Ford EcoBoost Problems

William Byrd
Jul 12, 2021

The EcoBoost delivered a new era of economical, powerful engines for almost every Ford vehicle. However, it’s not without problems.

2017 Ford Escape EcoBoost - Photo by Ford

For many, the notion of a Mustang or F-150 Raptor powered by anything other than a big V8 used to be pure heresy. Imagine four- or six-cylinder power? Well, Ford did just that though, and the new EcoBoost series of turbocharged engines is now literally everywhere across the lineup.

Ford Ranger? Yes. Ford Explorer? Definitely. The Transit Connect work van? It’s there, too. It’s even been used in the Lincoln lineup in vehicles like the Aviator, Corsair, and more.

Ford made a massive investment in its new turbocharged engine series. The EcoBoost comes in three basic layouts, including inline three-cylinder, inline four-cylinder, and V6. All are dual overhead cam and turbocharged.

Let’s explore each engine type and examine potential problem areas that you should consider before purchasing a vehicle powered by an EcoBoost.

3-cylinder EcoBoost Engine - Photo by Ford

Is the 3.5 L EcoBoost a Good Engine?

Ford’s smallest EcoBoost comes in a series of sizes, including 1.0L (2012 to present), 1.1L (2017 to present), and 1.5L (2018 to present). You’ll generally find the diminutive three-cylinder in Ford’s smaller cars like the Focus, Fiesta, and EcoSport.

Ford’s smallest engines didn’t come without a few problems. Close to 45,000 of the three-cylinder 1.0L EcoBoost engines that were made between 2011 and 2013 were recalled. The issue was with a nylon coolant pipe that could fail at high temperatures.

Additionally, while this isn’t really an “EcoBoost” problem, the 2016 to 2018 Ford Focus models with the three-cylinder engine and the manual transmission can experience a clutch fracture, which can cause a transmission fluid leak. That fluid near a hot engine and ignition can increase the risk of a fire. Again, while not an engine issue, it’s definitely something to consider if you are shopping for a three-cylinder EcoBoost-powered Ford.

2014 Ford Fusion - Photo by Ford

Inline Four-cylinder EcoBoost Overview

The four-cylinder EcoBoost is considerably more prevalent than the three-cylinder, finding a home in almost everything that Ford produces. The four-banger from Ford comes in 1.5L, 1.6L, 2.0L and 2.3L configurations.

The 1.6L EcoBoost has seen its way under a massive number of hoods, including the Focus, Fusion, and Escape, plus a variety of Volvo cars including the V40V60V70S60S80 and others.

The 1.5L engine is basically just a downsized version of the 1.6L, and was created in part to get around a Chinese engine tax that was based on displacement, but also as a fix to problems that arose with the slightly larger 1.6L EcoBoost. More on that below! It can be found in the usual suspects for a smaller engine, including the 2015 Focus and 2015 C-Max. Ford also sold it as an entry-level engine for the 2014 Fusion sedan and 2017 – 2019 Escape crossover as well.

Similarly, the first iteration of the 2.0L EcoBoost (used between 2010 – 2015) was used in most of those same vehicles, but also in Ford’s Taurus, Edge and Explorer, the Volvo XC60, Land Rover’s Range Rover Evoque, Freelander, and Discovery Sport, as well as the Lincoln MKC. The redesigned 2.0L debuted in 2015 and featured a new twin-scroll turbocharger. Finally, a high-performance 2.3L EcoBoost has been used in the Mustang, Focus RS, Ranger and even in the new Bronco!

2018 Ford Focus ST - Photo by Ford

Inline Four-cylinder EcoBoost Problems

Each four-cylinder EcoBoost has its share of reported problems. The 1.6L EcoBoost experienced a significant number of issues, both here in the United States and in Europe. It was prone to oil leaks because of irregularities in pressure as the oil made its way through the engine. There were problems with the oil overheating and catching on fire.

Additional issues with coolant leaking from the cylinders was a pervasive problem, and close to 230,000 vehicles were recalled across the 2013-2015 model years. It’s no surprise that Ford replaced the 1.6L EcoBoost with the 1.5L engine. Thus far, the 1.5L EcoBoost seems to have addressed a lot of the issues found in the 1.6L version.

