Second generation
2018 Ford EcoSport
The most reported problem on the 2018 Ford EcoSport is engine failure, with 192 complaints, usually around 65,000 miles.
- 726owner complaints
- 2recalls
- 18involved a crash
- 63,265median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 3, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your EcoSport doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2018 model year.
Is the 2018 Ford EcoSport reliable?
The 2018 Ford EcoSport has 726 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 2.2 times the median of 331 for 2018 SUVs on this site. Of the 5 EcoSport model years since 2018, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2019
- At 81 complaints for each year on the road, the 2018 runs above the 2019 (58). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Engine failure leads with 192 of the 726 complaints (26%), ahead of stalling at 147. A quarter of the 112 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure saw it by about 54,000 miles, and half by about 65,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- Only 20 of the 726 complaints (3%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, well under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 18 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 10 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 8 of 18, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- engine failure, stalling and oil consumption all have recalls on the same system, and the same campaigns cover them: 23V-905. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2024 at 313 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 131. So far in 2026, 31 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 192 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
726 complaints is 2.6 times the median 2018 model on this site and 2.2 times the median 2018 SUV. Among the 4 EcoSport model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2018 Ford EcoSport
Ford filed 95 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2018 Ford EcoSport. 32 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 2 bulletins · 147 complaints
2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with power windows may exhibit a loss of power window functionality after multiple rapid switch operations. This may be due the power window thermal protection feature, which makes the switch inoperable for a short period.
Some 2018 EcoSport vehicles equipped with remote start may exhibit an intermittent remote start/stall condition during the first remote start attempt.
Check engine light or misfire 7 bulletins · 124 complaints
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
Some 2018-2020 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine may exhibit an illuminated MIL and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A7 in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be caused by a damaged circuit on the 12A581 harness.
5 more on this problem
Some 2018-2020 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a reoccurring illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P04DB. This may be due to the software in the powertrain control module (PCM).
Some 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine build on or before 16-May-2019 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P051B.
Some 2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM).
Some 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Duratec engine and an automatic transmission and built on 1-Sep-2017 and through 28-Nov-2018 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0137 and/or ...
Some 2018 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Duratec engine may exhibit an illuminated MIL and/or a wrench lamp with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P025A, P0103 and U0109 all present.
Engine overheats or leaks coolant 2 bulletins · 22 complaints
2014-2017 Fiesta, 2015-2018 Focus, 2018-2019 Ecosport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit coolant consumption,white smoke and/or a runs rough condition.
Some 2018 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine and built on or before 20-Apr-2018 may exhibit an illuminated MIL with DTC P261A. This may be due to connector C1450 to the auxiliary electric coolant pump that cannot be fully seated.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 18 bulletins · 9 complaints
Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due to an incomplete installation of the SYNC map software.
Some 2017-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a TCU may exhibit inoperative remote features via Ford Pass/Lincoln Way mobile app, incomplete user authorization and/or no modem electronic serial number (ESN) displayed.
16 more on this problem
Some 2016-2021 Ford or Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 or SYNC 4 may exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in transport mode.
Some 2016-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a SYNC 3 Touchscreen may experience the volume control unresponsive from the Front Control Interface Module (FCIM) and steering volume controls when using Apple Car Play.
Some 2016-2019 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a map displayed on the left half of the SYNC screen with no other information/soft buttons present after updating to the latest version of V3.0 software.
Some 2016-2019 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 not at the latest software level may exhibit Various Performance Related concerns such as Display Operation, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Phone Pairing, Applink, Travel Link, Slow System ...
Some 2015-2017 vehicles may experience a no crank concern due to a security access key table error. When attempting to program keys or perform a parameter reset, the procedure may fail and the Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) scan tool may display an error ...
Some 2018 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a dealer installed remote start feature and built on or before 20-Mar-2018 may exhibit an intermittent illuminated wrench indicator lamp along with DTC P166A and a See Manual message on the information display in the ...
Some 2018 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a dealer installed remote start feature may exhibit an intermittent illuminated wrench indicator lamp along with DTC P166A and a See Manual message on the information display in the instrument panel cluster (IPC).
Some 2018 EcoSport vehicles built on or before 1-Jun-2018 may exhibit the radio switching from FM radio to AM radio without input. Reprogram the audio control module (ACM) using the latest software level of the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool.
Some 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC may experience a partial screen display during transport mode deactivation or when a SYNC master reset is performed.
Some 2016-2018 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 not at the latest software level may exhibit Various Performance Related concerns such as Display Operation, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Phone Pairing, Applink, Travel Link, Slow System ...
Plus 6 older ones not listed here.
Battery dies or the car will not start 2 bulletins · 7 complaints
Some 2017-2022 Ford and Lincoln vehicle owners may experience a condition of missing authorization, command and control, battery charging details or phone-as-a-key setup buttons/selections in their FordPass or LincolnWay App.
Some 2017-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicle owners may experience a condition of missing Authorization, Command and Control, Battery Charging Details or Phone-as-a-Key setup buttons/selections in their FordPass or LincolnWay App.
Engine misfire 1 bulletin · 6 complaints
Some 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine and an automatic transmission may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp(MIL) with multiple diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) stored in the powertrain control module (PCM) relating ...
Complaints filed by year
313 complaints came in 2024, 1.9 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Oil pump failure. Closed feb 14, 2024, led to recall 23V-905.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2018 Ford EcoSport
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and remedy
Remedy: 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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Ecosport vehicles sold in the United States Federal Territiories. These vehicles were shipped with the European brake reservoir pictogram cap label and the European English language owner's manual kits. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid cap and owner's manual kit, free of charge. The recall began on June 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C04.
All 2 recalls on the 2018 Ford EcoSport, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2018 Ford EcoSport?
Engine failure, with 192 of the 726 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 65,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford EcoSport problems start?
Of the 332 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 49,000 miles and half by about 63,000.
Is the 2018 Ford EcoSport better or worse than the 2019?
Counted per year on the road, the 2018 has more complaints than the 2019: 81 a year against 58.
How many 2018 Ford EcoSport complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
20 of them (3%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2018 Ford EcoSport?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 23V-905. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.