2018 Ford ECOSPORT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford ECOSPORT has 961 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 12.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (69% of all complaints), specifically: the engine will randomly shut off when in park mode due the auto-stop start feature not disengaging correctly. ford has not been able to reproduce the problem and doesn't have a solution.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 32 crash reports 19 injuries

961

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

12.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

664 complaints

69%

• THE ENGINE WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN IN PARK MODE DUE THE AUTO-STOP START FEATURE NOT DISENGAGING CORRECTLY. FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION.
• I HAVE 2018 FORD ECOSPORT AND THE AUTO SHUTOFF/RESTART WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT. WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT SHUT OFF AND DIDN'T START AGAIN IT HAD STALLED THIS HAPPENED ABOUT THREE TIMES. THEN AS I WAS DRIVING IT STALLED AGAIN AS I WAS DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY ON A RAMP AND I COULDN'T STOP AND HIT THE
• I AM TRYING TO ADD INFORMATION TO COMPLAINT #11175903. WHEN I MADE THE COMPLAINT THERE WERE NO INJURIES SINCE THEN THE OTHER DRIVER PARTY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL UNKNOWN ON INJURIES CAN I ADD THIS TO MY COMPLAINT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“THE ENGINE WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN IN PARK MODE DUE THE AUTO-STOP START FEATURE NOT DISENGAGING CORRECTLY. FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

65 complaints

• I PURCHASE A NEW 2018 FORD ECOSPORT. ON 12/22/19 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS AUXILIARY POWER INSIDE BUT NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER RECEIVING A JUMP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED. ON 12/23/19 I HAD A FORD DEALER CHECK THE VEHICLE. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS THE BATTE
• I WAS AT A LIGHT, I WENT TO GO AROUND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME & THE CAR KEPT REVVING LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO PICK UP. I HAD TO GLIDE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PICK UP IN THE CAR. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES TO DRIVE AGAIN. I AM GLAD A CAR WASN'T COMING BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE CAUSED AN
• 2018 FORD ECOSPORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“I PURCHASE A NEW 2018 FORD ECOSPORT. ON 12/22/19 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS AUXILIARY POWER INSIDE BUT NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER RECEIVING A JUMP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED. ON 12/23/19 I HAD A FORD DEALER CHECK THE VEHICLE. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS THE BATTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

61 complaints

• SUNROOF SHATTERED. I WENT TO OPEN MY SUNROOF AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT MY INSIDE COVER WAS WET. I LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FROM 7/7-10/2018 IN THE DRIVEWAY.
• ON THE HIGHWAY EXCELERATING TO MOVE PAST A SEMI.MY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR. IT WAS AT NO FAULT OF A FLOOR MAT. I TRIED TO PULL IT UP, PUSH IT DOWN., USE CRUISE CONTROL NOTHING UN STUCK IT. THIS ALL WITH A CRYING BABY AND 2 TODDLERS IN THE CAR. SURROUNDED BY SEMIS.LUCKILY THE BREAKS WORKED A
• THE TOUCH SENSATIVE DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK IN THE RAIN. THE KEY FOB MUST BE USED WHEN THE DOOR HANDLE IS WET. THIS OBVIOUSLY A MALFUNCTION AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY FORD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“SUNROOF SHATTERED. I WENT TO OPEN MY SUNROOF AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT MY INSIDE COVER WAS WET. I LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FROM 7/7-10/2018 IN THE DRIVEWAY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

43 complaints

• I was driving my vehicle and all of a sudden I got low engine fuel oil pressure message on my dashboard. The oil lamp and engine lamp sensors came on. This is the first time it happened. I also heard a rattling noise coming from the inside of the car. I had it checked by my mechanic and he said it c
• 1. My car suddenly decelerated from 75mph to 40mph. 2. Had to pull off to the side of a busy road. 3. Had it towed to a Ford dealer. Was informed the throttle body broke. Ford replaced it. 4. Only Ford inspected the inspected the vehicle. 5. No warnings of any kind.
• Mechanic diagnostic was that nothing is getting to engine, which is why vehicle doesn't start. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A LOCAL MECHANIC ADVISED THERE WAS METAL IN THE OIL PAN.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I was driving my vehicle and all of a sudden I got low engine fuel oil pressure message on my dashboard. The oil lamp and engine lamp sensors came on. This is the first time it happened. I also heard a rattling noise coming from the inside of the car. I had it checked by my mechanic and he said it c”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

34 complaints

• DOORS WILL NOT LOCK FROM DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE IN OR AFTER RAIN.. CAR HAS PASSIVE ENTRY/PUSH BUTTON START. HAVE TO USE INSIDE SWITCH OR LOCK FOB. UNLOCK FEATURE WORKS. HAVE SEEN OTHERS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. FOUND THIS OUT AFTER CAR WAS LEFT UNLOCKED FOR OTHERS TO ENTER UNINVITED. ON GOING PROBLEM.
• I HAVE 2018 FORD ECOSPORT AND THE AUTO SHUTOFF/RESTART WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT. WHEN I STOPPED AT A LIGHT IT SHUT OFF AND DIDN'T START AGAIN IT HAD STALLED THIS HAPPENED ABOUT THREE TIMES. THEN AS I WAS DRIVING IT STALLED AGAIN AS I WAS DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY ON A RAMP AND I COULDN'T STOP AND HIT THE
• I AM TRYING TO ADD INFORMATION TO COMPLAINT #11175903. WHEN I MADE THE COMPLAINT THERE WERE NO INJURIES SINCE THEN THE OTHER DRIVER PARTY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL UNKNOWN ON INJURIES CAN I ADD THIS TO MY COMPLAINT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“DOORS WILL NOT LOCK FROM DOOR OUTSIDE HANDLE IN OR AFTER RAIN.. CAR HAS PASSIVE ENTRY/PUSH BUTTON START. HAVE TO USE INSIDE SWITCH OR LOCK FOB. UNLOCK FEATURE WORKS. HAVE SEEN OTHERS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. FOUND THIS OUT AFTER CAR WAS LEFT UNLOCKED FOR OTHERS TO ENTER UNINVITED. ON GOING PROBLEM. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 961 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE ENGINE WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHEN IN PARK MODE DUE THE AUTO-STOP START FEATURE NOT DISENGAGING CORRECTLY. FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: I PURCHASE A NEW 2018 FORD ECOSPORT. ON 12/22/19 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS AUXILIARY POWER INSIDE BUT NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE EVEN AFTER RECEIVING A JUMP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE CAR STARTED. ON 12/23/19 I HAD A FORD DEALER CHECK THE VEHICLE. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS THE BATTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: SUNROOF SHATTERED. I WENT TO OPEN MY SUNROOF AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT MY INSIDE COVER WAS WET. I LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FROM 7/7-10/2018 IN THE DRIVEWAY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I was driving my vehicle and all of a sudden I got low engine fuel oil pressure message on my dashboard. The oil lamp and engine lamp sensors came on. This is the first time it happened. I also heard a rattling noise coming from the inside of the car. I had it checked by my mechanic and he said it c
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)