by Investigation into Engine Problems at Ford
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into a potentially serious issue affecting thousands of Ford Fiesta and Focus vehicles in the American market. The peculiarity of the situation is that the cause of the malfunction is not the usual wear and tear of parts.
While timing belts are typically considered consumable materials requiring scheduled replacement, in this case, it concerns an unusual side effect that could have serious consequences.
What Exactly is Clogging the System?
At the center of the investigation is a defect due to which fragments of the timing belt can gradually wear down and accumulate in the engine lubrication system. According to the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, these particles can collect inside the oil pump and clog the intake screen.
Over time, this clogging can completely block the flow of oil to the engine, leading to a sudden loss of lubrication and, in some cases, to complete engine seizure.
Currently, 44 complaints related to this problem are known. They concern Ford Fiesta models from the 2015–2017 model years and Ford Focus models from 2015–2018, but only those equipped with Ford’s 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine and a manual transmission. In total, 10,473 vehicles are being checked as part of this preliminary investigation.
The goal of this initial evaluation is to help investigators determine the scope and potential safety risks associated with the defect. If deemed appropriate, the investigation results could lead to an official vehicle recall.
Not the First Problems with This Engine
Interestingly, this is not the first time Ford’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine has been in the spotlight for negative reasons. Back in 2024, Ford announced a recall of certain EcoSport models from the 2018-2021 model years, Focus 2016-2018, and Fiesta 2017-2021 with this engine and an automatic transmission.
In those cases, the problem was either a potential fracture of the oil pump drive belt tensioner lever or degradation of the belt itself, leading to debris entering the engine. The end result was the same: a drop in oil pressure and the risk of engine failure. To address the issue, Ford replaced the oil pump drive belt and tensioner pulley with updated parts in all affected vehicles.
The current investigation once again highlights the complexity of engineering solutions in modern small-displacement engines, where compromises between power, efficiency, and reliability sometimes lead to unexpected problems. The issue of the durability of the timing belt, located inside the oil bath, remains a subject of debate among automotive experts. Successfully resolving such incidents often depends not only on technical fixes but also on the transparency of the manufacturer’s communication with owners and regulators, which allows for the timely prevention of mass failures.
