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2018 Ford Ecosport: brake failure

7 of the 728 complaints about the 2018 Ford Ecosport describe brake failure.

owner complaints
7
of this car's complaints
1%
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

Brake failure by model year

  • 2021
    4
  • 2020
    2
  • 2019
    2
  • 2018
    7

What owners say

Filed Jun 12, 2026 · Brakes, Transmission · PA · crash · 3 injuries

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The braking system failed, preventing the vehicle from stopping properly. The vehicle is currently at a tow yard and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Because the brakes failed, I was unable to stop at a traffic light. The vehicle entered oncoming traffic and was involved in a collision, placing my safety and the safety of other motorists at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No. I previously took the vehicle to the dealership several times for misfire and powertrain-related issues. The dealership was unable to identify the underlying problem and advised that the spark plugs were not tightened properly. Similar issues have occurred multiple times over the past few years. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle is currently at a tow yard and is awaiting inspection by the insurance company. Additional inspections may be conducted as part of the claim investigation. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. Warning lights appeared earlier this week, and I brought the vehicle to the dealership for diagnosis. The dealership was unable to determine the cause of the warnings. I picked up the vehicle on June 11, 2026. On June 12, 2026, the brakes failed, resulting in the accident.

Filed Feb 19, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · CA · crash

While driving toward the freeway on January 16, 2026, I pressed my brakes and the vehicle failed to slow or stop. Instead, the vehicle accelerated. I reacted quickly to avoid a head-on collision but was involved in a crash. When pressing on my brakes there were audible sounds from from my hood. As if my car wanted to stop but wouldn’t. My engine previously failed for the same reason. When the second and third decal came out I called my local dealership. After my last oil change my car began to show show signs of concern. I emails and called the dealership, I brought my car in however they had no one to work on my car and wouldn’t offer a rental. Told me as long as my car is drivable I’ll be fine. This vehicle has an open recall related to engine/performance defects. History includes: Complete engine failure in 2024 (vehicle retained for two months). Recurring symptoms reported to dealership. Check engine light illuminated; dealership advised vehicle was safe to drive. Vehicle retained again without repair completion. No technician availability; recall repair not completed before crash. I relied on dealership assurances that the vehicle was safe. This defect creates a serious risk of unintended acceleration and loss of braking control. I am concerned other drivers may face similar danger. I am requesting investigation into recall effectiveness and manufacturer handling of repair delays.

Filed Jan 13, 2025 · Brakes, Engine · 38,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was not provided. The vehicle was 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 issue. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed May 1, 2024 · Brakes · MI

I received recall letter Feb 2024 regarding engine oil pump drive belt may fracture and may result in brake failure and risk of crash. I have not driven my car since Feb 2024. I do not want to crash and kill myself & other people on the road. I have called my dealership where I bought the car new in 2018 (Skalnek Ford) and they have no info on when parts will be in and I called Ford 866‑436‑7332 and all I get is a recording. This is a serious problem! I am upset that I can not drive my car & have no idea when repair will be done. What can you do to solve this problem with Ford? I am afraid to drive my car for fear of my brakes failing and causing a crash that may kill me and possibly other people. I hope I filled out this form correctly. I had to put a date on when "incident happened" to finish filling out this form. I did not have an "incident". I have not driven my car since I got recall letter Feb 2024. That is the date I put for my "incident". I am hoping you can help me with this problem I have with Ford. Thank you

Filed Mar 6, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · AZ · crash · 1 injury

In June 2023 I got into a rear end accident with another vehicle. On my way to work. It was an accident where my brakes failed to stop my car. It was the weirdest accident, because I actually saw myself going into the back of the car in front of me but it was like my car failed to stop. I told Geico that my foot went through the break. And I have pictures of where my break pedal, broken half. The dealership had my car for close to two months and they never fixed it. They ignored my calls. I ended up going to the dealership and picking up my car. They gave excuse after excuse, and they never returned my calls. I took it to a local place to have my car fixed. The brake pedal is still half of what it used to be. I have an engine leak and when I saw the email about the recall on Ford Ecosports for brake problems and engine leaks, I knew that this was the exact issues with my car and issues that my dealership was trying to avoid

Filed Feb 19, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · GA

I was losing oil quickly. One Ford dealership said there was a leak in my engine. 2 other Ford dealerships couldn't find said leak. On [XXX] I was taking my car in for an oil change when about 8 miles out my brakes stopped working. Per Jennifer Wilkes at Ford this was the issue "Good afternoon, I had to submit a claim to replace the long block of the motor as well as the turbo assembly and the vacuum brake booster. They are all bad and need to be replaced. I submitted a claim today to Ford for the repairs with your extended warranty. I am holding for approval at this time Allan Vigil Ford Lincoln" Per this recall, I should not have been charged for this repair. This was all related to the recall and I was charged $200 after my warranty. Please refund me. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 6, 2020 · 18,000 miles · MI

On thursday july 2 2020 my ford ecosport stalled at a stop light. I was pushed into a parking lot by the local police. I got in the car and it started right up. I talked to a ford service person and he suggested I disable the auto start. I did as he suggested and drove just fine until I got on the expressway. While I was on the highway the engine stalls and I drove over to the side of the road with barely any steering and no brakes and had to coast to a stop. This was really scary and dangerous.

Related recalls

Service brakesReported May 14, 2018 · 273 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Ecosport vehicles sold in the United States Federal Territiories. These vehicles were shipped with the European brake reservoir pictogram cap label and the European English language owner's manual kits. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk
Owners could be confused by the incorrect label on the brake fluid cap, potentially causing them to replace the brake fluid with an incorrect fluid which could affect brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid cap and owner's manual kit, free of charge. The recall began on June 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C04.

Recall number 18V312000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2018 Ford Ecosport brake failure

Is brake failure a common problem on the 2018 Ford Ecosport?

7 of 728 owner complaints about the 2018 Ford Ecosport (1%) mention brake failure. The model year with the most reports is 2018.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Ford Ecosport?

There is 1 recall and 0 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2018 Ford Ecosport

Engine failure 169Check engine light 142Stalling 87Loss of power 52Knocking 26Won't start 16Jerking 14Oil consumption 14Misfire 12Hesitation 11Grinding brakes 10Fire or smoke 10Overheating 8Won't shift 8Start-stop 7Warning lights 7Harsh shifting 5Transmission failure 5

All model years of the Ford Ecosport

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