Ford Ecosport: common problems, best years and what to check
Budget small SUV; the 2017 facelift is much improved. Covers 2014–2023 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Ford Ecosport a good used buy?
Best buy
2018+ facelift 1.0 EcoBoost 125
Avoid
early 1.0 EcoBoost without coolant records
Who it suits: Buyers wanting a cheap small SUV with a raised seat.
What's good
- Cheap to buy
- Raised driving position
- Facelift is well equipped
- Good visibility
What's not
- Early cars feel cheap
- Side-hinged tailgate on pre-2018
- Average refinement
- EcoBoost coolant issues
By the numbers
- #78 most common model on UK roads, with about 111k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2019: 24.2k cars still licensed.
- 1.0 EcoBoost uses a wet belt (100–150k / 10 yrs): budget £700–£1,100 if there's no invoice.
- The most expensive common fault: Coolant leak / overheating (degas hose, header tank, head gasket on 2012–2015 cars) (up to £2,500).
Ford Ecosport common problems by generation and engine
Ford Ecosport EcoSport (2014–2023) · small SUV
How to spot it: 14 plate to 23 plate. Tall small SUV; pre-2018 cars have the spare wheel on the side-hinged tailgate.
1.0 EcoBoost (100/125/140ps) (Fox, petrol, 2014–2023)
Punchy and economical, but early units have known cooling and belt problems
- Coolant leak / overheating (degas hose, header tank, head gasket on 2012–2015 cars)£300–£2,500any mileage; most on 2012–2015 · Check: Coolant level, white smoke, low-coolant warning history
- Wet timing belt (oil-bathed) wear; oil pump belt£700–£1,100replace ~100k miles or 10 yrs · Check: Ask for belt-change invoice
- Misfire from coil packs / plugs£150–£35040k+
1.5 TDCi (DV6 / Duratorq, diesel, 2014–2020)
Frugal
Faults on any EcoSport (2014–2023) engine
- PowerShift / auto gearbox issues£600–£2,500any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Ford Ecosport years
How many Ford Ecosports from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Ford Ecosport MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2014+ cars)
Ford Ecosports pass their MOT first time 4 points less often than the average UK car of the same age (77% vs 81%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 61% | 69% | 71k miles |
| 2015 | 64% | 72% | 64k miles |
| 2016 | 68% | 75% | 57k miles |
| 2017 | 70% | 78% | 50k miles |
| 2018 | 80% | 81% | 39k miles |
| 2019 | 82% | 84% | 33k miles |
| 2020 | 82% | 86% | 29k miles |
| 2021 | 87% | 87% | 23k miles |
| 2022 | 87% | 89% | 18k miles |
| 2023 | 87% | 92% | 18k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Petrol
Diesel
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Stop lamp: not working5.63 per 100
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.75 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.79 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.73 per 100
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.72 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut1.66 per 100
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.33 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.3 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tyres: has a tear24.27 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.51 per 100
- Coil spring: corroded14.26 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.28 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.16 per 100
- Swivel pins and bushes: swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn3.22 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.09 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.67 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Ford Ecosport have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 EcoBoost | wet belt | 100–150k / 10 yrs | £700–£1,100 |
Ford Ecosport running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Ford Ecosport ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Ford Ecosport vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Ecosport | 111k | 8–17 | 356 l | 2018+ facelift 1.0 EcoBoost 125 |
| Nissan Juke | 379k | 11–20 | 422 l | 2019+ F16 1.0 DIG-T manual |
| Renault Captur | 186k | 8–21 | 422 l | 2013–2019 0.9 TCe or 1.5 dCi manual; 2020+ E-Tech |
| Peugeot 2008 | 179k | 10–24 | 434 l | 2019+ 2008 with PureTech belt done, or e-2008 |
| Ford Puma | 180k | 11–21 | 456 l | 2020+ 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV 125 manual |
| Vauxhall Crossland | 86k | 8–17 | 410 l | 1.5 diesel or PureTech with belt done |
What to check when buying a used Ford Ecosport
- Prefer 2018+ facelift
- Coolant history on EcoBoost
Ford Ecosport FAQ
›Is the Ford Ecosport reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2018+ facelift 1.0 EcoBoost 125. Avoid: early 1.0 EcoBoost without coolant records.
›What is the Ford Ecosport MOT pass rate?
77% of Ford Ecosports passed their MOT first time in 2025 (99,054 tests), below the 81% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: stop lamp: not working.
›What are the most common Ford Ecosport problems?
The costliest known faults are Coolant leak / overheating; Wet timing belt; Misfire from coil packs / plugs. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Ford Ecosport have a timing belt or chain?
1.0 EcoBoost: wet belt.
›What is the best year Ford Ecosport to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2018, 2019, 2021 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Ford Ecosport cost to run?
Real-world economy: 1.0 EcoBoost 40–46 mpg; 1.5 TDCi 52–60 mpg. Insurance groups 8–17. A minor service is about £160–£230 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Ford Ecosport?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Ford Ecosport ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.