2021 Ford Ecosport Engine and Engine Cooling Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 134 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2021 Ford Ecosport, 51% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 55,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine cooling contacted” (28% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Engine cooling contacted: mentioned in 38 of 134 complaints (28%)
  • Power train: mentioned in 17 of 134 complaints (13%)
  • Notifications numbers: mentioned in 16 of 134 complaints (12%)
  • Oil pressure: mentioned in 16 of 134 complaints (12%)

At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?

Based on 65 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles4 · 6%
10k–25k miles9 · 14%
25k–50k miles16 · 25%
50k–75k miles28 · 43%
75k–100k miles7 · 11%
100k–150k miles1 · 2%
150k+ miles0 · 0%

How serious are the reports?

Of 134 complaints, 1 mention a crash.

Ford Ecosport engine and engine cooling complaints by model year

Peak: 2018, with 311 complaints
2018: 31120183112019: 21520192152020: 17920201792021: 1342021134

n = 839 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearEngine and Engine Cooling complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2021 Ecosport13451%55,000
2020 Ecosport17945%71,670
2019 Ecosport21547%69,000
2018 Ecosport31143%70,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2024, with 63 complaints
2022: 1202212023: 2202322024: 632024632025: 592025592026: 920269

n = 134 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pumpDec 22, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V905000 · 139,730 vehicles

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.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle restarted after 20 minutes. The Check Engine warning light was illuminated. The "Charging System Failed" message was displayed. The vehicle was previously taken to the…

Received Jun 9, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11743015

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving 60-65 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact exited the highway and pulled into a truck stop service station, where the contact was informed that the oil level was normal. The contact resumed…

Received Apr 29, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11734557

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the turnpike, the vehicle made an abnormal sound before it stalled. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine…

Received Apr 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11732721
Ford Ecosport
2018 Ford EcoSport ST-Line 1.0 Taken in Leamington Spa. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2021 Ford Ecosports have engine and engine cooling problems?

No. NHTSA has 134 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2021 Ford Ecosport (51% of the 261 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 2021 Ford Ecosport engine and engine cooling?

Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?

The median reported mileage is 55,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2021 Ford Ecosport?

The most frequent phrase is “engine cooling contacted”, in 38 of 134 complaints, followed by “power train” (17).

Other 2021 Ford Ecosport problems

See all 2021 Ford Ecosport problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Ecosport years.