2018 Ford EcoSport: What to check before buying

Loss of power and stalling run through this category, often with a low oil pressure warning or a wrench light. Most excerpts, though, describe owners who hold a recall notice but cannot get the repair because the part is unavailable. Several say the wait has gone on too long. Other reports describe turbocharger failure or underboost, a car that will not go past 30 MPH, and grinding from the front, including after a recall repair was done. One complaint ties a stall during a turn to a crash that caused injury.

Sudden engine shutdown at speed dominates these reports. It usually follows a low oil pressure warning, even when the oil level is full. Dealers often call for a full engine replacement. Owners cite failed oil pump belts or tensioners, metal in the oil, and seized engines, mostly between 49,000 and 73,000 miles. Many describe waiting months for parts or engines. One complaint reports a crash into a tree after a stall. Another reports an engine fire minutes after the oil pressure light came on. Coolant leaking into the cylinders and a cracked flex plate also appear.

Highway power loss shows up here too. A low oil pressure warning appears, then rattling or grinding, a sharp drop in speed, and a stall that ends in a tow and a new engine. Some owners report limp mode and turbo underboost codes after a recall repair. Transmission failures with bucking and jerking also appear, including one at 70,000 miles. Three crashes are on file: a guard rail strike after reduced power, a parked car rolling downhill into a tree, and a brake failure collision with three people injured.

Stalling is the most serious pattern. The auto stop-start shuts the engine off at lights and it fails to restart, and one stall on an off-ramp led to a crash that deployed the airbags. Owners also describe power loss while merging, misfires that needed new ignition coils and plugs again and again, and engine shutdown after a low oil pressure warning. The rest are screen faults: the instrument cluster goes dark, and the backup camera, radio, and USB freeze or go black. One dealer traced the dead screen to the APIM module.

The brake pedal goes hard, sinks to the floor, or stops slowing the car, often right as the engine loses oil pressure and stalls. These reports cluster between 65,000 and 77,301 miles, and some drivers had to use the parking brake to stop. Four complaints involve crashes. Two describe a brake pedal that broke, with the driver's foot going through it. Separately, one owner reports a loud squeal in reverse that three dealer repair attempts did not fix.

Acceleration fades after a low oil pressure warning, and most of these cases end in an engine replacement. At least one report also mentions a stiff brake pedal. Several owners describe open recalls with no parts available, no loaner cars, and cars left at dealers for months. Other complaints cover an auto stop-start fault linked to a crash and a gas pedal stuck to the floor on the highway. Owners also report a dashboard that goes dark in the sun and a broken air duct that buzzes under throttle.

Swollen lug nuts are the clear pattern. The two-piece nuts swell until a standard wrench will not fit, so changing a tire by the road becomes hard or impossible. Shops often recommend replacing the whole set at the owner's cost, and one owner quotes a $195.00 charge. Owners also worry that damaged nuts could loosen. A separate complaint describes two sidewall blowouts on the original tires after a pothole and a light curb strike. That car had no spare, and the sealant kit did not seal the hole.

Airbags that stay folded in serious crashes are the central concern. Five complaints involve crashes and three record injuries. They include totaled cars where the side, curtain, or steering wheel airbags stayed off and only a lower airbag deployed. Another crash report describes the car surging forward while parking. Separate complaints describe the airbag warning light staying on for months, often with a check engine light that never goes off.

Sudden power loss on the highway leads these few reports. One car dropped from 75 to 40 MPH because of a broken throttle body. Another stalled or struggled to start after refueling, with code P0496. Two owners report low oil pressure warnings. One of them heard rattling, and a mechanic pointed to the high pressure fuel pump drive unit. Another owner is on a second replacement engine. One complaint says a recall has been open for over a year and a half with no remedy.