One tends to expect that the components of their vehicle will help it run better, not ruin it. However, a number of complaints from consumers have prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to open a Preliminary Evaluation into a potential problem with the oil pump in the 2018-2021 Ford EcoSport.
The agency’s Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) says it has received 95 complaints from consumers in the U.S. claiming that their engines have failed due to an issue stemming from their oil pump. Some report seeing a low oil level warning lamp on their dash right before they lose power, in some cases while the vehicle is in motion.
Since the issue is still under investigation, it’s not yet clear precisely how the problem started. In complaints sent to NHTSA, one consumer from San Antonio, Texas, gave a little insight into their experience in June.
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“Got in the car to leave work and after driving for 5 minutes the car stalled and showed the oil and check engine light,” the person wrote. “Dealer claims the entire engine needs to be replaced due to a failed oil pump causing bearing failure.”
Indeed, a number of consumers have reported similar experiences and, crucially, have alleged that their engines have had to be replaced because of this oil pump problem. The ODI says that as part of its preliminary evaluation, it will look into the severity and scope of the alleged engine failure and assess its potential consequences on safety.
Although a preliminary evaluation is often the first step toward a recall, it does not amount to one, nor does it necessarily mean that one is coming. However, if this alleged issue does require Ford to repair vehicles, it may have to recall as many as 241,014 EcoSports in all.
That would be more bad news for the Dearborn automaker, which has been trying and failing to lose its record as the most recalled brand in America. In 2022, it issued the most recalls, and in the first half of 2023, it was leading the charts.
