For years, owners of Ford EcoSports and Focus equipped with the 1. 0-liter EcoBoost engine have complained that the engine only gets dirty due to the oil systems getting dirty. After an investigation, Ford and NHTSA discovered the cause, prompting Ford to recall more than 100,000 vehicles for a second time as early as 2024.
The challenge lies in the 1. 0-liter three-cylinder engine used in the 2016-2018 Focus sedans and 2017-2022 EcoSport SUVs. These engines gained a reputation for wasting oil starting at 50,000 miles, and mechanics would take them apart only to notice that the sumps were clogged with crumbling oil pump drive belts. It was assumed that the problem was due to problems with the belt tensioner, and its precise origin was eventually shown in the NHTSA recall document.
The investigation revealed that the tensioner’s “caulking” (or RTV-type) gasket was breaking due to vibration over the life of the vehicle, allowing the tensioner arm to move. This can have an effect on the balance shaft, damage the tensioner and tighten the belt. Ford technicians also speculated that this could cause loose belt teeth to jump over the oil pump sprocket, ripping them off and accumulating in the oil pan. Either can cause a drop or a general loss of oil pressure, which can damage an engine.
This failure can cause not only a loss of power while driving, but also a deactivation of the vacuum pump that helps brake, posing the risk of cornering behind another vehicle. Ford acknowledges a twist of fate resulting from an oil pump failure. resulting in two injuries but no deaths.
Since the belt gasket is rarely meant to be repaired for 150,000 miles, but fails just outside of Ford’s 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, owners have sought recourse through means as an action of elegance. Now, they’ll have direct help from Ford, which says repairing the recall will involve upgrading the tensioner to one with a shorter arm and a bolted gasket. The service will also upgrade the strap to a strap with new material.
Owners are already being mailed recall notifications, and will be invited in for service at no charge as parts become available.
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