Ford Focus, EcoSport Recalled Over Engine Oil Pump Failures

As Ford Authority reported last September, a number of Ford EcoSport engine failures are the subject of an investigation currently being conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency opened this investigation after it received a total of 95 customer complaints regarding engine failure caused by a loss of oil pressure. Some of those owners report that the low engine oil pressure warning light illuminates, after which they experience an immediate loss or reduction of power while the vehicle is in motion. The agency noted that this problem may be caused by an oil pump failure, and added that an engine replacement is typically required after a customer suffers a loss of oil pressure. Now, select Ford Focus and Ford EcoSport models are being recalled over this particular problem.

A grand total of 139,730 Ford Focus and EcoSport models powered by the turbocharged 1.0L I-3 EcoBoost engine are impacted by this new recall, specifically, 2017-2021 EcoSport crossovers built between April 3^rd, 2017, through October 12^th, 2021, as well as 2016-2018 Ford Focus models produced between March 24^th, 2015, and May 4^th, 2018. In affected vehicles, the engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may fracture, separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure, which can cause engine damage and even total failure. The defective parts are manufactured by Dayco Europe SRL in Italy.

Thus far, Ford is aware of one crash resulting in two injuries that could possibly be related to this issue. It also has a fix in the form of a revised oil pump tensioner assembly with a shorter tensioner arm that prevents contact with the balance shaft, as well as updated material properties that reportedly help prevent the drive belt material from degrading or losing teeth. Problem is, this part isn’t yet broadly available, so owners are being instructed to stand by until they receive notification that they can take their vehicles to a dealer for a no-cost replacement, with that communication expected to go out in February.

“There are warning signs and alerts that precede this issue including a low oil pressure warning message, a check engine light, and loud noises,” Ford spokesperson Maria Buczkowski said in a statement to Automotive News. “Ford will provide repair instructions to dealers when parts are available. In the meantime, if a customer experiences any of the warning signs they should safely bring their vehicle to a stop and reach out to their local dealer.”

We’ll have more on this Ford Focus and EcoSport recall soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford EcoSport news, Ford Focus news, Ford recall news, and non-stop Ford news coverage.