Ford EcoSport: common faults & what to check

Which Ford EcoSport are you looking at?

2 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

1 variant documented

2013–2020BK2013–2020BK1.5 petrolPetrolDocumented issues4 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Fuel not stated

1 variant documented

2013–2020BK2013–2020BK1.0 EcoBoostFuel not statedDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Ford EcoSport

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Ford EcoSport before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Check the coolant level and degas bottle, inspect hoses for leaks, and look for overheating history or head-related coolant loss.

  See why

  1.0 EcoBoost coolant loss / degas bottle & head

  The EcoSport's 1.0 EcoBoost can lose coolant through the degas bottle, hoses or cylinder head cracking, risking overheating and head damage. Ford issued coolant system fixes but the issue is well known.

  What you would notice

  • Unexplained coolant loss
  • Overheating warning
  • Coolant smell
  • White exhaust smoke

  Typically $300–$5,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Test drive from cold in stop-start traffic and pull away uphill: feel for judder or shudder and listen for clunks on gear changes.

  See why

  PowerShift dual-clutch judder, shudder and loss of drive (BK EcoSport 1.5 petrol automatic)

  Clutch judder and shudder from the six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch automatic is a known issue on the BK EcoSport 1.5 petrol automatic built 2013 to 2017. Reported faults include shudder when pulling away, noise, transmission fluid leaking from the clutch housing onto the clutches, and failure to select first gear when coming to a stop. Owners have also reported intermittent loss of drive or a no-start, which on the related Fiesta and Focus gearbox was traced to a cracked solder joint in the transmission control module. Ford Australia extended PowerShift cover to five years or 160,000 km for the clutch, input shaft seals and software, which has now run out on most cars, and the ACCC took legal action against Ford Australia over its handling of PowerShift complaints. Ask for records of clutch, seal, software or control module work.

  What you would notice

  • Judder or shudder when pulling away, worst uphill or in stop-start traffic
  • Clunks, noise or hesitation on gear changes
  • Will not select first gear smoothly when coming to a stop
  • Sudden loss of drive, warning light or no-start

  Typically $800–$4,000 to put right.

• Worth checking

  Drive over bumps and turn at low speed listening for clunks, and inspect the front struts, mounts and links for wear.

  See why

  Front strut / suspension clunk

  The EcoSport can develop front strut top mount and suspension clunks over bumps, a common wear issue on this small SUV that affects ride and can be a WOF concern.

  What you would notice

  • Clunk over bumps
  • Knock when turning
  • Front suspension noise
  • Uneven tyre wear

  Typically $200–$900 to put right.

• Worth checking

  Operate all power windows fully, checking for slow, jerky or failed operation and unusual noises.

  See why

  Window regulator failure

  The EcoSport's power window regulators can fail, leaving a window stuck or dropping in the door. A common electrical/mechanical fault on these models requiring regulator replacement.

  What you would notice

  • Window won't go up or down
  • Window drops in door
  • Grinding from door
  • Slow window operation

  Typically $150–$600 to put right.

• Common issue

  Check the external spare carrier for rattle and rust, and inspect the side-hinged tailgate hinges and alignment.

  See why

  External spare wheel rattle / surface rust

  The EcoSport's tailgate-mounted external spare wheel and its carrier can rattle, and the wheel/carrier can develop surface rust. The heavy side-hinged door also stresses hinges over time.

  What you would notice

  • Rattle from rear spare wheel
  • Surface rust on carrier/wheel
  • Tailgate hinge wear
  • Door sag

  Typically $50–$600 to put right.

Ford EcoSport service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the Ford EcoSport. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Ford EcoSport’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• DSG and Dual-Clutch Gearbox Repair Cost

Other Ford models