NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
726 reportsMileage unknown · Sep 26, 2023
Engine
We were driving from an out of town trip and the warning "low engine oil pressure" came on dashboard, car lost power. My husband checked oil, was good. He turned car off and did not re-start. It was towed to nearest Ford dealer. We finally got a call on 9/25/23 that it will require a new engine! We have been researching and…
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We were driving from an out of town trip and the warning "low engine oil pressure" came on dashboard, car lost power. My husband checked oil, was good. He turned car off and did not re-start. It was towed to nearest Ford dealer. We finally got a call on 9/25/23 that it will require a new engine! We have been researching and this issue has come up with this vehicle, even the Ford representative told me this has been an issue. It is covered under 3rd party warranty, we are waiting to get claim approved. Since this has been an issue, is there anything that can be done? I still owe vehicle and am concerned that I will continue to have issues after engine gets replaced. Thank you in advance for any help on this matter.
NHTSA ODI #11546619
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2023
Unknown Or Other
My oil pump messed up, the belt fell apart inside the oil pan, man it’s so much [XXX] that messed up because of this belt and oil pump it’s a whole [XXX] list. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11546500
90,000 miles · Sep 25, 2023
Engine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost engine power, reducing the speed to approximately 15 MPH. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The…
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The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost engine power, reducing the speed to approximately 15 MPH. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #11546430
54,041 miles · Sep 25, 2023
Engine
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to stall. The contact stated she was able to drive the vehicle to the local gas station and checked the engine oil level. The contact stated the engine oil level was adequate. Th…
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The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to stall. The contact stated she was able to drive the vehicle to the local gas station and checked the engine oil level. The contact stated the engine oil level was adequate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with failed oil pump belt tensioner. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and approved the engine replacement. The failure mileage was approximately 54,041.
NHTSA ODI #11546352
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2023
Engine
Car will not produce oil pressure despite having a full reservoir. Car has 51,000 miles on it and has been serviced according to recommendations.
NHTSA ODI #11546337
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2023
Engine
Oil pump failure causing damage to motor and operation of vehicle. Currently unable to drive due to oil pump manufacturer defect causing vehicle to break down on June 2 2023.
NHTSA ODI #11546290
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2023
Engine
On July 14, 2023 at about 1:30 PM Central time, I was driving my 2018 Ford EcoSport on I-435 in the Kansas City metropolitan area when my oil warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost almost all power. I immediately pulled off the highway and turned off my engine. I turned the engine back on to move further off the highw…
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On July 14, 2023 at about 1:30 PM Central time, I was driving my 2018 Ford EcoSport on I-435 in the Kansas City metropolitan area when my oil warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost almost all power. I immediately pulled off the highway and turned off my engine. I turned the engine back on to move further off the highway for my safety. When I restarted the engine, it made loud "clanking" noises. I had the vehicle towed to my local certified mechanic who diagnosed the problem as a "total engine failure", I paid to have a new, Ford Motor Company crate engine installed in the vehicle. Once the new engine was installed, my mechanic found that the turbocharger had also been damaged. I paid to have to have the turbo replaced to return the car to its original operating condition. Please note that on the repair bill, the mechanic erroneously listed my sister and father's name on the invoice, I've also attached a copy of the Missouri vehicle registration listing me as the lawful owner. Of note, the engine I had installed was actually the second one ordered by my mechanic, the local dealer cancelled the original shipment because that engine was also at risk for the same type of catastrophic failure. The second engine ordered was alleged to be an upgraded one that was not subject to the oil pump failure concerns. The shipping dealer would not tell my mechanic what the exact issue was with the Ford 1L I-3 turbo engine. I do have a repair bill for the engine and turbo replacement costs. I contacted Ford Motor Company to ask for compensation to reimburse me for the cost of the engine and turbo replacement, I have not received a reply. On September 12, 2023 I sold the EcoSport to a local dealer as I no longer felt the vehicle was safe to operate. Prior to the engine losing power and the oil warning light illuminating, there were no symptoms of an impending engine failure. In fact, I had the oil changed using OEM parts just a few days prior to the incident.
NHTSA ODI #11546270
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2023
Engine
On 9/17/2023, I was driving on the interstate when I got a notification telling me low engine oil pressure. After that, my car essentially shut off. I could no longer accelerate and had to carefully maneuver to the right side of the interstate so I could pull over. After being towed to the Cavalier Ford Chesapeake Square dealer…
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On 9/17/2023, I was driving on the interstate when I got a notification telling me low engine oil pressure. After that, my car essentially shut off. I could no longer accelerate and had to carefully maneuver to the right side of the interstate so I could pull over. After being towed to the Cavalier Ford Chesapeake Square dealership, I was notified that my oil pump belt tensioner had failed. The service technician working on the vehicle stated he immediately knew the issue upon starting the vehicle. In June/July 2023, I received the same notification and was told it was a sensor that needed to be replaced. We are unsure if the two incidents are related. As of 9/24/2023 the vehicle is at Cavalier Ford Chesapeake Square waiting for the engine to be replaced .
NHTSA ODI #11546238
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2023
Engine
My oil pump and check engine light came on, experienced loss of power, and rough riding. I took to ford dealership in dover Delaware and they told me the oil pump failed and I need a new engine.. my car only has 103000 miles on it. I just bought this car 1 year ago and still owe on it. Also they report that I need a new catalyt…
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My oil pump and check engine light came on, experienced loss of power, and rough riding. I took to ford dealership in dover Delaware and they told me the oil pump failed and I need a new engine.. my car only has 103000 miles on it. I just bought this car 1 year ago and still owe on it. Also they report that I need a new catalytic converter and the flex pipe. My car is available for inspection however I have no choice but to let them repossess it I can’t afford to pay for a car I can’t use, nor can I afford the repair bill of 10,000. I’m out of a car now and have no transportation.
NHTSA ODI #11546231
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2023
EnginePower TrainService Brakes
I got in the car one morning and got a low pressure oil light so I thought it needed more oil so I put more oil in the car and then as I was driving I had low acceleration. Then my brakes started to go out Then my brakes started to go out. Not like they needed to be replaced but they were very hard to press and you needed to pre…
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I got in the car one morning and got a low pressure oil light so I thought it needed more oil so I put more oil in the car and then as I was driving I had low acceleration. Then my brakes started to go out Then my brakes started to go out. Not like they needed to be replaced but they were very hard to press and you needed to press them all the way to the floor but you still didn't have any breaks. My safety and other people safety was put at risk when I was driving the car and my brake started to go out because I didn't have any way to stop my car. The issue has been confirmed by an independent mechanic that I took the car too that I was told I needed to take it to buy my warranty company. It has been taken to a mechanic it's been at the mechanic for 2 plus weeks. I It is currently available to look at but the mechanic is fighting with my warranty company to get a new engine to replace the one I currently have because that's a conclusion that they have come to that i need a new engine. I was told on Thursday the 21st than an inspector from the warranty company was coming out to look at the car to determine whether or not they would approve for me to get a new engine. My check oil light and my check engine light came on as soon as I started having issues and Soon as the check engine light came on as when I started looking in to getting it fixed.
NHTSA ODI #11546170
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.