CSR
Check a VIN

Look up

About

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2020 Ford Ecosport

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

391

Complaints

5

Crashes

8

Fires

6

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Ford Ecosport have filed 391 safety complaints with NHTSA between December 2020 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine and its cooling, named in 179 of them (46%). The typical failure was reported at 70,000 miles, the median across the 137 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints halved year on year: 73 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 152 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

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)

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.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 391.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 179 46%
ENGINE 163 42%
POWER TRAIN 51 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 37 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 23 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 9 2%
AIR BAGS 8 2%
SUSPENSION 4 1%
SEAT BELTS 3 1%
STEERING 3 1%

When the complaints arrived

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

2020 2024 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

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.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 20,310 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated that while stopped and attempting to make a left turn, another vehicle ran a red light and T-boned his vehicle. Due to the impact, his vehicle slammed into a guardrail on a bridge, nearly knocking the vehicle over the bridge. The contact stated that all curtain side airbags were deployed; however, his driver and passenger side airbags did not deploy. The contact stated that he was trapped in the vehicle and had to wait for authorities to assist him out of the vehicle. The contact was rushed to the hospital but decided to leave after a long wait in the emergency room. The contact stated that he did have soreness to his right shoulder

NHTSA complaint 11435086, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

towed

The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The contact later received a letter stating that parts were available; however, the dealer stated that due to a limited supply, they could only service the recall if the vehicle had experienced the failure. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer to

NHTSA complaint 11755410, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
It was a recall oil pump tensor bar. They fixed that blew the engine.I had to wait for them to fix what they messed up with the engine.They fixed that drove forty miles away from the dealer and the engine overheated

NHTSA complaint 11749561. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The affected component is the powertrain system in my 2020 Ford EcoSport. The vehicle has experienced repeated powertrain-related failures and is available for inspection upon request. In May 2025, the vehicle required a full engine replacement, yet I am continuing to experience serious powertrain-related issues. The vehicle has displayed powertrain malfunction warnings and has experienced improper acceleration, hesitation, loss of power, and instances where the vehicle has stopped at intersections. These issues create a serious safety risk because the vehicle may not respond when acceleration is needed, including when entering traffic, turning, merging, or attempting to avoid hazards. A

NHTSA complaint 11748784, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My automatic transmission has a problem going into gear, slow to engage in any gear. when needing to accelerate there is no response, just the high rev of the engine but absolutely no acceleration. The car has a hard jerk and thud sound when it does go into gear, this is when driving the car.

NHTSA complaint 11748806. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

On April 3, 2026, this vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic mechanical failure as I was driving on US-169, in Kansas City, Mo.,l The engine seized and the fuel line ruptured resulting in an undercarriage fire with small explosions. I had to be physically extracted from the burning vehicle by a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy, Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Liberty, Missouri (Report #CC2600810). This catastrophic asset and recall remedy failure is the direct result of a recognized federal safety defect (Ford Safety Recall 23S64 / NHTSA Campaign 23V905). The original engine blew from an oil pump failure in October 2024 and was towed to certified Ford dealer Smithville (Mo.) Ford on October

NHTSA complaint 11748321, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My 2020 Ford EcoSport (1.0L EcoBoost) is covered by Recall 23S64 / NHTSA 23V905 (engine oil pump drive belt). The defect causes sudden loss of motive power at highway speed (65+ mph), usually after 40+ minutes of driving, with the powertrain warning light and code P0299 (turbo underboost). Losing power in Los Angeles freeway traffic is the safety hazard. The recall remedy has failed repeatedly. In Oct 2025 the dealer tore down the engine, confirmed the oil pump belt had disintegrated and clogged the oil pickup, and replaced the complete engine (long block) under the recall in Dec 2025. The recall now shows as completed for this vehicle, but since that repair, with under 500 miles driven:

NHTSA complaint 11748099, 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 10 2 —
2021 256 3 2
2019 454 2 1
2018 722 2 —

Other 2020 Ford models

Escape 1,580 Explorer 1,189 F-150 711 Expedition 386 Edge 307 Escape Hybrid 283 F-250 SD 260 F-350 SD 186

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

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