YearToAvoid

2019 Ford Ecosport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#3 most-complained of 5 Ecosport years

The 2019 Ford Ecosport has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 3rd worst among 5 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate with 405 complaints (88% share) at a median 67,000 miles, plus two recalls.

Complaints
460
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
7 / 2
Injuries / deaths
5 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26.5
25 city / 29 hwy

Top 2019 Ford Ecosport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine405 (88%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain50 (11%)
  3. Fuel System35 (8%)
  4. Other29 (6%)
  5. Electrical System18 (4%)
  6. Brakes15 (3%)
  7. Structure & Body7 (2%)
  8. Airbags5 (1%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (1%)
  10. Steering4 (1%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalls at low speed with the check engine light on, sometimes causing a collision when other traffic cannot react in time.
  • Engine bay produces a burning smell with white smoke from the exhaust, in one case followed by a fire after the check engine and oil pressure lights came on.
  • Turbo housing glows red hot and emits a strong heat odor after highway driving.
  • Transmission slips or the vehicle lurches forward unexpectedly when shifting from reverse into drive.
  • Vehicle shuts off suddenly at a stop light, loses stability control briefly, and struggles to restart.
  • Front seat frame welding defects tied to a recall leave the seat back improperly secured.
2019 Ford Ecosport complaints: complaints filed per quarter852019 Q22020 Q32022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
579 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q2 (85).

2019 Ford Ecosport recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V905000Dec 22, 2023Engine139,730 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:pump

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 19V023000Jan 2, 2019Structure & Body63 vehicles

    Seats

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford EcoSport vehicles. The front seat frames may have been improperly welded, resulting in the seat back being improperly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

    Risk: A loose seat back can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front seat assemblies, free of charge. The recall began May 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C08.

2019 Ford Ecosport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
26.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,450
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other Ecosport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020182019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Avoid100726226.5
2019Caution50460226.5
2020Avoid75398326.5
2021Good25258326.5

All Ford Ecosport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Ford Ecosport reliable?
Compared to other Ecosport years, 2019 carries a Caution verdict with a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 3rd worst out of 5 model years tracked.
What is the biggest problem with the 2019 Ford Ecosport?
Engine issues dominate, accounting for 405 of 460 complaints (88%) and 2 fires, with a median failure mileage of 67,000.
Does the 2019 Ford Ecosport have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls: one for an oil pump drive belt/tensioner that can cause loss of engine oil pressure, and one for improperly welded front seat frames.
How does the 2019 Ecosport compare to other years?
2018 had 726 complaints and an index of 100 (Avoid), while 2021 (index 25, Good) and 2022 (index 0, Best) performed better than 2019's index of 50.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Ford Ecosport?
EPA rates it at 26.5 mpg combined (25 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,450.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.