NHTSA Investigates Ford 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine Failures

0-liter EcoBoost engine. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has escalated its probe to an engineering analysis, looking into reports of catastrophic engine failure in 135,551 Fiesta, Focus, and EcoSport models.

The issue centers on the engine's wet timing belt, which runs through engine oil. NHTSA says the belt can degrade, shedding debris that clogs the screen feeding the oil pump. When that happens, oil pressure drops, leading to under-lubrication and possible engine seizure.

So far, there are 355 recorded incidents of power loss or oil starvation. The average failure happens at 70,000 miles, with 98% of failures occurring before 150,000 miles. Affected vehicles span the 2014-2021 model years, including the 2014-2017 Fiesta, 2015-2018 Focus, and 2018-2021 EcoSport.

Ford recommends replacing the belt at 150,000 miles, but failures are happening at roughly half that distance, even with regular oil changes.

NHTSA has found no injuries, crashes, or fires linked to the issue, but the agency says there's an "unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety." Ford hasn't issued a recall yet, instead offering a customer satisfaction program that shortens the belt replacement interval to 100,000 miles.

For owners, options are limited. 1 hours of labor in a Fiesta, with no guarantee of reimbursement. Selling the car is tough, as buyers are likely aware of the investigation. The outlet recommends avoiding these models entirely and suggests alternatives like the 2017 Toyota Corolla, 2018 Honda Civic, 2021 Kia Soul, 2018 Chevrolet Cruze, or 2019 Honda CR-V, all of which offer better reliability ratings.

A recall seems likely, but no timeline has been set.