Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ford Ecosport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the thermostat had failed. The vehicle was then taken to another independent mechanic, who made the same assessment and informed the contact that the failure could be covered under warranty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the engine under warranty; however, the failure recurred within 24 hours. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the thermostat and the starter were replaced. The contact stated that while pulling out of a Walmart parking lot the following day, the vehicle shut off. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and attempting to complete a turn, the Auto START/STOP feature activated and turned the vehicle off, with the message "Shift to Park(P) to Manually Restart" was displayed. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The battery warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with a piston, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 125,000. …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed. The vehicle was returned to the contact; however, the contact was informed that the alternator was not spinning. The contact was informed that the alternator had seized and needed to be replaced. The dealer ordered the replacement alternator; however, the repair was denied by the manufacturer. The dealer then applied a lubricant to the alternator, and the alternator unseized; however, the contact was that the lubrication was a temporary fix. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000(Engine and Engine Cooling), and the dealer replaced the engine and the oil pump; however, while driving two days later, the vehicle stalled upon coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after an hour and drove to the residence. The dealer picked up the vehicle from the residence, and the contact was later informed that the vehicle was diagnosed with wiring harness failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired because the contact believed that the dealer damaged the wiring harness while performing the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start. The contact had to depress the Push-to-Start button three times before the vehicle would start. After driving for 15 minutes, the engine overheated. The contact pulled over. The vehicle was restarted, but there was smoke detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was stopped at a stop light and the vehicle shut off. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed starter. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred before and the starter had been replaced by the dealer twice within 6-months. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, the security alarm erroneously activated and could not be deactivated. The alarm eventually shut off independently. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 44,000.
I am writing to you as I have many concerns about my Ford EcoSport. As I commute to my job or drive to pick up errands, my car suddenly stops. I would make a complete stop and I forget to press the Start/Stop button to disable it from shutting off the engine. This has happened several times and I have taken in my car before and all of the Ford dealerships and service workers have no idea of what the problem is or why it is doing this so frequently. I try to start my car and for some reason, it is not starting properly. It continues to make the sounds of it possibly starting and then it shuts off completely. This is the only vehicle that I have to commute with and do my daily errands. I am very concerned about this vehicle and how it is not a reliable source for me to get from place to place. What if something happens then what? …
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. Approximately two and a half years later, while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over, parked the vehicle, and had the vehicle towed. …
Vehicle has had numerous electrical issues including loosing power while the vehicle is in motion and at stop lights without any warning. The car shuts off and sometimes can be restarted after it is placed in park and restarted. On other occasions, the vehicle looses all power and must be towed. Per the ford dealership, electrical wiring becomes loose. Additionally, while the vehicle is running strange sensors come on and then go off such as "hill assist not available" or "traction control" deactivated but then turns itself back on. Also, the doors randomly lock and unlock on their own without touching the fob or door lock. The security system turns itself on after I enter a building. I have contacted and brought this vehicle into the ford certified dealership where I purchased from. My concerns have been brushed to the side by the local office as well as ford corporate.
Electrical complaints in other Ecosport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Ford Ecosport?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Ford Ecosport, 5% of the model year's 727 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Ford Ecosport electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2018 Ford Ecosport, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Ecosport electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.