Ford EcoSport: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Ford EcoSport problems by model year, from 1,855 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (93%, 425 drivetrain complaints), 2018 (92%, 663 drivetrain complaints) and 2020 (92%, 358 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 4 Ford EcoSport years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; all of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Ford EcoSport year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2021 (92%).
By raw volume, the 2018 drew the most drivetrain complaints (663 of 1,680 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Ford EcoSport year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 EcoSport | very high | 92% | 663 | 726 | 2/4 | 2 |
| 2019 EcoSport | very high | 93% | 425 | 460 | 1/4 | 2 |
| 2020 EcoSport | very high | 92% | 358 | 399 | 3/4 | 3 |
| 2021 EcoSport | very high | 92% | 234 | 259 | 4/4 | 3 |
| 2022 EcoSport | too few to score | – | 3 | 11 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Ford EcoSport years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Ford EcoSport engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Ford EcoSport involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2023 | 23V905000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump | 2018–2021 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V126000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2021 |
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2018 | 18V312000 | equipment: other: labels | 2018 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V023000 | seats | 2019 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V791000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2020 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V442000 | back over prevention: software | 2020–2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Ford EcoSport
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Ford EcoSport
What are the worst years for the Ford EcoSport?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Ford EcoSport years are the 2019 (93% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2018 (92% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2020 (92% of relevant complaints, very high). 4 of 4 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Ford EcoSport?
No Ford EcoSport year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2021 (92%).
Does the Ford EcoSport have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 4 scored years, 1,680 of 1,833 relevant NHTSA complaints (92%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine and engine cooling. The years with an elevated share are 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Is the Ford EcoSport reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 4 Ford EcoSport years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 92% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Ford EcoSport?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Ford EcoSport years we track, out of 6 in total: 23V905000 (Dec 2023, 2018–2021), 25V126000 (Feb 2025, 2021). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.