2021 Ford Ecosport Brakes Problems

Safety Recall 23S64 was completed on my 2021 Ford EcoSport on approx. Oct 19, 2025. After ~15,000 miles, the same system failed again on [XXX], causing loss of power and loss of braking assist. Fredericktown Pettus Ford diagnosed shredded timing belt material, drained the oil, and removed the catalytic converter (placed in trunk). They were respectful and tried to order a replacement engine, but Ford Motor Co. blocked their access to the system. The vehicle has now been out of service for over 3 months, and we have paid for two ~100‑mile tows because Ford refused to authorize repairs or provide a loaner/rental after a second engine failure. On June 18 the car was towed to Bommarito Ford, who falsely accused us of “destroying the car” and removing the catalytic converter, despite written confirmation from Pettus Ford that THEY removed it during diagnosis. Bommarito refused recall work, claimed the car was “out of warranty,” and ordered us to remove it from their lot or face storage fees. Ford Corporate opened cases [XXX] and [XXX]. The second rep was rude, accusatory, did not return calls, and repeated false claims. Ford denied coverage using a 12k‑mile parts warranty, even though this is a federal safety recall. Ford Corporate also misidentified the owner and listed my vehicle incorrectly as a “Ford Edge.” After notifying Ford Executive Office, Tier 2, the Missouri Attorney General, and legal counsel, Pettus Ford’s access to Ford’s system was suddenly restored. Pettus Ford continued to help, but Ford still refused to authorize the repair. We have now towed the car back to Pettus Ford in Fredericktown, MO. We have been without a vehicle for nearly 4 months and have spent significant time and money on towing. Ford only began to respond after the Missouri Attorney General complaint and after Ford Corporate threatened legal action instead of providing assistance. Pettus Ford has been the only party acting professionally throughout this:INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C

NHTSA ID

11746512

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

The contact owned a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25-30 MPH, the vehicle ahead applied the brakes. The contact then depressed the brake pedal; however, the brakes were inoperable, causing the vehicle to rear-end the vehicle in front. The contact further stated that the parking brake was applied but was also inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle sustained front-end damage, including impact to the center of the bumper, radiator damage, and hood intrusion into the engine compartment. The other vehicle sustained damage to the trunk and rear bumper. The airbags did not deploy, and no warning light illuminated before or during the incident. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was later towed to a junk yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. No injuries were reported. The dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The Ford App indicated that during and after the crash, the app alerted that there was an issue with the vehicle; however, it could not be tested since the vehicle was totaled due to the failure not being covered by the manufacturer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11743445

Incident

May 27, 2026

Mileage

98,000 mi

Iwe were on freeway 70 mph and then the motor lost power with a a semi behind us our motor went to 20mph this suv is dangerous unfixable and I should get a new car and money back this car has almost gotten us killed 4 times now,I've given Ford 3 different chances to fix it,they can't they are putting on the same parts our son is so scared he won't get in the car at all,we have made Ford aware of this issue many times I'm paying 480.00 a month to drive a death trap,Ford should have to replace this car it was at buckeye Ford for like almost five months, coughlin Ford for almost 2 months and Ford should be giving me a loaner right now I'm waiting on 10tv to get back

NHTSA ID

11732031

Incident

Oct 8, 2023

As I pulled into my driveway, my brakes locked up resulting in my vehicle only coming to a stop because it crashed into another vehicle in my driveway. It is still in my driveway, the function of breaking has not been reproduced. The car will not even start now. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealer, an independent service center, or anyone else. I will be contacting my insurance today. A police report was not made as no one was at fault. There were no warning lamps or messages displayed. I did receive a letter this week from Brian Leonard, a service Manager at Price Ford Simi Valley regarding recall 23S64. The letter notified me of the new recall, that their business will "pick up and deliver my vehicle, provide me a loaner vehicle, and complete the recall repairs for me". I received this letter the day before the brake failure. The morning after the brakes failed causing the crash, I contacted Mr. Leonard who told me they will now not fix any of the issues or comply with any part of the letter, that I should file a claim with my insurance and take the car to a Ford dealership in Turlock. This was communication was all via email and Simi Valley Ford has now ended communication with me. This car was purchased brand new and I have had nothing but issues and recalls with it. Additionally while driving it 3 weeks ago on [XXX] , the car lost all power. I pulled over to the side of the road and sat for about 10 minutes debating what to do. I attempted to restart the vehicle, it started and I was able to complete my drive home with no warning or indicator lights appearing. This car is a lemon! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11722572

Incident

Mar 4, 2026

1)the engine is malfunctioning and its available for inspection 2)In the middle of the night on the highway alone I wasn't sure if my car was going to completely stop on me while driving and cause a wreak 3)About two months ago it was confirmed that I had a recall through the dealership, and it was supposed of have been repaired during that time but wasn't complete. 4)It was inspected two months ago by ford dealership 5)Yes ! the car was making a weird noise driving and engine was vibrating. I stopped at AutoZone and they plugged it up and it read the Anti braking system results said failure

