Ford 2.0 EcoBoost Problems And Reliability!
April 16, 2023Are you in the market for a Ford with the 2.0 EcoBoost engine and you want to learn more about the Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems? Well, if that is the case, you are in the right place because, in this article, there will be a lot to cover.
Doing your own research before you buy a used or a new car is the right way to go. We are saying this from our long experience as car mechanics. Research is key if you want to avoid some possible problems that can cost you thousands of dollars to fix. And this is why we are here to help you out.
First, we are going to cover the basic specs of the 2.0L engine and then we will discuss the main applications. Once we clear the basics, we shall discuss the Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems and reliability. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
Basic Ford 2.0 EcoBoost Specs
When it comes to the Ford EcoBoost engine, it is worth noting that this name originated in the early 2010s. Ford decided to rebrand its engines with the EcoBoost name.
The first 2.0L EcoBoost was in fact a Mazda L engine that was manufactured by Ford for the North American market. This engine was produced between 2010 and 2015.
The original 2.0L EcoBoost was a turbocharged inline-4 that produced anywhere between 160hp and 146lb-ft of torque up to 252hp and 270lb-ft of torque. But the most common model was the 240hp version that made 270lb-ft of torque.
In 2015 Ford introduced a second generation of this 2.0L engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection. This engine is much different compared to the original one because during these years Mazda and Ford split. So, Ford started to design their own engines.
This new generation of the 2.0L produced 250hp and 277lb-ft of torque in the most powerful application which is the current Ford Maverick. But more on the applications, we are going to cover next and once we deal with these applications, we shall discuss the Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems.
2nd Generation Ford 2.0 EcoBoost Applications
Now let’s take a look at the common applications of the 2015 2.0L engine.
- 2015-2015 Ford Edge
- 2015 Ford Everest
- 2015 Zenos E10 S
- 2016 Ford Tourneo
- 2016 Ford Escape/ Ford Kuga
- 2017-2020 Ford Fusion
- 2022 Ford Mondeo
- 2021 Ford Bronco Sport
- 2016-2020 Lincoln MKZ
- 2019 Ford Edge
- 2022 Ford Maverick
- 2022 Lincoln Zephyr
- 2019-2020 Lincoln MKC
- 2019 Lincoln Nautilus
- 2020 Lincoln Corsair
Now that we learned the applications of the 2015 2.0L EcoBoost engine, let’s move on with our article.
Common Ford 2.0 EcoBoost Problems
Let’s list the common Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems.
- Coolant In Combustion Chamber
- Exhaust Manifold Cracking
- Turbocharger Control Valve Failure
- Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Failures
- Carbon Buildup
- Spark Plug & Coil Failures
Now that we briefly discussed the Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems, let’s dive into each one of them more thoroughly and learn when and how they appear. Also, learn how serious are these problems in the first place.
Coolant In Combustion Chamber
The most serious issue with this 2.0L engine is the situation when coolant ends up in the combustion chamber. And this can happen to these engines quite frequently.
This problem occurs in the 1.5L, 1.6L, and 2.0L EcoBoost engines. This problem is reportedly caused by a design flaw that then allows this coolant to enter the combustion chamber. More on the flaw you can see in the video.
What is worth noting is that the problem does not appear in every one of these engines. Especially not in engines that are made after 2020. The most affected are engines between 2017 and late 2020.
The important thing is to detect the symptoms and act accordingly. The symptoms can include a check engine light and misfire codes. For example, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, and P0304. There can be also other codes.
In addition to this, there could also be loss of coolant because of the coolant intrusion into the combustion chamber, white smoke from the exhaust, rough engine work, and engine fire in extreme cases.
So, tracking the health of the engine is really important. There was a service bulletin issued by the NHTSA on how this problem should be tackled. We will add a link, so you can see more about the procedures involved. Now let’s move to the next Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems.
Exhaust Manifold Cracking
Another very common problem with this engine is the cracking that develops on the exhaust manifold.
This piece is really expensive and can crack in some areas. And the complexity of this component makes it very expensive to get replaced.
Cracking develops and there will be exhaust leaks. This exhaust leak will resemble a hissing or whistling sound coming from the engine bay.
In addition to this, there will be also a smell of exhaust fumes inside of the cabin and if you find the leak you will notice how there are some black spots on the manifold or engine depending on which direction the gases are going.
