2018 Ford EcoSport · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 147owner reports
- 59,565median miles
- $6,200median quote
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Jul 31, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
676 of the 726 complaints on this car are about the engine. 147 of those describe stalling. Only engine failure is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 147 reports
Stalling on other EcoSport years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (30 reports), the battery (7 reports) and the ignition coil or plugs (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner may fail, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.
All 2 recalls on the 2018 Ford EcoSport, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the EcoSport
Oil pump failure. Closed feb 14, 2024, led to recall 23V-905.
What owners paid
20 of the 147 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,500 to $7,464.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 42,000 and 75,000 miles, from the 82 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 3 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Ford EcoSport that deal with this problem. 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.
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 ...
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.
What owners wrote
“The engine shut down after five minutes of driving, and only then the oil and check engine warning lights illuminated. We had the car towed to the dealer, the service department said "the entire engine needs to be replaced due to a failed oil pump causing bearing failure. This is at 63,000 Miles. Cost to replace engine is $10,000. Talked to Ford dealership said nothing they can do.”
Filed Jan 26, 2024 · 63,000 miles
“The car shut down while driving. The tech explained that the oil pump failed and ruined the engine. The tech also alerted us to this being an issue that the NHTSA was investigating.”
Filed Nov 12, 2023
“On 11/03/2023 my low oil pressure light came on in my 2018 Ecosport and the motor shut down as I was driving home. There was a car directly behind me that had to hit their brakes as I had no power. Luckily, I was able to coast to the shoulder of the road. My car is currently at the Ford dealership and should be checked on 11/06/2023. I've had to go out of pocket for a rental.”
Filed Nov 5, 2023
“Oil pump failure. Not available for inspection due to a new engine was installed at a cost of $5,278.74. This incident happened on a very busy road in extremely heavy traffic. Oil pump failure was confirmed by an independent service center. Component has been inspected by independent service center. No warning lights came on before failure.”
Filed Oct 9, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 147 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 192 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 139 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 124 reports
- Turbo failure or loss of boost 43 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 33 reports
- Loses power when accelerating 27 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 25 reports