Ok, here goes......Below is my story taken from the letter I wrote to Ford Corporate on 10/27/2023 about 10 days after the incident. I didn't get any response from Ford Corporate at all. Since sending this letter to them, I've discovered so much more information of this issue from the Ford data bases and from NHTSA data bases all stating that this has been a known issue to Ford for some time and never disclosed. Also since sending this letter, a recall has been issued but it doesn't account for the vehicles that have had catastrophic engine failure like mine. In my opinion it only addresses those vehicles that haven't had the failure yet, and their solution is to replace the oil pump components with the same parts that defect. Even though most of the documents I've found relating to my issue, engine replacement is the remedy but Ford failed to include that in the recall. They currently don't have a remedy for the vehicles that have suffered the failure and need new engines. I've lost all faith in the system and especially with Ford and their lack of compassion for anybody who has had to deal with this manufactures defect. See the letter I sent below:

To Whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction and frustration with the quality and reliability of my 2018 Ford EcoSport with the 1.0L EcoBoost engine. I purchased this vehicle used 3 years ago from a certified dealership with the expectation that it would provide me with safe and dependable transportation for many years. Up until now it has. I never had any significant issues at all. I made sure I was on time with regular maintenance, and it was always good to me.

However, on 10/17/23, while I was driving on I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass in Washington State, my vehicle suddenly lost oil pressure and an oil pressure warning message came on. I immediately pulled over to the side of the road and called for roadside assistance. I was 100 miles from home but I had it towed to Midland Automotive near my home, where they diagnosed that the engine oil pump belt tensioner had broken, causing a loss of oil pressure and metal and belt debris to enter the engine. As a result, the engine had seized and was beyond repair.

I was shocked and dismayed to learn that my vehicle, which had only 87,000 miles on it, was now totaled. I contacted Ford Corporate and explained my situation hoping that they would offer me some assistance or compensation and within a few days I received a call back. However, I was told that there were no provisions for this sort of thing. Basically that Ford was not responsible for any repairs or damages. I was also informed that there was no recall or service bulletins for this issue, despite the fact that I found out from online sources that this is a common and known problem with the 1.0L EcoBoost engine that Ford has known about for some time.

I find this response unacceptable and unfair. Ford advertised this vehicle as having an "award winning" EcoBoost engine that was designed with "drive ability" and fuel efficiency in mind. However, it turned out to be a defective and dangerous product that put my life and others at risk. Ford should have warned me and other customers about this potential oil pump failure and taken steps to prevent it or fix it before it caused catastrophic engine damage.

I am now left with a useless vehicle that I still owe money on and, I have to find another way to get to work and meet my other obligations. I have incurred significant financial losses and emotional distress because of this incident. I believe that Ford should make this right for me by acknowledging this defect. They should cover the replacement costs of another vehicle, compensate me for costs I have incurred as a result of this disaster such as the diagnostic charges to determine what happened, rental car expenses, 3 different tows, loss of work and don't forget I'm still paying for this car to my lender.

I request that you respond to this letter within 15 days and provide me with a satisfactory resolution. If I do not hear from you or receive a satisfactory response, I will take further legal action against Ford Motor Company and I will be asking for much more!!

Please see Attachment A for information I've accumulated in regards to the 2018 Ford Ecosport Titanium with the 1.0L Ecoboost engine. Thank you in advance for your help.

These are the attachments I sent with the letter:

ATTACHMENT A

https://www.tiktok.com/@victorshack/video/7272982580574653742

(224) JUNK Ford Ecosport 1.0L 3-Cylinder Ecoboost Teardown. How Do You Avoid This Failure? - YouTube

‘Time Bombs’: Ford EcoBoost Oil Pump Defect Can Cause Engine Failure While Driving, Class Action Says

