2018 Ford Ecosport problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling (279) · Engine (219) · Power Train (50)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Ecosport model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
267 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/Lubrication:pump 2023-12-22 · campaign 23V905000 · 139,730 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor). Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. For
Service Brakes 2018-05-14 · campaign 18V312000 · 273 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Ecosport vehicles sold in the United States Federal Territiories. These vehicles were shipped with the European brake reservoir pictogram cap label and the European English language owner's manual kits. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Owners could be confused by the incorrect label on the brake fluid cap, potentially causing them to replace the brake fluid with an incorrect fluid which could affect brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid cap and owner's manual kit, free of charge. The recall began on June 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C04.
Service bulletins (95)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-25 · 26L02 · Other
customer satisfaction program 26l02 certain 2014-2021 model year various vehicles 1.0l fox classic engine timing belt and oil pump belt interval change
Unknown Or Other 2024-05-27 · TSB 24-2165 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 21-2175 to update the tsb service procedure. some 2016 mks, 2016-2017 navigator, 2016-2018 f-150/focus/c-max/edge/fiesta/mkx/transit connect/mustang, 2017-2018 continental/fusion/mkz, 2017-2019 explorer, 2016-2019 escape/mkc/flex/mkt/taurus/transit/expedition/f-super duty
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Power Train 2024-03-01 · SSM 52314 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
during service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical. incorrect torque may allow the bolt to loosen resulting in the timing gear breaking and engine damage. replacement of the bolt
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-06-08 · SAN-Vol1 I1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the service awareness newsletter is an informal communication that contains information that may not be presently available in a tsb, ssm, gsb, or other electronic communication. this article includes information on warranty, technical service tips and other service information.
Structure 2023-04-04 · SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2000-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. it is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (vin) from a different vehicle. most modules on these affe
Showing the 6 most recent of 95 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-16 · Engine“vehicle equipped with 1.0 l eco-boost engine suffered a catastrophic internal cylinder head fracture leading to antifreeze flooding two cylinders income, complete engine failure. this is a known widespread manufacturing defect that mirrors, fords large eco-booth, coolant intrusion crisis.…”
2026-09-03 · Engine“while having oil changed at the ford dealership, i was told there was a small oil leak. i made an appt for a diagnostic test for the following week. i was told the diagnostic test showed a cracked valve cover. i had it repaired while they had the vehicle.…”
2026-09-01 · Power Train“i have had issues in the past with the transmission of this car for the past few months, it initially started to give me issues around 49k miles in this car, so i got it flushed out by a mechanic and it ran fine for a few months. just a few days ago, i was headed home and my transmission went completely out as i was about to enter a state highway a…”
2026-09-01 · Engine“1.0l ecoboost suffered a repeat failure following recall 23s64, metro ford of okc confirmed in writing that prior dealer workmanship caused the failure, and ford corporate (case # cxh-08846832) is completely unresponsive, leaving the vehicle inoperable and unsafe.…”
2026-08-26 · Power Train“i had a purge valve put in about a year ago and was told that that was the problem for my gas gauge going completely to empty while driving and losing power while driving …”
2026-08-12 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 71,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ford ecosport. the contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 23v905000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the failure occurred a year after the recall repair was performed. the contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive pow…”
2026-07-31 · Engine“on xxx, my 2018 ford ecosport experienced a sudden loss of engine oil pressure and loss of power while driving on [xxx], consistent with the failure mode described in ford safety recall 23s64 / nhtsa recall 23v905 (engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm fracture and/or oil pump drive belt degradation). the vehicle lost motive power on a public hi…”
2026-07-21 · Engine · 106,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ford ecosport. the contact stated that while driving 55 mph, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle lost automotive power. the contact stated that while slowing down, the rpm became extremely elevated, and the low oil pressure warning light remained illuminated. the vehicle failed to acc…”
2026-07-06 · Power Train“there was a recall on these cars do to timing chain issues but mine was not in the recall with the others but ones not in recall are having same issues. car is a ticking time bomb i want fixed under the recall. …”
2026-06-12 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the braking system failed, preventing the vehicle from stopping properly. the vehicle is currently at a tow yard and is available for inspection upon request. how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? because the brakes failed, i was…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.