The most reliable Ford engines by the numbers
Ford's most reliable engines come from two families: the proven Duratec naturally aspirated range and the later, revised EcoBoost units. Both prioritise real-world durability over headline specifications — exactly what used car buyers need.
Complete ranking
| Rank | Engine | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sigma 1.4 | 89/100 | BEST |
| 2 | Sigma 1.25 | 84/100 | BUY |
| 3 | 1.8 TDDi / DI (Endura-DI) | 84/100 | BUY |
| 4 | Dragon 1.5 I3 (EcoBoost / Ti-VCT) | 83/100 | BUY |
| 5 | Duratec HE 2.0 | 82/100 | BUY |
| 6 | 3.0 V6 Lion / Power Stroke (Ranger and Everest, 2022-) | 81/100 | BUY |
| 7 | Duratec HE 1.8 (Mazda L8) | 81/100 | BUY |
| 8 | Zetec-SE | 81/100 | BUY |
| 9 | EcoBoost 1.0 (post-2018) | 80/100 | BUY |
| 10 | Coyote 5.0 V8 | 80/100 | BUY |
| 11 | Duratec V6 2.5 / 3.0 (LCBD, REBA, MEBA) | 79/100 | BUY |
| 12 | EcoBoost 2.0 | 78/100 | BUY |
Sigma 1.4 — 89/100
Sigma 1.4 16V (Zetec-SE / Duratec)
Found in: Fiesta, Focus
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Exhaust manifold leak or crack — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
- Ignition coil or lead failure - misfire — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
- Thermostat and thermostat housing failure — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
Full Sigma 1.4 reliability report →
Sigma 1.25 — 84/100
Sigma 1.25 (FUJA/SNJA/STJA)
Found in: Fiesta
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Ignition coil or lead failure - misfire — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
- Thermostat and cooling system leaks — severity minor, typically appears around N/A
Full Sigma 1.25 reliability report →
1.8 TDDi / DI (Endura-DI) — 84/100
Endura-DI 1.8 TDDi (rotary pump)
Found in: Fiesta, Focus
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Injection pump control unit failure — severity high, typically appears around 120.000 km
Full 1.8 TDDi / DI (Endura-DI) reliability report →
Dragon 1.5 I3 (EcoBoost / Ti-VCT) — 83/100
1.5L Dragon I3 (turbo and non-turbo)
Found in: EcoSport, Fiesta, Focus, Focus 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon, Kuga, Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon, Puma, Puma 1.0 EcoBoost Dragon
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Cracked fuel injector - fuel leak and fire risk (recall) — severity high, typically appears around N/A
- Carbon buildup (DI 3-cyl) — severity minor, typically appears around 80.000 km
- Cracked oil-separator housing - oil leak and fire risk (recall) — severity moderate, typically appears around N/A
Full Dragon 1.5 I3 (EcoBoost / Ti-VCT) reliability report →
Duratec HE 2.0 — 82/100
Duratec HE 2.0 16V (Mazda MZR LF)
Found in: 3, 5, 6, Fiesta, Focus, MX-5, Mondeo, Mondeo 2.0 Duratec
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Intake swirl / tumble flaps wear and break off into the engine (mainly Ford Mondeo Mk3, Focus Mk2; also early Mazda) — severity critical, typically appears around 119.000 km
- Timing chain and cam phaser wear (very high mileage) — severity minor, typically appears around 200.000 km
- Oil consumption at high mileage — severity moderate, typically appears around 161.000 km
Full Duratec HE 2.0 reliability report →
3.0 V6 Lion / Power Stroke (Ranger and Everest, 2022-) — 81/100
3.0 V6 Turbo Diesel (Lion)
Found in: Ranger
Even the best engines have some issues to watch:
- Camshaft sprocket can fracture - engine stall (recall 2025) — severity high, typically appears around N/A
- Turbocharger oil return line leaks (factory assembly fault) — severity moderate, typically appears around N/A
Full 3.0 V6 Lion / Power Stroke (Ranger and Everest, 2022-) reliability report →
Generated from EngineScope's reliability database. Reviewed by the editorial team. Methodology →