From NHTSA SSM 48093 - 2018-2019 EcoSport - 1.0L EcoBoost - 6F15 - Loss Of Engine Oil Pressure With Illuminated Engine Oil Warning Lamp - Built On Or Before 3-Apr-2019 Some 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine and a 6F15 automatic transmission and built on or before 3-Apr-2019 may exhibit a loss of engine oil pressure with an illuminated oil pressure warning lamp. This may be due to a broken/failed engine oil pump belt tensioner which leads to a loss of engine oil pressure. Due to the nature of this failure, an engine replacement maybe required. Engines built after 3-Apr-2019 should not be affected. All tensioners built with a manufacture date on or after 23-Jan-2019 are good to use. APPLICABLE VEHICLES 2018 - 2019 CAR: ECOSPORT

@footluck0r742 - 2 months ago I worked for Ford as a Mechatronics Engineer in Germany... The Ecoboost has been around since 2010 in European Fords. And what can I say, at that time Ford could no longer provide replacement engines under warranty, we had cars that had to wait for new engines for over a year... Built to just survive the lease, if I had to guess?

@alexandercortez4106 - 4 months ago As a Ford tech for a little over 2 years, this is the 6th time I've personally seen this happen, not including the rest of my shop. What we hear is either 1. The tensioner itself fails and there is no longer any oil pressure, or 2. The timing belt loses every single tooth (likely still tensioner failure) and becomes smooth and of course, no oil pressure. Most cars will keep driving like this until the "Low Oil Pressure" warning crops up, at which point we get it. There is no recall, but ford issued a TSB which directs to replace the long block and turbo. Which is why they are in such high demand. Obviously just a horrible engine design. Absolutely loved watching this one. I also hate that turbo vacuum line, and there's always one fuel injector connector that gives me hell. Great tear down!!

@nigelreese3971 - 3 months ago I concur with your summary of the design of this engine. I have bought x2 of these engines in Ford Fiestas for my children in the UK. (Ecoboost 1.0litre petrol). The first suffered oil pump strainer blockage from shredded timing belt. ~$2000 of repairs later and the engine is still full of little bits of rubber and material which has now trashed the turbo charger bearing, and I dare say the major engine bearings. Solution short of putting car in a skip is to buy a new engine, no point in a recon with no history or trying to rebuild this one. Ford want almost $6000 for a new one I can get one that I believe was an original Ford engine manufactured a year or so back at a cut down deal price - indicating culpability perhaps because so many were failing? I understand these cut price engines were made available to the trade, who snapped them up to resell later at profit.. I am ow looking at buying on for around $2400. It is a pity i had not seen your video before buying x2 of these engine powered cars. I now live in fear of the second going the same way as the first. Good piece of work, very professional in your assessment of the shortcomings of the design, if you ever had to get the engine out of car, you would note there are several more very poor maintainability issues built into the engine.

Update from May 1, 2024: Well I still don't have any resolution from Ford. I had my local Ford dealer speak to the area Ford Dealer Rep. hoping they could come up with a solution and nothing. Nothing can be done. I am furious they aren't even trying to find a solution. I read that the original recall from December 2023 has been closed because they think that the part they are hoping to be ready by 2nd quarter of 2024 satisfies their obligation in this recall. It might fix those vehicles that haven't had catastrophic engine failure like I did, but what about fixes for me and the other 2099 people just like me. They shouldn't be allowed to dismiss the fix for the people that have lost the most.....the loss of their vehicle way too early. We don't have the luxury of continuing to drive our cars since this happened. We have had way more financial loss in so many ways and they just don't care. I'm reporting them again to NHTSA and letting them know this is not acceptable. I'm not done with this. I'm getting a lawyer and hopefully take everything I can get from them.

Purchased the car from a used car dealership on 1/29/21 with 27700 miles on it. CarFax was clear. Drove the car less than 500 miles when the oil lamp activated then the engine light activated within a matter of 1 minute. Had the vehicle towed to a Ford dealership since it was still covered under warranty. Tech determined the engine was ruined.

Tech came up short of saying that the engine had a design flaw but, he explained that the oil pump is driven by a separate drive belt off the engine instead of a gear drive and that belt has a tendency to fail. He also told me that they get above average Ecosports, Escapes, etc. brought in with the same failure. Some with less than 10,000 miles. Even if the engine is replaced, how long before I'm confronted with the same engine failure? The real bad...the dealership service department is so back logged that I am without a car for my business for up to 2 to 3 months. All dealerships in the area are also swamped.