2021 Ford EcoSport Problems, Recalls & Reliability
361 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Ford EcoSport, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 38/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 55,500 miles.
Below average
Where 2021 sits among all EcoSport years
What owners report
“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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 EcoSport
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) and 25V126000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2021 EcoSport
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 102 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 56,486 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,000 and 71,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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 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.
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 23V905.
Technical service bulletins
41 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2021 Ford EcoSport. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2021 EcoSport TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2021 Ford EcoSport reliable?
The 2021 Ford EcoSport drew 361 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 38/100, scored against the model's worst year (2018).
What are the most common 2021 Ford EcoSport problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Ford EcoSport are engine (218 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (48), and electrical (23).
At what mileage do 2021 Ford EcoSport problems show up?
Owners most often report 2021 Ford EcoSport problems around 56,486 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,000 and 71,000 miles.
Does the 2021 Ford EcoSport have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2021 Ford EcoSport. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.