Moving up to the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, there have been reports of exhaust manifold cracks, as well as turbocharger control valve failures. Each issue has the potential for engine power loss if not detected in time. Additionally, a class-action lawsuit was brought against Ford in 2020, focusing on most of the four-cylinder engines produced since 2010.

The allegation is that these EcoBoost engines have a critical defect that causes coolant to leak into the cylinders. This can lead to misfires, engine failure or corrosion. Problems also have shown up in the 2.0L EcoBoost engine because of low pressure in the fuel pump. Basically, the fuel filter could get clogged more easily than normal, negatively affecting performance.

The performance-focused 2.3L engine has reports of cylinder head gaskets failing, overheating engines, and coolant in the exhaust. The culprit is thought to be the use of an incorrect cylinder head gasket. Additionally, some owners have reported carbon buildup within the inlet valves, which can restrict airflow and also affect performance.

3.5L EcoBoost Engine - Photo by Ford

V6 EcoBoost Overview

Ford’s largest set of EcoBoost engines come in 2.7L, 3.0L, and 3.5L sizes, and are also quite common across the modern Ford and Lincoln lineup. The biggest engines power the biggest vehicles. The most popular is definitely the F-150, and Ford sells a lot of them. It was a big gamble putting a smaller turbocharged engine in their best-selling vehicle, but it’s been quite a success.

You’ll find both the 2.7L and the 3.5L EcoBoost engine in Ford’s full-size truck. The 2.7L also is found in the Ford Fusion Sport and the Ford Edge ST, as well as Lincoln’s Nautilus, MKX, and Continental.

The 2.7L engine was updated for 2018 and has found a home in the F-150 and the new Bronco. Between 2017 and 2020, Ford also sold a 3.0L EcoBoost for a variety of full-size and midsize Ford and Lincoln models.

All the way back in 2007, Ford began selling a version of the largest EcoBoost, the 3.5L, originally called the TwinForce. The first-generation 3.5L not only was found in the F-150, but also larger Ford SUVs like the Explorer, Flex, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

An updated version of the 3.5L EcoBoost was launched in 2017 in an unlikely place: under the rear glass of a Ford GT supercar. It was a huge risk, but ended up paying off with the GT being the literal poster child for the EcoBoost. Since then, Ford has powered a ton of performance vehicles with versions of the EcoBoost.

The newest 3.5L is a beast, naturally still appearing in the F-150 and larger Ford and Lincoln SUVs, but also in the latest version of the off-road-focused F-150 Raptor.

V6 EcoBoost Problems

The V6 EcoBoost engine series is not without their issues. The latest generation 2.7L EcoBoost has had a few blown head gasket issues, but overall seems to be a pretty solid engine. Similarly, the 3.5L EcoBoost has gotten pretty good reviews from a reliability perspective.

Some early reports of timing chain issues mostly seem to be attributed to a lack of routine maintenance. If the vehicle does not have regular oil changes, the timing chain can become misaligned.

Keep an eye out for carbon buildup around spark plugs; it typically is caused by fuel or exhaust manifold leaks, or excessive engine heat. The fix is pretty simple: a spark plug replacement. Excessive smoke around the exhaust could be due to a failure in a crankcase ventilation hose valve cover adapter.

Throughout the rest of the airflow system, there are reports of humidity and moisture condensation buildup inside the EcoBoost’s intercooler, which can result in decreased performance.

Also, some aftermarket intake cleaning products have been shown to actually impact airflow, so always use products approved for the EcoBoost.

3.5 liter EcoBoost Engine - Photo by Ford

Summary

Generally speaking, it turns out that the smaller the EcoBoost, the fewer things that can go wrong. In reality though, the newer the EcoBoost, the more reliable it is likely to be.

Each of the various engine options, from the smallest 1.0L, to the largest 3.5L, have multiple generations to work out the kinks. Do your homework and research when the engines were updated; it’s likely that Ford fixed some known problems.

As always, check for open recalls before purchasing, and if you are able, get a pre-purchase inspection done at a reputable shop.

Photos: Ford

Frequently Asked Questions

Apr 3, 2022

What does it mean when a car has EcoBoost?

If you are looking at a Ford vehicle and notice that it has an EcoBoost engine you may be wondering what exactly that means. Essentially, it means that the engine has a turbo and direct fuel injection. This is the brand name that Ford uses across their line of engines that combine these features.

