I've had the same recall fixed on this car three times and once again on XXX myself and my husband were in the car driving and the wrench light and engine light came on and my car went into limp mode it wouldn't go above like 35mph I actually caught this on video and my husband was trying to make a u turn in a parking lot to come back home and the motor lost all power,no braking power or steering which caused us to hit a pole and this time caused whiplash on my husband and four fractured vertabre in my back,I've been reporting to ford and threw this service after the third oil pump tensor belt fix that the motor was still loosing power out of no where and ford has refused to help me and now this same recall has caused an actual crash this time and I've got major injuries this time,ford needs held accountable for this,I've had my car at [XXX],only six months after buying the car and they told me it was the purge valve and made me wait for over two months for the part and they finally got the part in and two minutes later I hit the freeway as soon as my husband got up to around 65 the motor lost power and we almost got hit by a semi for the second time due to this recall and I got ahold of fords complaint department and they finally helped me get my car into [XXX] and my car was there for five months straight waiting on the parts for the oil pump tensor belt recall after buckeye fixed the car it ran for a couple of months and then the car did the same thing again on the freeway the motor lost power again on the freeway myself my husband and our boy have almost gotten killed several times due to this car shutting down with no warning at all,then my car was fixed again in November of 2025 at [XXX] and they had to replace the same part again,and as soon as I got my car back it has been acting funny and then I've reported this to ford over and over and they literally refuse to do anything about this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Ford Ecosport won't shift problems
22 of the 1,871 owner complaints about the Ford Ecosport describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 2018 model year.
- owner complaints
- 22
- worst model year
- 2018
- typical repair cost reported
- $8,300
- typical mileage
- 80,000
By model year
Often reported together
Engine failure 9Loss of power 7Check engine light 7Stalling 4Transmission failure 2Overheating 2Hesitation 2
Trouble codes mentioned
P0299 2P051B 1P0369 1P0365 1P0344 1P0340 1P0087 1
What owners say
Statement of Problem & Safety Risk: I am filing a complaint regarding a persistent, critical safety defect on my 2020 Ford EcoSport. This vehicle previously suffered an engine failure linked to Ford Recall 23S64 / the federal safety agency Campaign 23V‑905 (oil pump drive belt/tensioner failure causing loss of oil pressure). An engine assembly replacement was performed under the recall around 58,000 miles. Despite having the recall service performed, the replacement engine has now experienced a secondary failure. The vehicle’s wrench light illuminated, and the car went into severe "Limp Mode" while being driven, resulting in an immediate loss of accelerator power and engine torque. This creates an extreme safety hazard, causing a sudden loss of drive power in traffic and exposing the engine to potential oil starvation, complete engine seizure, and loss of power braking assist. Manufacturer & Dealership Non-Compliance: Both Ford Motor Company customer service and local Ford dealership management have stonewalled our requests to diagnose and address this recurring safety hazard under the active federal recall. They have refused to assist or provide appropriate loaner transportation while the vehicle remains unsafe to operate. I request that the federal safety agency document this failed recall repair, investigate repeat oil pump belt/engine failures on vehicles serviced under Campaign 23V‑905, and compel Ford Motor Company to honor its safety recall obligations. This is an ongoing problem these cars are junk and the consumer is stuck paying for it. I am not sure what date to put underneath here because the issue is ongoing
A young teenage driver faced a terrifying highway emergency when her vehicle suffered an abrupt, dangerous loss of motive power at 70+ MPH on the interstate due to sudden turbocharger failure. Moving at high speeds in heavy traffic, the sudden drop in acceleration left the driver vulnerable to rear-end collisions from oncoming semi-trucks. The vehicle was driven into the shop with a failed turbocharger and a completely contaminated oil ecosystem. The engine block has not seized yet, but all components are highly contaminated. The affected components are preserved and available for federal inspection. The root cause is a completely choked oil pump pick up tube screen. After a week-long standoff where the consumer had to escalate the case to Ford Corporate to force the dealership to drop the oil pan, teardown photos revealed the intake mesh was blanketed and impacted by a thick, suffocating mat of degraded wet belt fibers. This debris choked off oil pressure, proving the dealer fraudulently certified Safety Recall 23S64 as complete while leaving the lethal hazard trapped inside. In addition to this extreme debris, internal Ford OASIS logs admit the technician snapped a tensioner bolt during the recall. They drilled it out but failed to clean the engine, trapping sharp metallic shards that circulated into the oil system, destroying the turbocharger seals and scorching the gaskets. The dealer was given urgent warnings on April 7, 2026, when the driver reported interstate stalling ("limp mode at 70+ mph") and an AutoZone turbo pressure code. The dealer treated this severe safety risk as a low-priority task, failed to check the oil pressure, and released the car. After the forced pan drop in July, Ford Corporate denied coverage for a new long block and turbocharger, instructing the consumer to pay over $8,000 out of pocket for repairs caused entirely by their own botched recall.
