2018 Ford Ecosport Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year centre heavily on the 1.0L EcoBoost engine losing oil pressure, which owners often describe as a sudden warning message followed by a stall, loss of power or a seized engine, frequently traced to the oil pump drive belt or its tensioner. A second, smaller theme describes coolant getting into the engine and requiring engine replacement. Most reports arrive between roughly 30,000 and 85,000 miles, and many owners mention that a recall (23V905000) covered their vehicle but the remedy part was not yet available.

1. 1
   Engine

   Sudden loss of oil pressure and engine stalling

   • 433 complaints (60%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (183 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,300 (median of 57 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe a low oil pressure warning lighting up while driving, sometimes together with the check engine light, followed by a loss of power, knocking or rattling noises from the engine bay and a stall that may not restart. Several say the vehicle had to be towed, and dealers or independent shops then reported a failed oil pump or oil pump drive belt, in some cases with metal debris in the oil pan, and advised that the engine needed replacement. Complaints frequently note that the vehicle was included in a recall for this symptom but the remedy part was not yet available. Mostly between about 30,000 and 85,000 miles, often while driving at highway speed rather than at start-up.

   Recall 23V9050006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 23V905000 has been completed and whether the oil pump belt, tensioner and pump have been replaced; have a mechanic check for a recent low-oil-pressure warning in stored codes and inspect the oil for metal particles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Oil warning lamp came on and then a loss of engine oil pressure. Car started shaking. Had towed to Ford in clovis. Said the block is damaged and looks like the oil belt tensioner broke and damaged engine”

   NHTSA complaint #11373258, filed 2020-11, 40,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, the Oil warning light illuminated, and there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was immediately parked and later towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the engine oil pump had failed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who confirmed the diagnosis. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11585757, filed 2024-04, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Loss of power / stall with reduced power message

   • 346 complaints (48%)
   • median 66,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (189 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,300 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the vehicle losing motive power at speed, sometimes with a power train malfunction or reduced power message, an inability to accelerate past a modest speed, and in some cases a stall at a stop light that requires a restart. Several complaints attribute this to the same oil pressure problem and note that the vehicle was covered by the recall but parts were unavailable, while a few describe transmission behaviour such as the vehicle dropping into neutral. Commonly reported in the 24,000 to 82,000 mile range, both at highway speeds and when pulling away from a stop.

   Recall 23V9050002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Request the recall repair history and any stored powertrain codes; a test drive should include steady highway speed and a stop-and-go section to check for hesitation, warning messages or a stall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000(Engine and Engine Cooling), and the dealer replaced the engine and the oil pump; however, while driving two days later, the vehicle stalled upon coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after an hour and drove to the residence. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11703892, filed 2025-12, 109,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound in the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle continued to lose motive power. The contact stated that the engine was not revving while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11564916, filed 2024-01, 75,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Coolant entering the engine (coolant intrusion)

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe rough idling, overheating, white smoke or a no-start condition, and say a dealer diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine, sometimes also into the oil pan, and recommended engine replacement. Some complaints mention a second failure shortly after the engine was replaced, and a few point to abnormal engine temperature and coolant loss before the problem became obvious. Reported from roughly 47,000 to 100,000 miles, often noticed as a gradual coolant loss or rough running before the failure.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and condition, look for white residue or smoke at the tailpipe, and ask whether a coolant pressure test or any engine replacement work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start. The contact had to depress the Push-to-Start button three times before the vehicle would start. After driving for 15 minutes, the engine overheated. The contact pulled over. The vehicle was restarted, but there was smoke detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11584085, filed 2024-04, 47,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to coolant leaking into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 53,572.”

   NHTSA complaint #11589986, filed 2024-05, 53,572 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission downshifting or dropping out of gear

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   A smaller group of owners describes the vehicle unexpectedly downshifting or slipping into neutral, delayed or hesitant shifting, and occasions where the vehicle failed to accelerate from a stop even with the accelerator pressed. Some complaints link the behaviour to a stall or loss of power rather than to the transmission itself, and dealers are described as unable to reproduce or diagnose the concern. Reported between roughly 30,000 and 80,000 miles, typically during acceleration from low speed or after a stop.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, note any shudder, delayed engagement or unexpected gear changes when accelerating gently from a stop and when accelerating onto a highway.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with her husband in the front passenger’s seat and her infant in a car seat in the rear seat, the vehicle began to lose motive power and was making abnormal loud cranking sounds. The message Power Train Malfunction -Reduced Power was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated upon attempting to exit the highway and avoid incoming traffic, the front passenger side of the bumper struck a guard rail. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11513619, filed 2023-03, 62,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while idling at a stop sign or a stop light and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the transmission shifted into neutral. The contact manually restarted the vehicle to continue driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11671906, filed 2025-07, 76,000 miles

Buying note. The strongest pattern here is oil pressure loss on the 1.0L engine, so confirming whether recall 23V905000 and the oil pump belt service have been done is the single most useful question to ask. A pre-purchase inspection that includes stored engine codes, an oil check for debris and a coolant pressure test covers most of what these complaints describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.