We are not here, by any means, to say that the Ford EcoBoost engine is unreliable. On the contrary, it’s actually a great way to get a good power output while also giving vehicles better gas mileage. However, the recent news about EcoBoost class-action lawsuits and such are definitely a bit worrisome.

If you are a Ford owner that’s had problems with your EcoBoost engine, you aren’t alone. In fact, there are YouTube videos galore on common issues with the Ford EcoBoost engine and ways to fix or prevent them. Keep in mind though that the same generally goes for any engine that’s in a lot of popular cars, trucks, crossovers, and SUVs.

The Ford F-150 EcoBoost engine problems

Ford sells over 1 million F-150 pickup truck each year. Anytime something is mass-produced in such a way problems can be expected. There’s more room for error; it’s that simple.

So, just because there have been a lot of people that have had Ford F-150 EcoBoost engine problems doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad truck. It doesn’t mean it’s an unreliable engine either. Overall, the Ford F-150 is considered a good solid truck that offers drivers strength without as much sacrifice when it comes to fuel economy. These engines aren’t without fault, however, and some have issues.

For example, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines found in many Ford F-150 pickup trucks are showing quite a bit of wear over time. This 3.5-liter Ford EcoBoost has been around for a decade. Direct injection engines like the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engines found in the Ford F-150 and several other Ford models might end up with carbon buildup in the intake valves.

It’s actually a common problem for direct injection engines, according to Consumer Reports. While these engines do have many benefits, it can come at a price. One thing to consider in models like the Ford F-150 pickup truck, however, is the fact that these are trucks often used as works trucks. This means they typically get exposed to rougher handling and higher mileage, which obviously causes more wear on parts.

Several models have recalls

There’s the story posted both by fellow MotorBiscuit writer Thom Taylor and on CarComplaints.com. These reports follow a class-action lawsuit due to Ford EcoBoost engine problems. The owner of a low mileage used Ford Edge had an issue with coolant leaking into the combustion chambers.

But several Ford models also were recalled. In fact, this includes the Ford Escape from the model years 2015 – 2018. Several other models are also affected. Both Ford and Lincoln both made the recall list.

Others on the recall list include the 2013 – 2019 model years of both the Ford Fusion and the Ford Escape. In addition, the list includes the Lincon models MKC and MKZ in the model year 2017 – 2019. Due to the current legal action in effect, we expect that Ford will likely amend these issues moving forward.

Current models don’t seem affected by the issues, or at least have not been reported to. However, there may still be issues with Ford EcoBoost engine problems on the horizon. Unfortunately, the benefits of direct injection come at a price.

Is the Ford EcoBoost a good engine?

We will reiterate though that this isn’t meant to say that all of these engines are unreliable or not worth buying. Vast numbers of owners and drivers of vehicles sporting an EcoBoost under the hood are very happy with their vehicles. Still, knowledge is power and if you understand the differences in certain engines you can anticipate issues more effectively.