Vehicle experienced sudden severe loss of motive power consistent with Ford Safety Recall 23S64 (the federal safety agency Campaign 23V905000). Prior to repair, the vehicle entered limp mode and could not accelerate beyond approximately 30 to 35 MPH. Low oil pressure warning indicators and check engine light illuminated repeatedly. Engine produced abnormal grinding and strained startup noises. Vehicle also experienced hesitation, shaking, and difficulty maintaining safe roadway speeds. While I was trying stop at a red light the vehicle struggles to brake although the brakes are applied, after coming to a full stop the vehicle shutdowns and would have restart. During operation, vehicle struggled to accelerate in traffic and braking performance became concerning due to severe engine power loss and unstable operation. On multiple occasions, the engine nearly stalled or shut down completely after stopping at intersections. Vehicle was delivered to Ford dealership for Recall 23S64 repair. Dealer completed the recall repair and stated oil pressure had been restored; however, the vehicle continued exhibiting the same severe loss of power and limp mode symptoms after completion of the recall procedure. Dealer later performed additional diagnostics and identified DTC P0087 (Fuel Rail/System Pressure Too Low) and a broken intake camshaft requiring major engine repairs estimated at approximately $9,000. Dealer stated the engine damage was not covered or related under the recall despite the vehicle originally presenting with the same low oil pressure, loss of motive power, and drivability symptoms described in Recall 23S64. Vehicle remains unsafe to operate due to unresolved loss of power and internal engine damage. Concern exists that the recall related oil pressure failure may have caused consequential internal engine damage that was not fully corrected by the recall repair procedure. Problem has been confirmed by authorized Ford dealership inspection and diagnostic testing.
The affected systems are the engine and powertrain. After completion of Safety Recall 23S64 (the federal safety agency #23V905) in November 2025, my vehicle began experiencing repeated loss of power, stalling, and reduced-power “limp mode” events. The check engine light illuminated and diagnostic trouble code P0299 (Turbocharger Underboost Condition) was identified. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk due to sudden loss of engine power while driving, including hesitation and reduced acceleration in traffic. The vehicle has stalled and entered limp mode unexpectedly, creating a risk of being unable to maintain speed or safely merge. The problem has been reproduced and documented through multiple return visits to the same Ford dealership following the recall repair. The dealership attempted repairs including spark plug replacement and battery replacement, which did not resolve the issue. On the most recent visit, the dealership stated the issue was “unable to duplicate” and returned the vehicle without repair, despite prior documented limp mode behavior. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer’s authorized dealership multiple times. Additionally, an independent diagnostic scan confirmed P0299 turbocharger underboost. Warning indicators included the check engine light, reduced engine power, and limp mode behavior, which first appeared after the recall repair was completed. These symptoms have continued despite repeated service visits. Given the vehicle’s history of prior engine failure at approximately 29, 313 miles, and the fact that Recall 23S64 involves oil pump belt failure and oil pressure loss, I am concerned that the recall repair was incomplete or ineffective, potentially allowing residual oil starvation damage affecting the turbocharger and related components.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. 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 contact stated that while the contact's mother was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle suddenly went into Limp mode. The driver was able to pull to a safe area, was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The dealer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the failure was related to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2021 Ford EcoSport SES 2.0L gets an Engine Coolant Over-Temperature and Service Engine Soon Warning. In each instance, the Ford service center replaced the engine coolant temperature sensor and/or its associated wiring. In a short time after the repair, the same issue reoccurs (over six times now). Engine is not actually experiencing an over-temp issue, it is just that the sensor/wiring is faulty. When the issue occurs, the car is put into limp mode with reduced power/acceleration, sometimes at highway speeds or when accelerating onto the highway. I've been caught in traffic at highway speed then the car suddenly loses power in limp-mode forcing me to move over to slow lane or to pull over to the shoulder to avoid impeding traffic.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart but went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs, and starter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. 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 unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil pump drive belt or drive belt tensioner had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Five days prior I had car assessed at mechanics ,it was good. Day of incident car started and drove fine. Low oil light come on. I pulled over checked oil level it was fine. I checked the car on my Ford app. There was nothing on the app saying there was a problem. Car drove fine I drove about a hour the car oil lights flashed again. Then the car completely shut down while I was driving. I immediately tried to steer car off the road. The steering was hard.I was trying to give it gas to get it off the road but the car was instantly dead hunk of metal. The car made no noise. I have heard of limp mode but I didn't experience that. I went drove 70 to 0 really fast.I was lucky no one was immediately behind me or was in fast lane because I would of been hit .I had car towed to a ford dealership. It was determined that the engine recalled part is why it broke down. Unknown time when car will be repaired. No rental. No help . I own the car. It is sitting at a ford dealership.
My ecosport’s coolant reservoir has a leak. Due to this, my car overheated and went into limp mode. A week later, my ecosport would crank but not start, I believe this is due to a cracked cylinder from the oil pump recall. I received a recall notice for the oil pump in June with no current remedy. Now, I am having these issues with my vehicle. A mobile mechanic looked at my vehicle.
Related recalls
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 25V126000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Ecosport won't shift
Which Ford Ecosport years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2018 (8 complaints), 2019 (5 complaints) and 2020 (5 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix stuck in gear or won't shift on the Ford Ecosport?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $8,300 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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