty expires. The engine in this car is not reliable nor made well. We need Ford to address this as soon as possible and make this right to me the consumer in which I paid full price for this car and it is paid off!

I was on the way home from work when out of no where the engine light and a indicator saying low engine oil pressure came on I totally lost power driving on a highway and the car came to a stop. Mechanic told me it was the oil belt tensioner caused the engine failure and now i have to pay 4000 dollars on top of my monthly car and insurance company for a vehicle that just quite on me.

10/27/23 Driving and "Low Engine Oil Pressure Warning" came on. Pulled over as soon as I could. Husband loaded it up on a trailer the next morning to the Ford dealership. They called that afternoon to tell us that a NEW ENGINE is required!!!! It took until 11-24-23 and OVER $5,500 for a new engine to get my vehicle back! There is a 3 year warranty on the new engine, but no reassurance that this will not occur again. The vehicle had only 58,xxx miles on it.

11/19-While driving on interstate received "Low Engine Oil Pressure Warning" while trying to work through traffic to get off the interstate vehicle slowed from `65mph to `25mph would not accelerate and was almost rear ended and hit by other vehicles. Vehicle was towed to Ford dealer and was told that the Engine would need to be replaced. Research is showing a flaw in the Engine Oil pump design and many customers are reporting same issues. Repairs are estimated at $6,100 with No assurance from Parts Dept. at dealership that the replacement engine will have been updated and corrected this issue.