NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 727 owner complaints for the 2018 Ford Ecosport. Most complaints involve engine (356) and engine and engine cooling (311). The EPA rates it 25–28 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
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.
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."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“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.”
“The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the failure occurred a year after the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to the dealer, where it was determined that the engine and turbocharger needed to be replaced due to internal bearing failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.”
“I have had issues in the past with the transmission of this car for the past few months, it initially started to give me issues around 49k miles in this car, so I got it flushed out by a mechanic and it ran fine for a few months. Just a few days ago, I was headed home and my transmission went completely out as I was about to enter a state highway and I had to pull over into a neighborhood to get it towed. I had to send it over to my mechanic again, and he said the transmission is completely done for. My car could've almost went out on me completely if I kept pushing it, but I knew it was a hazard. I've heard from multiple other sources as I checked online to see if this was an issue with other Ecosports as well, and it seems like there's multiple complaints of this issue. I had no idea this car had an issue, at there was no warning light or anything indicating there was something wrong with it, until I noticed the acceleration wasn't quite right.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoSport FWD Auto (S6), 3 cyl, 1.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 29 | 28 | $2,300 | 314 |
| EcoSport AWD Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive | 23 | 29 | 25 | $2,550 | 353 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
2 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 727 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (356), engine and engine cooling (311), power train (67). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2018 Ford Ecosport at 25–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2018 Ford Ecosport 4 out of 5 stars overall.