2021 FORD ECOSPORT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
311
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
8
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT
The 2021 FORD ECOSPORT has received a total of 311 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP. 8 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Cooling (127 complaints), Engine (70 complaints), and Power Train (43 complaints).
Recalls for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT, potentially affecting up to 516,993 vehicles.
Recall 25V442000 — BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
| 200,237 vehicles affected
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...
Consequence: 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.
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.
View full details →Recall 23V905000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP
| 139,730 vehicles affected
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.
Consequence: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
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...
View full details →Recall 23V905000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP
| 139,730 vehicles affected
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.
Consequence: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
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...
View full details →Recall 25V126000 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
| 18,648 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 EcoSport vehicles. The front axle half shafts may disconnect from the transmission, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. In addition, a disconnected half shaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the half shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S12.
View full details →Recall 25V126000 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
| 18,648 vehicles affected
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 EcoSport vehicles. The front axle half shafts may disconnect from the transmission, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. In addition, a disconnected half shaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the half shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S12.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT
311 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 127 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 70 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Power Train | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systeminstrument Panelfuel Gauge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
Due to a lack of available parts for this recall, the vehicle repairs will take up to 30 plus days before the parts arrive. On top of that, there is a waiting list for the vehicles that need to be fixed. This means, I will be without a vehicle for a lengthy amount of time. They don’t have enough loaners vehicles and I cannot afford to purchase a new car at this time. This recall issue has caused people lots of unneeded stress, maintenance cost, and loss of wages. Ford needs to be held accountable on this issues. Additionally, I took the vehicle to a Ford Dealership (LaFayette Ford) on/about the 2 of May 2025. There were two recalls on the vehicle at that time. The fixed one recall. They informed that, there was nothing they could do with recall 23S64 until the vehicle was having issues. They did not inform me nor give me the option to get the issues corrected at the time or be placed on a waiting list once the parts were available. I would have placed the vehicle on the waiting to have the recall repaired once parts were available and to avoid the current situation that we are experiencing. On the 30th of January 2026, the vehicle stopped on me after displaying low engine pressure despite having oil. There were no oil leaks detected, the oil cap was seated properly, and the oil stick had/has the adequate amount of oil. The vehicle will not start, make a funny noise, and the engine vibrates the entire cab of the vehicle. The video I attached displays the sound the vehicle makes now. The vehicle ran smoothly until the 30th of January 2026.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, the oil pump drive tensioner belt had failed and was replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). After the repairs were performed, the failure reoccurred, and the contact was informed that the part needed to be replaced another time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
The airbag service light was on prior to purchase. It wasn’t acknowledged by the dealership. When I asked about it he said “it’s because the car was sitting in the cold”. I took the car in to get looked at at a Ford dealership and they said my airbags are inoperable. My safety is at risk.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact heard an abnormally tapping sound coming from the engine compartment, and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe and under the hood. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oil drive belt tensioner arm had failed and caused the engine to seize. The dealer informed the contact that the engine and oil pump needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and had been placed on a waiting list by another dealer for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact that the engine and oil pump for the year and the model vehicle were on back order. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Safety Rating for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT
The 2021 FORD ECOSPORT received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT
Ford Motor Company has issued 8 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
TSB 22-2011 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles may exhibit a condition where the cruise control system is inoperative with an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator and illuminated brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0504 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software in the PCM...
TSB 22-2011 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles may exhibit a condition where the cruise control system is inoperative with an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator and illuminated brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0504 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software in the PCM...
TSB 22-2011 — POWER TRAIN
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles may exhibit a condition where the cruise control system is inoperative with an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator and illuminated brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0504 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software in the PCM...
TSB 21-2422 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a condition where the auto start/stop system is inoperative or cruise control disabled with an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) and/or brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P164C or P0504 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM)....
TSB 21-2422 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a condition where the auto start/stop system is inoperative or cruise control disabled with an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) and/or brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P164C or P0504 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM)....
TSB 21-2422 — EQUIPMENT
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a condition where the auto start/stop system is inoperative or cruise control disabled with an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) and/or brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P164C or P0504 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM)....
TSB 21-2422 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a condition where the auto start/stop system is inoperative or cruise control disabled with an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) and/or brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P164C or P0504 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM)....
TSB 21-2227 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some 2021 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 2.0 L engine and built on or before 26-Jun-2021 may experience an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P164C stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). The vehicle may also exhibit Auto Start/Stop system incorrect operation and/or insufficient heat...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2021 FORD ECOSPORT
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FORD ECOSPORT
- 2018 FORD ECOSPORT — 937 complaints
- 2019 FORD ECOSPORT — 550 complaints
- 2020 FORD ECOSPORT — 468 complaints
- 2021 FORD ECOSPORT (current)
- 2022 FORD ECOSPORT — 10 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints