Ford Ecoboost Engine Failure (TWICE)

[MJK 24]

Ford are now repairing or replacing failed EcoBoost engines for free.

Anyone who has previously paid for a repair will be fully reimbursed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45628325

[Eric1978]

Ford still haven't fixed the root cause in the 1.0 litre cars, or publically issued a recall to fix it. So the failures will continue. Unless the recent software update claimed to only help the clutch slip problem, details of which are not available, helps reduce the failure events. Monday was Ford in panic and in damage limitation when they found out about the BBC plans to air the work the Facebook group have acheived.

Carefully research the offer from Ford today, it might limit the size of compensation you could be due. The group legal action is moving ahead even faster now, consider joining at ecoboom.uk It could be over quickly if it is an out of court settlement.

[Mr2Mike]

Eric1978 said:

Ford still haven't fixed the root cause in the 1.0 litre cars,

What is the root cause in the 1 litre cars? Is it not the coolant pipe?

[gweaver]

Mr2Mike said:

Eric1978 said:

Ford still haven't fixed the root cause in the 1.0 litre cars,

What is the root cause in the 1 litre cars? Is it not the coolant pipe?

That's the most common cause in the early Focus 1l only. It doesn't account for failures in the Fiesta or other models.

[Eric1978]

Look here at Ford's actions and not words...

Below is a link, to an image of a letter from Ford to an engine failure customer and offer of 100% free replacememt engine. An engine which is not confirmed as brand new and historically not given any more than 1 yr warranty, and which Ford do not issue new engine numbers... remember there are some people on 3rd engines:

www.imageupload.co.uk/image/4GWz

Asking people to sign away rights to further claims, RIDICULOUS!

[Eric1978]

Mr2Mike said:

What is the root cause in the 1 litre cars? Is it not the coolant pipe?

Root cause is an engine running at a very high temperature to keep good emissions and mpg, a cylinder head not strong enough to cope with very minor short spells of over heating, a coolant system not fit for the above purpose inc no coolant level sensor.

So, any coolant loss event can lead to a failed engine often without any warning on dash. Engine have even been running with no coolant and the temp sensor showing all is fine! Common places it leaks, degas hose, heater matrix connections, expansion tank, plus other seals on engine.

[Mr2Mike]

Normal running temperature seems to be around 90C which is pretty typical for modern engines, certainly not an unusualy high value. Lots of cara dont have coolant level sensors, and modern engines have low volumes of coolant to minimise warm up times. None of these things are design faults.

If the engines are losing coolant on a regular basis then that would be a fault, no doubt compounded by ignorant owners who never lift the bonnet between services.

[Sheepshanks]

Eric1978 said:

Asking people to sign away rights to further claims, RIDICULOUS!

I don't read it as saying that. It's offering 100% to cover existing or past issues and specifically states that it doesn't prevent claims for future issues.

[anonymous-user]

MJK 24 said:

Ford are now repairing or replacing failed EcoBoost engines for free.

Anyone who has previously paid for a repair will be fully reimbursed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45628325

Silly Ford! Their senior team should read PH. Clearly if the manual states you should check the coolant level weekly, it's OK to make a chocolate engine. Can't believe they're throwing money away unnecessarily!

[Megaflow]

Eric1978 said:

Mr2Mike said:

What is the root cause in the 1 litre cars? Is it not the coolant pipe?

Root cause is an engine running at a very high temperature to keep good emissions and mpg, a cylinder head not strong enough to cope with very minor short spells of over heating, a coolant system not fit for the above purpose inc no coolant level sensor.

So, any coolant loss event can lead to a failed engine often without any warning on dash. Engine have even been running with no coolant and the temp sensor showing all is fine! Common places it leaks, degas hose, heater matrix connections, expansion tank, plus other seals on engine.

So, that is three root causes then?



A root cause by its very definition is a single failure that can be traced as the source of the problem.

Looking at the issues you highlighted: 1) I very much doubt the EcoBoost 1.0 runs at a temperature noticeably higher than any other engine on sale. Because to stop it from boiling the pressure in the cooling system would have to be a lot higher, and the FMEA for a very high temperature and pressure cooling system in a pass car would say it is not a great idea.

2) Aluminium cylinder heads have never been great at surviving over heating events. What makes the 1.0 EcoBoost more vulnerable than normal is the integrated exhaust manifold. Ford have done this to reduce warm up times, reduce cat light off time and improve MPG. The have done this because it is what that customer base have said they want. A point backed up by the amount of them they have sold. More technology comes with more risk initially, if you are not happy with that, then buy a older car with less technology.

3) I don’t have specific knowledge of the dash layout of the Focus, but I find it very hard to believe there is absolutely nothing on the dash to warn a driver of an overheating engine.

[Eric1978]

I have read 100's of detailed recounts of what happened prior and during engine failure over the last 2 years in the fordecoboostnightmare group on facebook.

Now with 1500 reg plates and rising, including many 2015 plates and some 2016.

Common aspects of those detailed explanations...

Very often no dash board warning, or too late, such as a few seconds prior to loss of all power.

Checking coolant even daily doesn't stop very low coolant events and subsequent engine damage. It can happen in the course of a short drive. Note, many people now with high awareness due to the Facebook group, have been checking coolant daily because they are terrified of the consequences of cost, time without a car and frightening loss of power when they have their young children in the car.

Ford engineers have commented that the engines cook in seconds and minutes. If there is a warning is isn't early enough considering what Ford engineers have said are sensitive engines.