NHTSA ID

11653414

Incident

Apr 4, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11653308

Incident

Mar 29, 2025

My vehicle has outright lost power and shut down entirely with the engine non functional approximately 6 times since I acquired it back in March of 2024. This recall has existed for 2 months prior to me getting my vehicle and I was unaware of the recall at the time I purchased it because dealerships selling vehicles with open recalls wasn’t something I was aware was legal considering the imminent potential safety risks. I have nearly wrecked 3 times while going 50+ mph on major local roads and highways because of my car shutting off entirely with 0 notice. To be entirely honest I don’t have enough money to go out and finance another car and I also don’t think a fault vehicle should become my liability when it’s faulty because of processes the manufacture has cut costs on. Not only is driving my vehicle extremely dangerous but it’s my only choice as the alternatives are viable options regarding costs. Assuming I were to get into a wreck knowing this issue was occurring I’d be liable per my insurance for something a multi billion dollar corporation has considered a “non-issue” for literally over a year now. When this happens my power steering loses its functionality locking up the steering wheel entirely, every light and electronic in the car shuts off instantly, and the engine shuts off but because my vehicle is in motion it continues rolling until my speed reaches 0. My brakes haven’t worked more than a fraction of how they’d normally work if my car were working as intended which is extremely annoying because sometimes like while in 5pm traffic I NEED to brake and am unable to which is very dangerous. I have had my car for just about a year and once every 2 months something that could potentially kill me and cause millions of dollars in damage has occurred while the manufacturer has had more time than I’ve had my vehicle to fix the issue. I only filed a complaint now because I was unaware I was able to prior. Thanks.

NHTSA ID

11651450

Incident

Apr 3, 2024

Vehicle engine stalled while driving on interstate highway, and it went into limb mode. Vehicle seized and was unresponsive and unable to move. It was incredibly hazardous. Vehicle was towed to the nearest Ford dealership. To date, dealership has not provided a rental vehicle and is unresponsive to recall assistance.

NHTSA ID

11634208

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

While waiting at a stop light when the automatic start kicked back in it was so hard I felt that someone had rear ended my car and then the car stalled. I had to put the car in park and restart the engine. My biggest fear is being rear ended. My engine whines and the rpm will hit 4 or 5 before the car will shift into the next gear. It does the ssame thing when trying to accelerate - it's as if it's not getting enough fuel. However, my biggest fear is that I've had a recall on my vehicle since January, 2024 - Manufacturer Recall Number 23S64; NHTSA Recall Number 23V905 and there not anticipaing a fix until the first quarter of 2025. The Safety Risk: A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE CAN RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE ANDOR SEIZURE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND A LOSS OF THE MECHANICAL VACUUM PUMP REQUIRED TO PROVIDE POWER BRAKING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Knowing that this is a safety risk, nothing can be provided for the consumer soone than this. This is scarry, why not buy the vehicle back. If I get in an accident then what?

NHTSA ID

11623383

Incident

Apr 5, 2024

ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE BELT TENSIONER ARM FRACTURED My vehicle has been in the service department since June 30st, following a breakdown during a trip from Odessa, Texas to California. The vehicle malfunctioned in California, approximately a 24-hour drive from our home. Upon investigation, I learned that the part responsible for the breakdown was already subject to a recall. Despite waiting for several days at a hotel near the dealership, I was not provided with a long-term rental. Instead, I was given a Lyft to the nearest airport to continue my trip. I also had to cover the costs of a rental car to return to Texas. Additionally, the faulty part has no estimated delivery date, leaving the vehicle unrepaired for an indefinite period. I foresee potential issues when it comes time to retrieve the vehicle, given the distance involved. Given the extended downtime and the out-of-pocket costs incurred, what are my options for resolving this situation, including rental reimbursement, vehicle pickup, or any other possible recourse?

NHTSA ID

11614095

Incident

Jun 30, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while parked in a parking space with the vehicle in drive and the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle started to roll. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and the VIN was included but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11576298

Incident

Mar 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and contacted her son. The contact's son inspected the oil pump and oil filter but could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact then drove to the residence; however, while attempting to pull into the driveway, the power steering and the brakes failed to function as needed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer advised the contact to repair the vehicle at her own expense, and she might be reimbursed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11570904

Incident

Feb 7, 2024

Mileage

87,000 mi

My brakes let go while I was stopped at a traffic light almost causing me to rear end the car in front of me. Luckily the light turned green and the car in front of me moved before I ran into them. Went to try pull off the road to check what was going on and my brakes started working again. This incident put myself and others at risk.

NHTSA ID

11558902

Incident

Jul 12, 2023

Upon normal acceleration at a stop light, the car accelerated normally for about 2 seconds and then a loud grinding sound followed and I lost all acceleration in the middle of a busy intersection unexpectedly with cars having to slam their brakes behind me and steer into other oncoming traffic to avoid hitting me. The car was able to slowly cruise through the light however the brakes also stopped working so I could not bring my car to a stop once I was through the light and had to use the emergency brake to stop the car from rolling. Had this same issue occurred while driving my normal route to work in Houston rush hour traffic I could have been killed or killed others in a wreck as I had no control over my vehicle. No warning lights came on. This issue occurred exactly one week after routine scheduled maintenance that I did at the Ford dealership 2000 miles ahead of when the suggested manufacturer maintenance was required. That same dealership refused to diagnose the vehicle any sooner than 6 weeks. It has now been seen at a new dealership and I was told the axel needed to be replaced and there is transmission fluid leaking out of the car.

NHTSA ID

11502261

Incident

Dec 24, 2022