2021 FORD Ecosport

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
ℹ️Average Safety Profile

This 2021 model shows average reliability, primarily driven by 3 recalls affecting the engine and engine cooling system.

Key Factor:engine and engine cooling recalls

📋Why This Matters

Powertrain issues affect both daily reliability and long-term ownership costs. Unexpected stalling creates inconvenience at best and safety hazards at worst.

Insurance companies review vehicle reliability data when setting premiums. Models with elevated recall rates often see adjusted pricing.

Focus Area:powertrain reliability
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Expert Analysis

  • 📈
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • ⚠️
    Primary Risk Area:Warning
  • ⚖️
    Vs Brand: Worse than avg (2.8)
    📝
    Summary:

Safety & Reliability Score

66/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-24
Complaint Impact-5
Investigation Impact-5

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2021 FORD Ecosport

Model Year2021
MakeFORD
ModelEcosport
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Scroll for more →
Jan21
NEWProduction
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan21
RECALLRecall Issued
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Dec24
ISSUEFirst Report

Consumer Complaint Analysis

⚠️

Most Reported Issue

23 complaints (23% of total)
➡️

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 100 consumer complaints by severity level.

🟠High
4(4%)
🟡Medium
11(11%)
🟢Low
85(85%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

⚙️Engineering Insight

Based on consumer reports, issues for this vehicle tend to peak around the 40k-60k mileage range. The average reported failure mileage is 51,259 miles.

📊 Mileage data extracted from 31 of 100 complaints (31% coverage)
0-20k
6 reports (19%)
20k-40k
5 reports (16%)
40k-60k
8 reports (26%)
60k-80k
5 reports (16%)
80k-100k
4 reports (13%)
100k+
3 reports (10%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

🛠️ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGPOWER TRAINBACK OVER PREVENTION

Official Safety Recalls (3)

Campaign: 23V905000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP

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.

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 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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company

Campaign: 25V126000

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

Summary

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company

Campaign: 25V442000

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, 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.

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.

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company

NHTSA Investigations

1 investigation

Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2021 Ecosport.

INV-2021-1000🟢 Closed

NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding Ecosport performance issues.

Opened: Affected Units: 28,239

Consumer Complaints

100 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2021 Ecosport.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning23%
Stall10%
Display8%
Acceleration Issues7%
Check Engine Light6%
Noise5%
Leak5%
Other🔶 Medium
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I bought a new 2021 Ford ecosport with several recalls. I've reported previous one on the recall list. However the following two are not on recall list. First, the back up camera is malfunctioning. It turns black when reversing. Secondly, within a week of purchasing brand new the vehicle had loose rail covering on top of vehicle. Not sure of the proper name. It fell off on highway SH 99. I had to pull over on shoulder lane and pickup the long black strip or rail from road. Only one strip malfunctioned. It could have caused an accident and hit car behind me as length of strip was one car size. I did not know what to do as I've never own a recall vehicle ever. The only thing I did was tell multiple dealerships nearby and ask for advice. They instructed me the cost to replace and that was it.

Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
ENGINE

The engine died in an unexpected earlier timeframe than recall notice. I had to get vehicle towed at my expense as no offers existed for recalls yet to the nearest Ford. This means it sat longer with a dead engine and battery not in use. The battery was brand new before the engine died. After Ford installed a new engine I picked up my vehicle. I now had a new problem. The battery light came on. It was late when I picked up my car and the dealership was closing. I notified Ford c/s the next day and they approved to take it back to ANY dealership. There are several Ford dealerships near my home. My 2nd option was Bill Fick Ford. In short I told them my story listed above + recall final engine repair due. Initially there was a female that approved towing and said Ford would help me with towing cost up to $250. The tow truck driver never showed up. I called the tow truck driver the next day and he said he is willing to pickup but will call Ford to confirm. I called Bill Fick Ford several more times for updates. Apparently there was a male there that disapproved. I had called another Ford dealership nearby prior when battery was working asking for help but denied. I am having trouble getting the repairs at any Fords nearby in a timely manner. This April 2026 will be two years since I haven't been able to use this vehicle. Bill Fick Ford told me that I would have to pay for the tow cost. Initially I wasn't going to report but I think it's best to address in case there are others who are having difficulties related to recalls to improve flow. Another dealership is willing to help me. The only issue is is that I will have to pay the remaining balance over $250. This will be 2nd time I pay out of pocket for towing. The difference between Bill Fick Ford and the out of town dealership is the out of town dealership called Ford to confirm approval of tow/repairs and Bill Fick Ford refused to look further and gather the correct info adding more out of pocket cost/delays.

Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that the engine seized while driving at an undisclosed speed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer after several months, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). Upon retrieval of the vehicle, the battery light started flickering. The contact called another dealer, Gullo Ford of Conroe (925 Interstate 45 S #2, Conroe, TX 77301), but no further assistance was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

Safety Systems🔵 Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was blue. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving forward, the rearview camera image erroneously displayed intermittently. The local dealer was notified of the failures and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000(Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure described in the recall. Additionally, the contact stated that the warning message "Front Drive Shaft" was displayed while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
ENGINE

Oil light and check engine light came on and notification for poor oil pressure out of nowhere. Car started making weird sounds and acceleration was poor. One minute the car was fine and the next I had to tow it to the dealership to get it looked at. Over 2 months now and the issue isn’t resolved as the dealership hasn’t received the parts that they need to repair it.

Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 5MPH while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. 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; however, parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

23S64-Engine Oil Pump RECALL 8/19/2025 driving from Hillsboro Beach, Florida to St. Petersburg, Florida. We had a full engine seizure, we lost oil pressure, and also lost use of the transmission. We overheated and the engine seized. With a loss of power, we had to guide the car off the road. The engine was smoking heavily. The back of the car was completely covered with motor oil. The Florida Highway Patrol called us a tow truck that took us to DeSoto Ford, 3039 Southeast Highway 70, Arcadia, Florida, 34266, 863-494-4848. DeSoto Ford ended up doing multiple repairs on the car. They did the replacement of the 23S64 recall for the oil pump belt and tensioner. The car was there for 24 days. We drove down on 9/12/25 and picked up the car. When they pulled the car out, the car was still covered in oil in the back. We found out within days that they neglected to fix the radiator. Once we got into the car and started driving, we had yet another very loud noise, forcing us to bring it to AutoNation, St. Pete, Florida. At AutoNation, we had a multitude of problems with it. We had severe vibration with the car when we brought it there 9/18/25. This was only a few days later. They changed out the radiator and replacing the full radiator because they said there was a full leak that was not fixed by DeSoto. They fixed the car and gave it back to us 9/30/25. On 10/22/25, I had the exact same experience with the car that we originally had on the highway in Arcadia. The engine fully seized in the intersection of 3rd Street South and 6th Ave south in St Petersburg just as it had done before. The car overheated and had full loss of power/motive power. I was able to restart it briefly to get out of the cross section. The car stalled two more times before I was able to bring it to a safe place. We ended up having it towed from 15th Ave S at 3rd Street S and brought to AutoNation. Vehicle broke down again 11/7 and has been in shop ever since. Much more details available.

Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving 30-40 MPH, the messages "Save the Battery", "Turn off Engine", and "Restart" were displayed. The program restarted, and the screen went blank, and the instrument cluster became inoperable. Additionally, the contact was informed about NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V126000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer again, where it was diagnosed and determined that the alternator, engine, transmission, and computer needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that there was no warranty coverage for the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Engine/Powertrain🔵 Low
ENGINE

This is the third time the engine has broken down, twice in two months now

Engine/Powertrain🔶 Medium
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "Charge System Fault" displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle almost stalled, and the vehicle was running rough. The contact was aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oil pump had failed and damaged the engine. The contact was informed that several parts needed to complete the repair were on a national back order. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,971.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any recalls for the 2021 FORD Ecosport?

Yes, the 2021 FORD Ecosport has 3 recorded recalls from NHTSA. These recalls cover various components including ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:PUMP, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE.

Is the 2021 FORD Ecosport safe to drive?

The 2021 FORD Ecosport has 3 recalls. If you own this vehicle, check with your dealer to ensure all recall repairs have been completed. Most recalls have free remedies available.

Where can I check if my 2021 FORD Ecosport has open recalls?

You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local FORD dealer.

📊Year-over-Year Context

➡️Stable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2021 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

🎯Risk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Engine and engine cooling

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm engine and engine cooling recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

🔍

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all engine and engine cooling recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:23V905000
2

Power train

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm power train recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

🔍

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all power train recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:25V126000
3

Back over prevention

Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk

If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm back over prevention recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.

🔍

If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all back over prevention recalls are completed before purchase.

Campaign:25V442000
💡Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your FORD dealer to verify recall completion status.

🧭What This Means for You

This information is especially relevant for drivers who rely on stop-and-go traffic or frequently use auto start-stop systems.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

🔑

If You Own This Vehicle

  • Verify all 3 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your FORD dealer.
  • If any recalls are open, schedule service immediately—recall repairs are always free.
  • Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
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If You're Buying Used

  • Request documentation proving all recalls were addressed before finalizing purchase.
  • Factor potential recall-related service time into your ownership cost estimates.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: January 10, 2026.