At point of sale there is no mention of a higher risk with these cars. That risk beng high repair costs (£6000), 6+ weeks without a car due to no courtesy car, and what many claim as a safety risk when all power is lost at speed. Being awarded engine of the year multiple times doesn't help this matter. Frankly and respectfully, if you want to blame customers for this because they have been asking for low emissions and good mpg, then you are ignoring many other factors. Yes governments and the EU make regulations and legislate to encourage this, but also simple economic market forces also push cars into low mpg versions. But, at no point do customers say they also accept higher risk, if that is in fact the case, it is incumbent on the seller to make this clear at point of sale.

[Car-Matt]

janesmith1950 said:

MJK 24 said:

Ford are now repairing or replacing failed EcoBoost engines for free.

Anyone who has previously paid for a repair will be fully reimbursed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45628325

Silly Ford! Their senior team should read PH. Clearly if the manual states you should check the coolant level weekly, it's OK to make a chocolate engine. Can't believe they're throwing money away unnecessarily!

Goodwill.....

[TheCommuter]

My Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost has suffered from overheating issues also. Ford has said they will replace the engine free of cost provided i sign a letter of some sort.

Upon further questioning it appears that the replacement engine will not be new. Has anyone been through this process before?

[TheCommuter]

poing said:

I've been driving for over 20 years and never once checked the coolant level on a car. I'm currently on my second Ecoboost but I like living on the edge.

I do check the oil but it's not used any in the 7000 miles I've had it for so far, same can't be said for the Audi TFSi on the drive.

When you say "second ecoboost" do you mean a replacement engine and if so how many miles have you done on the second engine?

[poing]

TheCommuter said:

When you say "second ecoboost" do you mean a replacement engine and if so how many miles have you done on the second engine?

Sorry if that confused. Second car with ecoboost engine. From 1.0t to 1.6t

[Eric1978]

TheCommuter said:

My Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost has suffered from overheating issues also. Ford has said they will replace the engine free of cost provided i sign a letter of some sort.

Upon further questioning it appears that the replacement engine will not be new. Has anyone been through this process before?

For comment and reaction to Ford's move in Oct 2018 to limit their liability and very likely prevent customer's further claims against Ford see:

Face book group name: fordecoboostnightmare

A leaked internal Ford document from the director of customer relations posted on the group shows that Ford garages are being forced to get customers to sign the waiver for the Ford garages to qualify for reimbursement from Ford motor company.

[Laurie1989]

I have the 1.0L eco boost focus on 62 plate. Had it for two years and it was Not purchased from ford. I wasn’t The original owner but wondering what my options are as I’m facing the same overheating issues as many on here. 3 weeks ago the car randomly overheated, the garage (non ford garage but it was the one I purchased the car from) advised the coolant hose had split.
I had it repaired by them as when I rang ford they advised I wasn’t part of the recall.
Had the car back a week and it overheated again this time causing damage to the piston and possibly damaged the turbo.
Ford deny its a problem say its down to wear an tear?? Any help appreciated

[Car-Matt]

Laurie1989 said:

I have the 1.0L eco boost focus on 62 plate. Had it for two years and it was Not purchased from ford. I wasn’t The original owner but wondering what my options are as I’m facing the same overheating issues as many on here. 3 weeks ago the car randomly overheated, the garage (non ford garage but it was the one I purchased the car from) advised the coolant hose had split.
I had it repaired by them as when I rang ford they advised I wasn’t part of the recall.
Had the car back a week and it overheated again this time causing damage to the piston and possibly damaged the turbo.
Ford deny its a problem say its down to wear an tear?? Any help appreciated

6 year old car overheats that's been repaired outside of the Ford dealer network and Ford don't want to know shocker..........

In other news the sky is blue and water is wet

[gweaver]

Laurie1989 said:

I have the 1.0L eco boost focus on 62 plate. Had it for two years and it was Not purchased from ford. I wasn’t The original owner but wondering what my options are as I’m facing the same overheating issues as many on here. 3 weeks ago the car randomly overheated, the garage (non ford garage but it was the one I purchased the car from) advised the coolant hose had split.
I had it repaired by them as when I rang ford they advised I wasn’t part of the recall.
Had the car back a week and it overheated again this time causing damage to the piston and possibly damaged the turbo.
Ford deny its a problem say its down to wear an tear?? Any help appreciated

IMHO:
If it was the plastic coolant pipe that split, that's a known defect. If it was a coolant hose, it's not. Doesn't matter who serviced it - given that it's an inherent technical fault with the early cars.
I think you had bad advice from the first Ford dealer, and possibly Fords policy changed since the failure. Likely the cylinder head was damaged when the car overheated, leading to the subsequent failure. I'd try a different Ford dealer. I doubt the garage who found the original fault kept the component, but if you complain in the right channels (not here) you might get somewhere.

[Eric1978]

Laurie1989 said:

I have the 1.0L eco boost focus on 62 plate. Had it for two years and it was Not purchased from ford. I wasn’t The original owner but wondering what my options are as I’m facing the same overheating issues as many on here. 3 weeks ago the car randomly overheated, the garage (non ford garage but it was the one I purchased the car from) advised the coolant hose had split.
I had it repaired by them as when I rang ford they advised I wasn’t part of the recall.
Had the car back a week and it overheated again this time causing damage to the piston and possibly damaged the turbo.
Ford deny its a problem say its down to wear an tear?? Any help appreciated

Hi
Please join the Facebook group where you will find lots of advice and guidance in the announcements section. Plus a huge number of people all going through your exact problem.

Group name...
FordEcoboostNightmare

Hope to see you there