The "Eco" part of the name EcoBoost means that it is economical and scores well on fuel economy. The "Boost" part means that it has a turbo that will boost power to the engine whenever it is needed in situations where you are getting on a highway or need to pass someone.

The EcoBoost engine does combine the best of both worlds into one engine. These tend to be more fuel-efficient than a standard engine because of their direct fuel injection and can produce more power than a similarly sized engine due to their turbos. Ford has been developing these for several years now and more models keep coming out featuring the technology.

Is EcoBoost better than V8?

The Ford EcoBoost V6 does tend to be better than a V8 in nearly every way that matters. These engines make more power and are more fuel-efficient than a V8. This leads to vehicles like the F150 having a greater towing capacity with the EcoBoost V6 compared to the 5.0L V8.

One thing that some owners do not like about the EcoBoost V6 is that the power is not as linear as it would be with a V8. With the EcoBoost, you wind up having low power in the lower RPM range, and then you will get much more power as you increase in RPMs and the turbos spool up. This can lead to the power feeling more like a surge rather than a gradual increase.

The EcoBoost is a good engine to take a look at if you are checking out cars from Ford. These offer greater fuel economy and horsepower than a V8. It would be best to test them back to back to see which one you like more.

Does EcoBoost need premium gas?

The Ford EcoBoost engines do not need premium gasoline, however, you may notice some performance losses when you use regular gasoline. As long as your gasoline is unleaded and has an octane rating of 87 or higher it should have no problem running in your EcoBoost engine, but it is always a good idea to buy the highest octane fuel that you can afford.

Higher octane fuel burns more completely in your engine and this can help improve performance and cut down on the amount of carbon buildup in your engine. Some gasoline on the market is labeled as "Top Tier" as well. These gasoline options have detergents in them that are designed to clean out carbon buildup in your engine to help it last longer.

Ford's EcoBoost engines are built with tighter tolerances than a lot of their other engines but they can still handle regular gasoline. If you are in a pinch filing up with 87 will not hurt the engine.

Owner Reviews

accountCircle Megan Romero on June 24, 2022
2020 Ford Ecosport Turbo and Engine Problems
I bought the car during the COVID lockdown. It never seemed to have much power but I thought it was just because it was a smaller car and had the smaller engine. I had my son take care of maintenance because he drove my car a lot and he was a mechanic for 10 years for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep. The car got progressively worse, running on low power. It got to the point where I had trouble pulling out on the road and accelerating. When I brought the car into Johnson Brothers Ford in Temple, Texas they said the turbo was out. The kept the car for over a month and finally told me they could not honor the warranty. I had even purchased the extended warranty when I bought the car. They said since I did not have the car brought into the service dept. They could not fix the car. They said it would cost 14,000 dollars. I cannot pay that much for this car. I picked it up and they would not even put the car back the way to the same condition it was i when i brought it there. It was running when I brought the car in. I had to have someone pick it up and tow it to my house. I had to purchase another car and now can't afford both payments. Is this normal practice for FORD?
accountCircle Rob Goulbourne on November 23, 2022
Focus RS 2.3 EcoBoost
Having owned the vehicle new from 2018 vehicle had had the new gasket fitted and at 22000miles smoke was evident from the tail pipes.Fords foundbore scoring and also the head was warped between cylinders 2 and 3, Engine replaced and vehicle now is at 30000 miles and yes sat back in ford awaiting news on why the engine has failed again with bore scoring and smoke. All servicing carried out correctly and on schedule with ford parts, vehicle has not be ragged only driven to and from work, Basically a chocolate engine very very poor
accountCircle Joe on January 22, 2022
Ecoboost 2.0L turbo
I've gone though an engine a year since i bought the car. It starts misfiring and cylinder #3 piston cracks in it every time. All with 90-110 miles on the engine not the car itself. Proper maintenance is done as required by the book. I hear other people having the exact same issue but it seems to be hush hush for some reason.
avatar William Byrd
William Byrd has been a professional automotive journalist for over 10 years. He has produced tons of high-quality content for a host of popular auto websites, including Autotrader, Jalopnik, Vehicle History, Hooniverse, CarMax, Right Foot Down, and others.
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