repaired · 2026 Q3
Oil/lubrication: pump
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.
2018 Ford EcosportProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 728 owner complaints about the 2018 Ford Ecosport, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-312 the manufacturer reports only 44% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 1, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Ford Ecosport has problems
728 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
357Engine10 crash/fire/injury
311Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury
67Power train3 crash/fire/injury
40Fuel/propulsion system
35Electrical system
29Service brakes
19Vehicle speed control
10Air bags
9Wheels
2913 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 357 | 10 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 311 | 2 |
| Power train | 67 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 40 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 35 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 29 | 7 |
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 1 |
| Air bags | 10 | 5 |
| Wheels | 9 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 29 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2018 Ford Ecosport recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Other: labels
Risk. Owners could be confused by the incorrect label on the brake fluid cap, potentially causing them to replace the brake fluid with an incorrect fluid which could…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
65kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 73 engine complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 37% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
5under 30k miles64under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
47 owners mentioned a cost$7,000median
Middle half: $5,489 – $7,650
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other Ecosport year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Ecosport median. How we score
'18'19'20'21'22
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Ford Ecosport safety ratings
2018 Ford EcoSport 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (19.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Ford Ecosport, and the recalls they led to.
- Oil Pump FailureLed to recall 23V-905
In owners' words
What Ecosport owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On August 20, 2026, my 2018 Ford EcoSport equipped with the 1.0L EcoBoost engine suddenly shut down while I was driving on the highway. The unexpected loss of engine power created a serious safety concern because the vehicle became disabled while traveling in highway traffic. This failure occurred…
Vehicle equipped with 1.0 L eco-boost engine suffered a catastrophic internal cylinder head fracture leading to antifreeze flooding two cylinders income, complete engine failure. This is a known widespread manufacturing defect that mirrors, Fords large eco-booth, coolant intrusion crisis.
While having oil changed at the Ford dealership, I was told there was a small oil leak. I made an appt for a diagnostic test for the following week. I was told the diagnostic test showed a cracked valve cover. I had it repaired while they had the vehicle.
Own a 2018 Ecosport?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.