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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2020 Ford Ecosport

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 398 safety complaints about the 2020 Ford Ecosport with the US government. Of those, 7 describe a crash, 8 mention a fire, 26 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine and its cooling, named in 179 complaints, 45% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 70,000 miles, the median across the 138 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2020 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

398 complaints on file

398

Complaints

7

Describe a crash

8

Mention fire

26

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints fell 34% year on year: 71 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 108 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 179 · 45%
ENGINE 168 · 42%
POWER TRAIN 53 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 39 · 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 24 · 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 · 3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12 · 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 11 · 3%
AIR BAGS 9 · 2%
SUSPENSION 4 · 1%
SEAT BELTS 3 · 1%
STEERING 3 · 1%
0 73 146

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 398.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 178.

188 141 94 47
20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2020 Ford ECOSPORT, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 19.1% 20.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V442000 · June 27, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
The risk
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

Ford Motor Company · up to 200,237 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP

23V905000 · December 22, 2023

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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 · up to 139,730 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

20V791000 · December 17, 2020

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 EcoSport and 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles. Depending on the model, either the driver side or passenger side frontal air bag modules are missing the first-stage booster propellant and sleeve. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
Air bag modules missing the first-stage booster propellant will not deploy as intended in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag module on either the driver or passenger side, free of charge. This recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C26.

Ford Motor Company · up to 12 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Oil Pump Failure

PE23015

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened September 20, 2023 · closed February 14, 2024 · led to recall 23V905

the engine and its cooling

On September 20, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-015 to investigate instances of engine failure due to loss of oil pressure in model year (MY) 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport vehicles. Some consumers reported a low engine oil pressure warning lamp immediately preceding a complete loss or reduction of motive power while the vehicle was in motion. The investigation revealed that the engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure. A loss of engine oil pressure can result in engine seizure, which can result in a loss of motive power and a loss of mechanical vacuum pump required to provide power braking assist, increase the risk of a crash. On December 22, 2023, Ford filed recall 23V-905 for certain MY 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The recall remedy provides the replacement of the oil pump drive belt tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt with redesigned parts to improve robustness. In view of the recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

20 injured · crash

While in traffic, the brakes were pressed, the car did not brake and I had to swerve to try to avoid one collision and caused another one. The steering wheel airbag did not deploy and the vehicle i hit was struck twice.

NHTSA complaint 11766521. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

2 injured

Oil pump failure causing entire motor to need to be replaced. Motor failed at 60,400 miles just outside of warranty while going down the interstate at 70 miles an hour. Ford has offered to do nothing with the repair and the engine is on back order for 6 months. This is a know issue already under investigation by the NHSTA and i want to add my case.

NHTSA complaint 11552663. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · fire

My husband was driving home from work when he heard a boom. He had thought he hit something but didn’t feel or see anything. A few minutes later he saw smoke coming from the engine and thought maybe a hose had come off or something so he pulled into a parking lot. When he lifted the hood the car was on fire.

NHTSA complaint 11506222. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · crash · towed

THIS CAR WAS HIT AND THE SEAT BENT. I AM STILL DEALING WITH HIP NECK KNEE AND SHOULDER INJURIES. IT WAS A RENTAL CAR. I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. AN 8 TON BOX TRUCK HIT IT GOING APPROX 45 MPH. I SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. 2 MONTHS LATER I HAD A HEMORRHAGIC STROKE.

NHTSA complaint 11386222. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed

The low brake fluid warning came on my dash as I tried to stop at a stop sign. I tried again to depress the brake pedal and the brake pedal was not moving. It was like it was locked in place. The second time I tried to push the brake, the warning flashed that I had no brake fluid. I managed to avoid traffic and the treeline, but sailed over a guide sign and into a cluster of power lines. Two of the lines were pulled out of the ground from the force of the impact. I checked the brake fluid reservoir and I do in fact have brake fluid within the specified range. My brakes should have worked.

NHTSA complaint 11766751. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
after my oil pump recall was done, the check engine light came on and is reading code P04DB.

NHTSA complaint 11765049. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Kept like revving the engine like it was whining tight never show no check engine light nothing ever showed up was driving down the road and the car completely shut off no warning signs no nothing all was coming out of it like a oil pump or something had went out in the car.

NHTSA complaint 11763855. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 63,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, smoke was observed coming from the rear of the vehicle, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle needed a tune-up. The contact later received a notification through the mobile application indicating that the engine had multiple misfires. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred after a recall-related engine replacement had previously been completed.

NHTSA complaint 11761908, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
​Statement of Problem & Safety Risk: I am filing a complaint regarding a persistent, critical safety defect on my 2020 Ford EcoSport. This vehicle previously suffered an engine failure linked to Ford Recall 23S64 / NHTSA Campaign 23V-905 (oil pump drive belt/tensioner failure causing loss of oil pressure). An engine assembly replacement was performed under the recall around 58,000 miles. ​Despite having the recall service performed, the replacement engine has now experienced a secondary failure. The vehicle’s wrench light illuminated, and the car went into severe "Limp Mode" while being driven, resulting in an immediate loss of accelerator power and engine torque. ​This creates an extreme

NHTSA complaint 11760700, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Ecosport

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 11 2 —
2021 259 3 2
2019 460 2 1
2018 726 2 —

Other 2020 Ford models

Escape 1,602 Explorer 1,223 F-150 730 Expedition 417 Edge 318 Escape Hybrid 288 F-250 SD 263 F-350 SD 188

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst