2020 Ford Ecosport

​Statement of Problem & Safety Risk: I am filing a complaint regarding a persistent, critical safety defect on my 2020 Ford EcoSport. This vehicle previously suffered an engine failure linked to Ford Recall 23S64 / NHTSA Campaign 23V-905 (oil pump drive belt/tensioner failure causing loss of oil pressure). An engine assembly replacement was performed under the recall around 58,000 miles. ​Despite having the recall service performed, the replacement engine has now experienced a secondary failure. The vehicle’s wrench light illuminated, and the car went into severe "Limp Mode" while being driven, resulting in an immediate loss of accelerator power and engine torque. ​This creates an extreme safety hazard, causing a sudden loss of drive power in traffic and exposing the engine to potential oil starvation, complete engine seizure, and loss of power braking assist. ​Manufacturer & Dealership Non-Compliance: Both Ford Motor Company customer service and local Ford dealership management have stonewalled our requests to diagnose and address this recurring safety hazard under the active federal recall. They have refused to assist or provide appropriate loaner transportation while the vehicle remains unsafe to operate. ​I request that NHTSA document this failed recall repair, investigate repeat oil pump belt/engine failures on vehicles serviced under Campaign 23V-905, and compel Ford Motor Company to honor its safety recall obligations. This is an ongoing problem these cars are junk and the consumer is stuck paying for it. I am not sure what date to put underneath here because the issue is ongoing

The affected component is the powertrain system in my 2020 Ford EcoSport. The vehicle has experienced repeated powertrain-related failures and is available for inspection upon request. In May 2025, the vehicle required a full engine replacement, yet I am continuing to experience serious powertrain-related issues. The vehicle has displayed powertrain malfunction warnings and has experienced improper acceleration, hesitation, loss of power, and instances where the vehicle has stopped at intersections. These issues create a serious safety risk because the vehicle may not respond when acceleration is needed, including when entering traffic, turning, merging, or attempting to avoid hazards. A vehicle that loses power or stops unexpectedly at intersections creates a risk of collision and puts myself, my passengers, and other motorists in danger. This issue has occurred multiple times and has required repeated service attention. The vehicle is scheduled to be inspected again due to the ongoing powertrain failure concern. Despite significant repairs, including a complete engine replacement, the underlying issue appears to remain unresolved. Prior to the failures, the vehicle displayed warning messages related to the powertrain system. The symptoms have included reduced acceleration, hesitation, loss of power, and the vehicle stopping unexpectedly while driving. The vehicle has been inspected by Ford service providers, including the prior engine replacement performed in May 2025. I am submitting this complaint because repeated powertrain failures, loss of acceleration, and unexpected stopping while operating the vehicle present a significant safety concern. I believe this issue warrants investigation to determine whether there is a broader defect affecting 2020 Ford EcoSport vehicles.

On April 3, 2026, this vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic mechanical failure as I was driving on US-169, in Kansas City, Mo.,l The engine seized and the fuel line ruptured resulting in an undercarriage fire with small explosions. I had to be physically extracted from the burning vehicle by a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy, Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Liberty, Missouri (Report #CC2600810). This catastrophic asset and recall remedy failure is the direct result of a recognized federal safety defect (Ford Safety Recall 23S64 / NHTSA Campaign 23V905). The original engine blew from an oil pump failure in October 2024 and was towed to certified Ford dealer Smithville (Mo.) Ford on October 9, 2024 as per the recall. The new engine was not re-installed until May 24, 2025 due to delay in getting parts At the time of the recall reinstallation, the vehicle had 61,556 miles on it. When the fire happened on April 3 of this year, the vehicle had 70, 956 miles . I want to emphasize that Under explicit authorization from Ford Motor Company’s recall interim guidelines, the dealership performed a complete engine assembly swap. Per the official service invoice, this replacement engine was backed by a 3-year or 100,000-mile Ford Powertrain Warranty. At the time of the fire 11 months later, the vehicle had not yet reached 71,000 miles and was fully covered under active factory warranty.

My 2020 Ford EcoSport (1.0L EcoBoost) is covered by Recall 23S64 / NHTSA 23V905 (engine oil pump drive belt). The defect causes sudden loss of motive power at highway speed (65+ mph), usually after 40+ minutes of driving, with the powertrain warning light and code P0299 (turbo underboost). Losing power in Los Angeles freeway traffic is the safety hazard. The recall remedy has failed repeatedly. In Oct 2025 the dealer tore down the engine, confirmed the oil pump belt had disintegrated and clogged the oil pickup, and replaced the complete engine (long block) under the recall in Dec 2025. The recall now shows as completed for this vehicle, but since that repair, with under 500 miles driven: (1) the turbocharger failed again and was replaced under warranty in Feb 2026, about 77 miles after the new engine; (2) in Apr 2026 the dealer found a cracked valve cover leaking oil into cylinder 3 (codes P0313, P0299); (3) on May 23, 2026 I picked the car up and the same power-loss condition returned THE SAME DAY - the dealer then found a loose air charge pipe; (4) on Jun 20, 2026 I picked the car up again and it failed THE SAME DAY. Both same-day failures are corroborated by round-trip rideshare receipts. The vehicle has been at the dealer since Jun 20, 2026, and the service advisor has not answered my written requests for diagnosis or coverage for over a week. Before the recall was confirmed, the same defect caused repeated repairs from Jun 2024 on (13 shop visits, 9 to Ford dealers). In Aug 2025 Ford's own technical hotline directed an engine teardown to find the root cause; the dealer advisor declined it. The remedy under Recall 23S64 has not remedied the defect: the recall-replaced engine has failed component by component within 500 miles and the vehicle remains out of service. All components are available for inspection at the dealer. Full repair orders, invoices, and dated records are available on request.

