I bought a 2021 EcoSport SE back in April 2022, so it’s coming up on three years now. It’s my second car, but it’s the first one I’ve financed. The car’s got about 23,000 miles on it, and I’ve kept up with oil changes every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. It’s never been in an accident, and overall it’s been reliable so far.
Here’s the issue: the 1.0L 3-cylinder engine it has is under recall for the oil pump belt and tensioner. I’ve read some horror stories about this engine. When I bought it, I planned to keep it for a long time, but now I’m debating whether I should trade it in while it still has good mileage and value.
Should I hang onto it and deal with any problems that come up, or trade it in now before things get worse? I’d really appreciate some advice. I like the car and don’t want to hear just negative takes like “Oh, that car’s terrible, you should get a sedan.” I’m happy with it, but I’m also thinking about the pros and cons of keeping it versus getting something else. Thoughts?
I’ve got a 2018 with the same engine. It’s at 91K miles now. At 59K, I had a bunch of issues that Ford barely patched up, and then the oil pump belt and tensioner failed at 61K. They replaced the whole engine, but I had to pay a couple of grand for labour while Ford covered the motor. That was 30K miles ago, and I just got the recall notice for the same belt and tensioner.
I’m keeping mine for now. It’s a solid little crossover with good styling and not bad to drive.
@Dylan
From what you’re saying, it seems like I might end up facing engine failure before hitting 100K miles. Since I’m at only 23K miles, I feel like I should cut my losses now and trade it in before something goes wrong. What do you think?
I’ve got the 2018 version too and bought the Ford Premium Care+ maintenance plan for $2200, which covers up to 125K miles or 7 years. My car is at 100K miles now.
This plan has saved me a ton. It covered a gearbox sensor in 2020, power loss issues in 2022, an engine failure in 2024, and smaller fixes like axle bearings. The dealership handled the claims, and I only paid the $100 deductible each time.
I’m planning to keep mine until it hits 125K miles. You should consider buying a care plan if yours is still eligible.
@Niall
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll definitely check out the care plan. I’m curious though, why are you keeping it until 125K miles if it already had engine failure? I was hoping to keep mine as long as it’ll last, but is it worth it if the engine might fail again? I’d rather avoid going through multiple vehicles, but this has me second-guessing.
I sold mine even though I took a loss because I was too worried about the engine failing. Switched to a Hyundai Kona Electric, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
Fordlady said:
I sold mine even though I took a loss because I was too worried about the engine failing. Switched to a Hyundai Kona Electric, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
That’s exactly my dilemma. I owe more than the car is worth right now, so I’m hesitant. How’s the Kona? I’ve been considering similar crossovers, but I feel like going through a Ford dealership might help with trade-in value or rebates to minimise my losses.
@Jesse
I love the Kona EV. It’s way better than the EcoSport in terms of visibility, comfort, storage, and even little things like sun visors. The only things I miss are the EcoSport’s higher ride height and a hotter seat warmer.
Selling at a loss wasn’t fun, but I have no regrets now. Someone I know has the Ford Mustang EV, and they rave about it too. If you can manage it, I’d suggest trading in now and cutting your losses. It’s stressful, but it might save you headaches down the road.
@Fordlady
Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s definitely not ideal to take a loss, but it sounds like it could be worth it to avoid future problems. I’ll check out the Kona and maybe some Ford options too. Appreciate the help!
JOHN said:
Just trade it in. Ford won’t give you a loaner or rental when that belt fails, and it will fail. Better to get rid of it sooner than later.
That’s what I’ve heard from others too. Even my old manager traded her 2020 EcoSport recently for the same reason. Thanks for confirming what I’ve been thinking.
I had problems at 64K miles with the tensioner arm and some pump valve, and it cost me $600 to fix. I’ve got a 2018 3-cylinder. Once I finish paying it off in three years, I’m selling it or before it hits 100K miles. I like the car, but that wet belt design is such a bad idea.
@Lane
Totally agree. It’s frustrating that a newer car has such a big issue before 100K miles. I’m not sure I even want to deal with the recall, let alone other problems down the line.