Is the 2021 Ford ECOSPORT reliable?

The 2021 Ford ECOSPORT has 350 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2021 Ford ECOSPORT?

Top problems: ENGINE (213 complaints, avg repair $500); TRANSMISSION (47 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (23 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2021 Ford ECOSPORT?

Yes, there are 3 recall(s): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Ford ECOSPORT?

The 2021 Ford ECOSPORT gets 25 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1920. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2021 Ford ECOSPORT?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2021 Ford ECOSPORT is approximately $1,809/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2021 Ford ECOSPORT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Ford ECOSPORT has 350 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 509. The most common issue is engine problems (61% of all complaints), specifically: the contact owns a 2021 ford ecosport. the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. the contact stated that a message to shift to park(p) and restart the vehicle was displayed. the contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to . There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 8 crash reports 5 injuries

350

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

213 complaints

61%

• The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that a message to shift to park(P) and restart the vehicle was displayed. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to
• My vehicle has the 4 cylinder (non eco boost) engine. It started having an emissions system fault which has been causing exhaust and fuel fumes to not only be very strong under the hood, but has become very strong inside the cab when the climate control is on. Since this started, my wife and I have
• The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the low-pressure oil message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact pulled the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. Once at the dealer, a diagnostic test was

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

“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that a message to shift to park(P) and restart the vehicle was displayed. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2021 Ford ECOSPORT

Based on 102 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 56K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 55K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

Reported earliermedian 56K mi · 74 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Reported earliermedian 37K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP22/12/2023

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.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2021 Ford ECOSPORT

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,920

Per month

$160

Per mile

16.0¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,087/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,656/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Ford ECOSPORT

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,809

Full coverage / month

$151

Liability only / year

$626

vs US avg

+8%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$1809

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford ECOSPORT Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2021 ECOSPORT, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 350 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that a message to shift to park(P) and restart the vehicle was displayed. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: Upon normal acceleration at a stop light, the car accelerated normally for about 2 seconds and then a loud grinding sound followed and I lost all acceleration in the middle of a busy intersection unexpectedly with cars having to slam their brakes behind me and steer into other oncoming traffic to av
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that a message to shift to park(P) and restart the vehicle was displayed. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: While driving I have experienced an issue 3 times since buying my vehicle in April 2021. The issue pertains the vehicle shutting down while in motion and following a message on the screen stating to put the vehicle in "park" and restart the vehicle. I am afraid this will happen while i am in the hig
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)