The U. S.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expanded its investigation into timing belt failures in Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine.
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The issue can cause the engine to seize unexpectedly.
According to the agency, the problem stems from the wet timing belt shedding material during normal operation.
This debris can clog the oil pump pickup screen, restricting oil flow and leading to catastrophic engine damage.
Scope of the Investigation
The probe now covers an estimated 135,551 vehicles, including 2014-2017 Fiesta models, 2015-2018 Focus models with manual transmissions, and 2018-2021 EcoSport models.
Certain 2016-2018 Focus models with automatic gearboxes are also included.
Regulators added these vehicles because they use a similar wet timing belt design.
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The investigation originally began in December 2025 after 44 complaints involving 2015-2017 Fiesta and 2015-2018 Focus models with manual transmissions.
Owners have reported a range of experiences. Some saw a low oil pressure light, while others had no warning before their engine died.
Investigators believe owners are not getting enough timely warning about the issue.
The average reported failure occurred at around 70,000 miles. Notably, 98 percent of failures happened before Ford’s original 150,000-mile replacement interval.
Ford has since shortened the replacement interval to 100,000 miles or six years. The company is also reimbursing eligible owners for timing belt-related engine repairs.
Despite these actions, NHTSA says the evidence points to an unreasonable safety risk.
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The engineering analysis will continue with component and vehicle testing to determine whether a recall is warranted.
