2018 Ford Ecosport Engine Problems
Owners have filed 355 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2018 Ford Ecosport, 49% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil pressure” (48% of reports).
- 355engine complaints
- 65,000median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $7,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 54%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil pressure: mentioned in 169 of 355 complaints (48%)
- Low engine: mentioned in 47 of 355 complaints (13%)
- Pump belt: mentioned in 28 of 355 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2018 Ford Ecosport at $7,000, and half of them between $6,150 and $8,250.
Based on 30 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2025), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 73 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 355 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford Ecosport engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Ecosport | 2 | 17% | 34,835 |
| 2021 Ecosport | 87 | 33% | 60,539 |
| 2020 Ecosport | 170 | 43% | 65,000 |
| 2019 Ecosport | 193 | 42% | 66,000 |
| 2018 Ecosport | 355 | 49% | 65,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump
Problem: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 23S64.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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.
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.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Ford Ecosports have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 355 owner complaints about engine for the 2018 Ford Ecosport (49% of the 726 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Ford Ecosport engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2018 Ford Ecosport?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,000 (half paid between $6,150 and $8,250), from 30 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2018 Ford Ecosport?
The most frequent phrase is “oil pressure”, in 169 of 355 complaints, followed by “low engine” (47).
Other 2018 Ford Ecosport problems
See all 2018 Ford Ecosport problems or engine problems across all Ecosport years.