Reliable Auto DB

2020 Ford EcoSport reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Ford EcoSport holds 396 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most EcoSport years here — under the median of the other years, which is 6. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Pump, and Inflator.

2018 Ford EcoSport SE
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

396

Per year

4

Recalls

3

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine and engine cooling (179 of 396), then Engine (168) and Powertrain (53). The most filings arrived in 2024 (178 of 396). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 70,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 53,500 and 81,000 miles. Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 EcoSport has 460 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2021 has 258 complaints, 9 per year. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 Ford EcoSport. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 200,237
Recall engine and cooling, engine, oil and lubrication, pump 2023-12-22 · NHTSA campaign 23V905000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 139,730
Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2020-12-17 · NHTSA campaign 20V791000
Summary 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."
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.
Vehicles affected 12

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (396 total)

Engine and engine cooling
179
Engine
168
Powertrain
53
Fuel and propulsion system
24
Electrical system
13
Speed control
12
Service brakes
9
Air bags
8
Suspension
4
Seat belts
3
Steering
3
Structure
3
Hydraulic brakes
2
Exterior lighting
1
Fire-related
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Lane departure
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seats
1
Tires
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 15 more Show less
Crash-flagged

5

Fire-flagged

8

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Of the 138 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 70,000 miles. The middle half fall between 53,500 and 81,000 miles.

Complaints filed per year

1202052021620227420231782024902025422026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "after my oil pump recall was done, the check engine light came on and is reading code P04DB."
    Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2026-09-17
  • "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…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-09-12
  • "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…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-03
  • ""I am reporting a severe, high-risk safety and under-hood fire hazard involving a 2020 Ford EcoSport tied directly to federal Safety Recall 23S64 [23S64]. The vehicle suffered a catastrophic loss of internal oil…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-30
  • "​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 /…"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-08-30

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Ford EcoSport SUV AWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Ford EcoSport SUV FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
EcoSport all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 23 29 25 MPG $2600
EcoSport front-wheel drive 1L, 3-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 27 29 28 MPG $2300

Specs and fitment

2nd generation (facelift, US market), 2018–2022
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-20 synthetic blend (1.0L EcoBoost) , 4.9 qt capacity
Tire size 205/60R16 (S/SE) to 205/50R17 (SES/Titanium)

Known issues for this generation

Ford recalled 2018-2022 EcoSports built with the 1.0L EcoBoost engine and 6F15 automatic transmission (NHTSA campaign 23V-905, Ford recall 23S64) after finding the engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm can fracture or the drive belt can degrade and shed material, causing a sudden loss of engine oil pressure. That loss of pressure can seize the engine and also cut the vacuum supply for power brake assist, so Ford's remedy replaces the oil pump belt and tensioner, with the engine assembly replaced as an interim repair on vehicles that have already failed.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Ford EcoSport Next year 2021 Ford EcoSport See every Ford EcoSport model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Ford EcoSport reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Ford EcoSport holds 396 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most EcoSport years here — under the median of the other years, which is 6. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Pump, and Inflator.

What are common problems with a 2020 Ford EcoSport?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine and engine cooling (179 of 396), then Engine (168) and Powertrain (53). The most filings arrived in 2024 (178 of 396). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 70,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 53,500 and 81,000 miles. Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2020 Ford EcoSport more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 EcoSport has 460 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2021 has 258 complaints, 9 per year. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Ford EcoSport been recalled?

The 2020 Ford EcoSport has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Ford EcoSport?

Owners have filed 396 complaints about the 2020 Ford EcoSport with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Ford EcoSport get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Ford EcoSport is 26.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What years was the Ford EcoSport sold in the US?

The US-market EcoSport was sold for model years 2018 through 2022.

Does the Ford EcoSport have engine oil pump problems?

Yes; 2018-2022 EcoSports with the 1.0L EcoBoost were recalled after the oil pump belt tensioner could fail, cutting oil pressure (NHTSA 23V-905).