NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
355 reportsClear category filter141,426 miles · Nov 12, 2023
Electrical SystemEngine
I am writing to you as I have many concerns about my Ford EcoSport. As I commute to my job or drive to pick up errands, my car suddenly stops. I would make a complete stop and I forget to press the Start/Stop button to disable it from shutting off the engine. This has happened several times and I have taken in my car before and …
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I am writing to you as I have many concerns about my Ford EcoSport. As I commute to my job or drive to pick up errands, my car suddenly stops. I would make a complete stop and I forget to press the Start/Stop button to disable it from shutting off the engine. This has happened several times and I have taken in my car before and all of the Ford dealerships and service workers have no idea of what the problem is or why it is doing this so frequently. I try to start my car and for some reason, it is not starting properly. It continues to make the sounds of it possibly starting and then it shuts off completely. This is the only vehicle that I have to commute with and do my daily errands. I am very concerned about this vehicle and how it is not a reliable source for me to get from place to place. What if something happens then what? I am in search of another car, which is so sad because it is a 2018 year car, which should be able to hold up and last for another 10+ years. I am very concerned for others who are seeing the same problem as myself. I have a brand-new engine, oil parts, and battery. I have had several oil changes within the same month directly at Ford's service centers. I do not know what I should do next. I am an educator, I help many students with different exceptionalities. When parents need help, I am here for them and support them in any assistance that I can. I know I will always be there for my students. I want to know if YOU can be here for ME and the other 93 individuals who have made reports on our investment in having this troublesome car. What would you do if you had no answers to a looming problem without knowing the exact problem? I appreciate the time and consideration that this report can be made useful for anyone who can help in assisting us. Again, thank you very much. I am looking forward to hearing from you!
NHTSA ODI #11554751
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2023
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
DRIVING DOWN ROAD WAY APPROX 35-40 MPH, SPEEDOMETER WENT UP TO 50MPH, DOWN TO 30MPH, ENGINE WAS SHAKING AND SOUNDED LIKE A LAWN MOWER, THEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, OIL PRESSURE, CHANGE OIL, CHECK ENGINE, ABS, ALL LIGHTS, CAR DIED AND WILL NOT START.
NHTSA ODI #11554514
Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2023
Engine
I was driving on a trip when without any other warning my low oil pressure light came on and started dinging. I lost the ability to accelerate. Thankfully I was able to get off interstate without causing an accident. The next day I was told I needed a new engine. I have researched this engine and have discovered many other incid…
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I was driving on a trip when without any other warning my low oil pressure light came on and started dinging. I lost the ability to accelerate. Thankfully I was able to get off interstate without causing an accident. The next day I was told I needed a new engine. I have researched this engine and have discovered many other incidents of complete engine failure with these cars. Ford should recall these cars before someone does get killed
NHTSA ODI #11554349
62,000 miles · Nov 9, 2023
Engine
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The check engine and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the wet belt was being circulated through the…
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The contact owns a 2018 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The check engine and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the wet belt was being circulated through the oil which caused a blockage resulting in the engine losing oil pressure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #11554348
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2023
EngineUnknown Or Other
My oil pump went out at 73,000 miles. With no oil flowing through the engine I have to replace the pump, turbo, and entire engine. My car was working fine in the morning but driving home was scary. My car could’ve blown up on the tollway. On my way home October 22nd I got a “low engine oil pressure” warning. No warning that morn…
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My oil pump went out at 73,000 miles. With no oil flowing through the engine I have to replace the pump, turbo, and entire engine. My car was working fine in the morning but driving home was scary. My car could’ve blown up on the tollway. On my way home October 22nd I got a “low engine oil pressure” warning. No warning that morning and car was fine till after 5pm. I’ve had two mechanics look at it and confirmed it was the oil pump that went out and was a problem ford production caused. My engine is on back order and I’m stuck making payments on a car I don’t have
NHTSA ODI #11554221
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2023
Engine
While driving the vehicle steering wheel began shaking and then an alarm went off stating "Engine Oil Pressure Low". I was able to pull over on a residential street and park the vehicle due to this happening and the vehicle losing engine power. I was lucky that I was not on the highway and was able to pull over and park the vehi…
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While driving the vehicle steering wheel began shaking and then an alarm went off stating "Engine Oil Pressure Low". I was able to pull over on a residential street and park the vehicle due to this happening and the vehicle losing engine power. I was lucky that I was not on the highway and was able to pull over and park the vehicle. I am having the vehicle towed back to my home and will have it taken to a repair facility on Friday. I did not have any prior notices from the vehicle until the incident happened today.
NHTSA ODI #11553981
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2023
Engine
While driving on the highway, low oil pressure indicator came on which led to loud noises from engine a few moments later. Which led to a loss of acceleration and power to engine, resulting in being towed. This risked mine and others lives on the highway. The problem is well known with an open class action lawsuit for similar p…
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While driving on the highway, low oil pressure indicator came on which led to loud noises from engine a few moments later. Which led to a loss of acceleration and power to engine, resulting in being towed. This risked mine and others lives on the highway. The problem is well known with an open class action lawsuit for similar problems with other same vehicles.
NHTSA ODI #11553944
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2023
Engine
The engine cracked internally, and coolant intrusion is what has been diagnosed by the dealership's service department. A brand new engine is required. I am more than happy to ask the dealer to keep the old engine for inspection, and I have attached photos provided to me from the diagnosis. In these photos, coolant can be seen d…
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The engine cracked internally, and coolant intrusion is what has been diagnosed by the dealership's service department. A brand new engine is required. I am more than happy to ask the dealer to keep the old engine for inspection, and I have attached photos provided to me from the diagnosis. In these photos, coolant can be seen dripping along the engine walls. There also appears to be a crack between two pistons. This is incredibly disheartening to see at only 38,996 miles. Thankfully, I was parked when the engine had an incredibly rough start and idle. With only three cylinders and two misfiring according to early code retrievals, this might have been nasty had it occurred during travel. It was giving very aggressive shakes before turning off entirely in park. Check engine lights occurred after the engine was failing to work properly, and it was showing piston misfiring codes for two cylinders. This may be a design flaw with the engine design, but I am worried the replacement will have the same issue in the future if a new design was not implemented to correct or amend these issues.
NHTSA ODI #11553878
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2023
Engine
Urgent Complaint - Engine Failure Issue in 2018 Ford EcoSport I am writing to bring to your attention a critical safety concern regarding the engine failure in my 2018 Ford Eco Sport. This incident not only endangered the lives of my wife and daughter but also highlights a pervasive issue that appears to be affecting a signifi…
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Urgent Complaint - Engine Failure Issue in 2018 Ford EcoSport I am writing to bring to your attention a critical safety concern regarding the engine failure in my 2018 Ford Eco Sport. This incident not only endangered the lives of my wife and daughter but also highlights a pervasive issue that appears to be affecting a significant number of vehicles. On 10/28/2023, my wife and daughter were driving on the freeway when the engine began to sputter and ultimately shut down. Simultaneously, an oil light illuminated, indicating a catastrophic engine failure was imminent. They narrowly managed to reach a safe location at the airport before the car completely ceased functioning. This situation posed a severe threat to their safety, especially considering the high-speed freeway conditions. Upon inspection by a certified Ford dealership, it was confirmed that the engine experienced a critical failure. This dealership also conveyed that such failures have been observed in numerous vehicles of the same make and model due to a belt-related issue. It is disconcerting to learn that Ford has introduced an updated engine design post-2018, which implies an acknowledgment of this inherent flaw. Regrettably, our vehicle is no longer under warranty, leaving us with the substantial financial burden of replacing the engine. It is deeply unjust that we, as consumers, should bear the expense for a systemic manufacturing defect that has affected countless individuals. I implore you to investigate this matter thoroughly and take appropriate action to rectify the situation. It is imperative that Ford assumes responsibility for the faulty engine in our 2018 model, as well as in all affected vehicles, by initiating a recall or offering financial assistance for repairs. I appreciate your prompt attention to this urgent matter and trust that you will prioritize the safety and well-being of consumers who have placed their trust in Ford's products.
NHTSA ODI #11553813
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2023
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
On 11/03/2023 my low oil pressure light came on in my 2018 Ecosport and the motor shut down as I was driving home. There was a car directly behind me that had to hit their brakes as I had no power. Luckily, I was able to coast to the shoulder of the road. My car is currently at the Ford dealership and should be checked on 11…
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On 11/03/2023 my low oil pressure light came on in my 2018 Ecosport and the motor shut down as I was driving home. There was a car directly behind me that had to hit their brakes as I had no power. Luckily, I was able to coast to the shoulder of the road. My car is currently at the Ford dealership and should be checked on 11/06/2023. I've had to go out of pocket for a rental.
NHTSA ODI #11553657
NHTSA investigations
1PE23015 · Oil Pump Failure
Opened Sep 20, 2023 · Closed Feb 14, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
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 the engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increase the risk of a crash. On December 22, 2023, Ford filed recall 23V-905 for certain MY 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The recall remedy provides the replacement of the oil pump drive belt tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt with redesigned parts to improve robustness. In view of the recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.