Either way, pretty expensive problem. So, before buying a Ford with this engine, make sure that the manifold is in good condition. Now let’s move to the next Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems.
Turbocharger Control Valve Failure/Boost Solenoid
Another very common problem with this engine is the boost solenoid failure. This component is also commonly known as a control valve for the turbo.
This solenoid controls the wastegate of the turbo. So, if it fails, the wastegate will not open and close correctly.
When this happens, you will experience the check engine light and a P0299 code, in addition to this, there will be a lack of power because there will be not enough boost. The car will perform rather poorly. The fuel economy will also suffer from this problem.
The part is cheap, the trickier bit is replacing the component that is located in a tight spot. These solenoids usually fail at 80,000 miles, sometimes even a lot earlier.
Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Failures
Another common place of failure in this engine is the low-pressure fuel pump. As you probably know, this engine implements direct injection. So, there are two pumps, one that works with lower pressure and one high-pressure pump.
The low-pressure fuel pump is located inside the fuel tank. Replacing this unit is quite expensive because these pumps tend to cost at least $500 only for the part alone.
When this component fails, you will have problems with starting the engine, the car will crank and not be able to start because there will be no fuel going into the fuel lines. Now let’s move on to the next Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems.
Carbon Buildup
Another common problem with this engine is carbon buildup. This engine uses direct injection so having excessive carbon buildup is somewhat normal in these engines.
This is the case because gas is injected from a special injector and not through the intake valves like on some older engines.
Doing so will result in dirty intake valves. There will be a lot of carbon deposits on the valves and if you do not clean them with a walnut blast method, you will suffer problems in the long run with this engine.
The engine valves will eventually stop operating as they should and there will be symptoms like the check engine light, engine misfires, and overall poor engine work. In the end, if the problem becomes too large, you might even have to replace the whole cylinder head.
This is why we recommend that you do a walnut blast every 60,000 miles, just to be on the safe side and not deal with these issues.
Spark Plug & Coil Failures
Spark plugs and coils also tend to fail on these engines quite frequently compared to older engine designs.
This is the case because these engines are using direct injection and spark plugs and coils tend to suffer more stress compared to other engine designs.
So, it is highly likely that you will have to replace these components at least once during your ownership. Luckily, they are not very expensive to get them sorted out.
Symptoms associated with these problems include check engine light, engine misfires, limp mode, lack of power, rough idle, and no start in some cases.
Ford 2.0 EcoBoost Reliability
We covered the Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems, now let’s take a look at the reliability of this engine. We can say that this engine is fairly reliable. It has some issues but it is not a very bad engine.
The most serious problem with this engine is the problem with the coolant entering the combustion chamber. This could total out your engine if you don’t detect the problem on time.
So, make sure that you follow the work of the car and the temperatures that you get. If the car tends to lose coolant and overheat, make sure that you inspect for these leaks, and if the car is under warranty require Ford to address the problem. The most affected engines are the ones made between 2017 and 2020.
Besides this issue, the engine seems like a pretty good deal, far better compared to the 1.6L EcoBoost.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the Ford 2.0 EcoBoost problems. First, we discussed the basic specs of this engine and the common applications of this engine.
Then, we covered the common problems that this engine has, as well as its reliability. Overall, this is a fairly good engine with one fatal flaw that you don’t know when will happen. This is the problem when coolant enters the combustion chamber.
So, the important thing when getting one of these engines is to monitor the temperatures and if there are coolant leaks into the combustion chamber to get it fixed on time before the engine is totaled. The affected cars are produced between 2017 and 2020.
FAQ
Who Makes Ford 2.0 EcoBoost?
This engine is manufactured by Ford. The first generation of the 2.0L was a Mazda design but the engines from 2015 onward are all designed and made by Ford.
Is The Ford 2.0 L EcoBoost Engine Reliable?
Yes, this engine is fairly reliable. It still has issues but not like the 1.6L. One fatal flaw with the 2.0L second generation is the coolant that enters the combustion chamber. The affected engines are produced between 2017 and 2020.
What Is The Problem With The Ford Escape 2.0 EcoBoost?
The problem with this model was reportedly the coolant entering the combustion chamber. These coolant leaks are fairly common on 2017 to 2020 engines and these problems can often lead to complete engine failure and fire in some cases.