Driving on the highway in Dallas, all of a sudden I didn’t have any acceleration. Foot all the way down on the pedal, barely holding 60mph on a 70mph highway. Service light came on and I got an alert on my phone. I had to carefully take side roads and take an hour to get home. It ended up being recall number 23S64. This recall has been in place since January 2024 and I have called multiple times since then to get scheduled repairs, but each time, I was told the parts were back ordered and not available, so I waited. Now that is is not safe to drive, parts are still back ordered and I’ve been without a car for six weeks. Called today and they still have no idea when it will be fixed or when they’ll get parts. I also got two calls that said they had parts but when I called back they didn’t.

Vehicle experienced sudden severe loss of motive power consistent with Ford Safety Recall 23S64 (NHTSA Campaign 23V905000). Prior to repair, the vehicle entered limp mode and could not accelerate beyond approximately 30 to 35 MPH. Low oil pressure warning indicators and check engine light illuminated repeatedly. Engine produced abnormal grinding and strained startup noises. Vehicle also experienced hesitation, shaking, and difficulty maintaining safe roadway speeds. While I was trying stop at a red light the vehicle struggles to brake although the brakes are applied, after coming to a full stop the vehicle shutdowns and would have restart. During operation, vehicle struggled to accelerate in traffic and braking performance became concerning due to severe engine power loss and unstable operation. On multiple occasions, the engine nearly stalled or shut down completely after stopping at intersections. Vehicle was delivered to Ford dealership for Recall 23S64 repair. Dealer completed the recall repair and stated oil pressure had been restored; however, the vehicle continued exhibiting the same severe loss of power and limp mode symptoms after completion of the recall procedure. Dealer later performed additional diagnostics and identified DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too Low) and a broken intake camshaft requiring major engine repairs estimated at approximately $9,000. Dealer stated the engine damage was not covered or related under the recall despite the vehicle originally presenting with the same low oil pressure, loss of motive power, and drivability symptoms described in Recall 23S64. Vehicle remains unsafe to operate due to unresolved loss of power and internal engine damage. Concern exists that the recall related oil pressure failure may have caused consequential internal engine damage that was not fully corrected by the recall repair procedure. Problem has been confirmed by authorized Ford dealership inspection and diagnostic testing.

The primary failure is the engine assembly and turbocharger, specifically caused by the failure of the oil pump drive belt and tensioner system (subject of Safety Recall 23S64 / NHTSA 23V-905). Despite an attempted recall "remedy" on August 25, 2025, the engine suffered internal oil starvation due to belt debris (rubber fibers) remaining in the oil passages. The dealership has confirmed in writing that the turbocharger failed and the engine requires a "long block replacement" due to "debris in the oil passages" and a "clogged turbo oil feed filter." The vehicle is currently held at dealership, and the failed components are available for inspection. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power while in operation, a condition specifically cited in the safety risk section of Recall 23S64. This loss of power occurred during acceleration, creating an immediate risk of a rear-end collision or being stranded in active traffic. Additionally, per the recall notice, this failure path can lead to a loss of the mechanical vacuum pump, which provides power braking assist. A sudden increase in braking effort combined with a stalled engine significantly increases the risk of a crash. The problem has been confirmed by the dealership. On January 5, 2026, the service department diagnosed a failed turbocharger then on April 17th 2026, the service department diagnosed the problem to be a internal engine debris clogging oil feed lines. They verified the engine has oil pressure at the pump but is failing to deliver oil to critical components (turbo/upper block) due to contamination from the defective belt system.The vehicle has been inspected by the authorized Ford manufacturer representative at the dealership. I have also escalated the case to Ford Customer Relationship Center, though they have yet to provide a $0-cost safety remedy as required by federal law. October 9, 2025: "Powertrain Malfunction Light" message appeared. Then later "check engine light" as well as "battery"

My vehicle has been non-operable since June 2025 due to an engine failure requiring engine replacement. Ford has stated the engine is on backorder, and the vehicle has now been out of service for over 10 months. My request for a buyback was denied several times because it is technically out of the Lemon Law period. I am submitting a complaint against Ford and would like them to buy back the vehicle. There is no set date when the engine will be ready. Additionally, replacing the engine will significantly impact the vehicle’s resale value, placing me at a financial disadvantage through no fault of my own, as this issue stems from a manufacturer's recall.