Ford Motor Co. launched the Ecosport as an entry to the budget consumer vehicle market. The compact SUV suits the city driving conditions well. However, long-distance touring is not the strong suit for the Ford Ecosport. For a practical budget, the Ecosport offers a good choice for a reliable daily commuter. Despite respectable reliability standards, the Ecosport comes across a few issues. The 2020 Ford EcoSport problems vary from brake defects to airbag malfunctions. However, the SUV maintains a record with 10 complaints and a single recall for the 2020 model year. The compact SUV receives a 4-star safety rating and assures reliability. The Ford Ecosport faces off with the Honda HR-V, the Chevrolet Trax, and the Mazda CX-3 in the subcompact SUV class. The 2020 Ford EcoSport ranks 6th on the CarHp list of top 10 subcompact SUVs of 2020.
2020 Ford EcoSport User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Problems
- Brakes - Ford Ecosport users report cases of braking malfunctions. Complaints report that the car fails to brake by depressing the brake pedal. This compromises user safety and increases the chances of a crash.
- Powertrain - The Ford Ecosport comes across powertrain issues. Users report the car rolling down in the reverse direction while in ‘park’ mode. This increases the risk of crashing and injury to others.
Electrical Problems
- Infotainment touchscreen - Users report blacking out of the infotainment display without any warnings. This can disrupt navigation and infotainment controls and can distract the driver.
- Engine - Engine stalling is common with the Ford Ecosport. Engine Stalling under driving conditions results in a sudden loss of drive power. This abrupt drop in speed increases the chances of a crash.
- Driver aids - Common driver aid complaints with the Ecosport are adaptive cruise control and vehicle speed control malfunctions. These malfunctions result in a sharp drop in driving speed. This increases the chances of rear-ended crashing.
Structural Problems
- Windshield - Shattering or cracking of the windshield is a known problem with the Ford Ecosport. Ford claims variations in the ambient temperatures to be the primary cause of the issue.
Safety Problems
- Airbags - The SUV is prone to airbag deployment malfunction. Due to a defect in the airbag inflator, the airbag may not inflate and deploy. Few complaints mention the front driver and passenger airbags failing to deploy. This increases the chances of injury and compromises user safety.
- Seats - The SUV seats are prone to deform. Poor rigidity compromises in-cabin structural integrity. This increases the chances of injury in the event of a crash.
Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
December 17, 2020 |
20V791000 |
Airbag missing first stage booster/ FMVSS 208 |
Airbag modules missing the first stage booster propellent will not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. |
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected airbag module on either the driver or passenger side, free of charge. This recall began on February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C26. |
Should you buy the 2020 Ford Ecosport?
The Ford Ecosport is a good choice for a compact daily driver on a decent budget. The SUV focuses on city driving scenarios and manages occasional touring. Although Ford generally focuses on performance over reliability, the Ecosport changes the trend. We have observed few user complaints with the 2020 Ford Ecosport that range from brake defects to airbag malfunctions. The 2020 Ford Ecosport receives a 4-star safety rating from NHTSA. To add to this, the Ford aftersales assure genuine support and services. Overall, the 2020 Ford Ecosport gets the CarHp go-ahead but don't miss to check-out the competition as well.
