Why some Ford engines score below 68/100
Ford's EcoBoost revolution brought impressive performance-per-litre — but also introduced new failure modes that the older Duratec engines never had. The timeline matters: early EcoBoost units are significantly less reliable than post-2018 revisions.
The pattern
Ford's avoid list is split by a clear timeline: pre-2018 EcoBoost engines (especially the 1.0 three-cylinder and the 1.6) vs the revised later versions. On a 1.5 or 2.0 EcoBoost four-cylinder, check the block was built after the mid-2019 revision. The older Duratec naturally aspirated engines remain solid choices. For EcoBoost: model year matters.
EcoBoost 1.0 (pre-2018) — 62/100 (CAUTION)
1.0L Turbo I3
Found in: EcoSport, Fiesta, Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost, Focus, Focus 1.0 EcoBoost, Mondeo
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet timing belt and oil-pump belt in oil - oil starvation, engine seizure | critical | N/A | 80.500 km |
| Coolant hose failure - overheating, head gasket and head damage | high | N/A | N/A |
| Catalytic converter failure | moderate | N/A | 70.000 km |
Full EcoBoost 1.0 (pre-2018) reliability report →
2.2 TDCi Duratorq Puma (ZSD-422) — 64/100 (CAUTION)
2.2 TDCi Duratorq (Puma)
Found in: Mondeo, Ranger
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delphi injector faults (2006-2010) - hunting idle, piston damage | high | N/A | N/A |
| EGR cooler internal coolant leak (Ranger) | high | N/A | N/A |
| Oil pump failure or loss of prime (Ranger) - engine damage risk | high | N/A | N/A |
| Crankshaft damper pulley failure (Transit) | minor | N/A | N/A |
| EGR valve faults | minor | N/A | N/A |
Full 2.2 TDCi Duratorq Puma (ZSD-422) reliability report →
EcoBoost 1.6 — 66/100 (CAUTION)
1.6 EcoBoost / SCTi / GTDi Turbo I4 (also Volvo B4164T)
Found in: Fiesta, Focus, Kuga, S60, S80, V40, V60, V70
Known problems
| Issue | Severity | Typical cost | Onset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylinder head overheats and cracks (oil leak, fire risk; recall) | critical | €3.000 | N/A |
| Direct-injection injectors clog | minor | N/A | N/A |
| Coolant leaks and coolant loss (cup plug, coolant pump, warm-up) | moderate | N/A | N/A |
Full EcoBoost 1.6 reliability report →
What to buy instead
Not all Ford engines are problematic. These score well:
- Sigma 1.4 — 89/100 (BEST)
- Sigma 1.25 — 84/100 (BUY)
- 1.8 TDDi / DI (Endura-DI) — 84/100 (BUY)
- Dragon 1.5 I3 (EcoBoost / Ti-VCT) — 83/100 (BUY)
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →