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Ford Puma problems (2019–today)

We have documented 3 engines for the Ford Puma; the 1.0 EcoBoost has high or critical severity faults. The safest option is the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue, with a «Buy» verdict.[1]

Outside the engine: Outside the engine, the Puma has several well-documented factory campaigns: two for the airbag and the steering wheel restraint module, two for the eCall emergency call system, one for the tightening torque of the 48 V battery in the mild-hybrid system and, the most recent, a Safety Gate alert (January 2026) for the rear brake drum bolts. None of them covers the whole production run, only specific manufacturing batches.[2][3][4]

Ford Puma (2019–today)
Photo: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468106.2out of 10

Ford Puma rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 8 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. One of this car's engines has no documented faults in the versions it uses, but there aren't enough sources to call it reliable either, so it doesn't count towards the engine score. How it is calculated

  • Engine6.2From 3.2 to 9.3 depending on the engine
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension7.5Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.0 times the defects normal for its age
  • Brakes7.71 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering7.8Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electrical system9.31 fault
  • Headlights and lights7.9Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.8 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electronics and infotainment7.91 fault
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior7.6Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.0 times the defects normal for its age
  • Airbags and safety7.11 fault

Ranked 19 of 34 among the Small SUVs with solid evidence. See the ranking

The weak points of the Ford Puma

  1. 1Critical severity: Degradation of the timing belt running in oil1.0 EcoBoost engine · repair €800–€1,200
  2. 2Critical severity: Oil pump belt and tensioner failure1.0 EcoBoost engine
  3. 3Critical severity: Recalls for the steering wheel airbag and the restraint control moduleAirbags and safety
  4. 4Medium severity: eCall system software faults and instrument cluster updateElectronics and infotainment
  5. 5Critical severity: Rear brake drum bolts without the correct tightening torqueBrakes

Documented engines, from highest to lowest risk

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

7 recalls and campaigns documented, the latest: Rear brake drum bolts without the specified tightening torque. See the campaigns for the Ford Puma

17 sourcesHow we work

1.0 EcoBoost

Ford 1.0 EcoBoost (Fox) · Petrol

In the Puma
since 2019[5][6]
Names
1.0 EcoBoost 125 · 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid 125 · 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid 155
Faults that affect it
3 · 2 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
68
High risk

Verdict for the versions it uses

  • 1.0 EcoBoost 100/125/140 with cylinder deactivation (from ~2017)2017–2019 · 100–140 hp · M1JC, M1JJ, M1JU

    With caution

    Ford's 2023 recall in the US over the oil pump belt tensioner covers cars of this generation (Focus up to 2018 and EcoSport up to 2022), so the risk of seizure from this belt did not disappear with cylinder deactivation.[7][8]

  • This is the most recent version and has the best initial reputation, but we have not found a source confirming whether Ford changed the design of the belt running in oil in this particular variant; with fewer years on the road, the same precautions as for the earlier versions are advisable.[5][9]

Faults that affect the Puma

Only those that affect the versions and years that this car used. The 1.0 EcoBoost has 4 documented faults in total.

  1. Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingDegradation of the timing belt running in oilYes: the 1.0 EcoBoost's timing belt runs in oil and can degrade over the years, shedding bits of rubber that block the oil pump and seize the engine without warning. The NHTSA is investigating the case in the United States and Ford has shortened the recommended replacement interval.Repair (garage): €800–€1,200
  2. Critical severityFrequency: CommonLubricationOil pump belt and tensioner failureYes. In addition to the timing belt, the 1.0 EcoBoost has a second belt, also running in oil, that drives the oil pump. If the tensioner breaks, the belt loses teeth and can cut off oil pressure; in the US Ford has recalled more than 100,000 Ford Focus and EcoSport vehicles for this reason.
  3. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalIgnitionMisfires and engine warning light caused by the wiring harnessFord documented in a technical service bulletin that the engine wiring harness can rub against the exhaust heat shield on the 2018-2019 automatic EcoSport, which turns on the engine warning light with misfire fault codes. Spark plugs and coils are also common wear items on this turbocharged three-cylinder.

Puma 1.0 EcoBoost pageAll versions and faults of the 1.0 EcoBoost

1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

Safest option

Ford 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue (Panther) · Diesel

In the Puma
since 2019[10]
Name
1.5 EcoBlue 120
Faults that affect it
1
Risk index on this car
7
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • On the 1.5 EcoBlue we have not found the wet belt pattern documented on the 2.0, nor any other serious, widespread fault documented specifically for Ford's units, so there is no known reason to rule it out.[1]

Faults that affect the Puma

Only those that affect the versions and years that this car used. The 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue has 3 documented faults in total.

  1. Medium severityFrequency: RareEmissions controlEmissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wearOn the Ford Focus IV and Kuga III, generations that now only use EcoBlue, some owners report, occasionally (not in the majority), AdBlue system warnings or injector failures. It is a small sample, and we have not found that Ford has announced a campaign of its own for the EcoBlue for this reason.

Puma 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue pageAll versions and faults of the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue

1.5 EcoBoost

Ford 1.5 EcoBoost (cuatro cilindros 2014-2019 and tricilíndrico Dragon desde 2018) · Petrol

In the Puma
since 2020[11][12]
Name
Puma ST 200
Faults that affect it
0
Risk index on this car
0
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • It shares a family with the Kuga's Dragon, which does have injector campaigns; the German sources cite only the Kuga among the models sold there and we have found no campaign for the Fiesta ST or Puma ST, but there are few testimonials for this version. It is enough to check by VIN that there are no open campaigns.[11][12][13]

Faults that affect the Puma

None of the documented faults of the 1.5 EcoBoost affects the versions and years that the Puma used.

Puma 1.5 EcoBoost pageAll versions and faults of the 1.5 EcoBoost

Faults of the Ford Puma outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the Ford Puma

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 628 inspections of 460 cars registered between 2019 and 2022, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.6% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.6%.

    Average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 2.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.5%.

    More defects than average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 0% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.3%.

    Average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 5.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 7.2%.

    Average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 0% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.1%.

    Average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 0.3% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.3%.

    Average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 0% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.1%.

    Average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 2.4% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.2%.

    Average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 11% of inspections; in cars of its age, 12.1%.

    Average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used Ford Puma

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the 1.0 EcoBoost (since 2019)

Degradation of the timing belt running in oil

Critical severity

Oil pump belt and tensioner failure

Critical severity

Misfires and engine warning light caused by the wiring harness

Medium severity

If it has the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue (since 2019)

Emissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wear

Medium severity

Wear parts for the Ford Puma

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a Ford Puma?

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Own a Ford Puma? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ford Puma reliable?

We have documented 3 engines for the Ford Puma; the 1.0 EcoBoost has high or critical severity faults. The safest option is the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue, with a «Buy» verdict. Outside the engine, the Puma has several well-documented factory campaigns: two for the airbag and the steering wheel restraint module, two for the eCall emergency call system, one for the tightening torque of the 48 V battery in the mild-hybrid system and, the most recent, a Safety Gate alert (January 2026) for the rear brake drum bolts. None of them covers the whole production run, only specific manufacturing batches.

Which Ford Puma engine is the most reliable?

Among the 3 engines we have documented, the safest option is the 1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue, with a «Buy» verdict. On the 1.5 EcoBlue we have not found the wet belt pattern documented on the 2.0, nor any other serious, widespread fault documented specifically for Ford's units, so there is no known reason to rule it out.[1]

What problems does the Ford Puma have apart from the engine?

Outside the engine, the Puma has several well-documented factory campaigns: two for the airbag and the steering wheel restraint module, two for the eCall emergency call system, one for the tightening torque of the 48 V battery in the mild-hybrid system and, the most recent, a Safety Gate alert (January 2026) for the rear brake drum bolts. None of them covers the whole production run, only specific manufacturing batches. The most important documented faults are: recalls for the steering wheel airbag and the restraint control module (airbags and safety, critical severity), eCall system software faults and instrument cluster update (electronics and infotainment, medium severity), rear brake drum bolts without the correct tightening torque (brakes, critical severity) and 48 V mild-hybrid battery connections without the correct tightening torque (electrical system, medium severity).[2][3][4]

What faults does the Ford Puma have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: degradation of the timing belt running in oil (1.0 EcoBoost, critical severity), oil pump belt and tensioner failure (1.0 EcoBoost, critical severity), misfires and engine warning light caused by the wiring harness (1.0 EcoBoost, medium severity) and emissions system warnings (AdBlue/EGR) and injector wear (1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue, medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a Ford Puma?

According to our rating by year, the best is 2026 (9.3/10); the worst rated is 2019 (6.2/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Does the Ford Puma have recalls?

Yes: we have documented 7 campaigns for the Ford Puma, such as rear brake drum bolts without the specified tightening torque (2026). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.[3][4]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Which Cars Have a Wet Belt? Full UK Engine List (2026)CarOkay · Other source · published 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Ford Puma recallsAutoinsider · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  3. Ford Puma reliabilitycar-recalls.eu · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  4. Ford Puma (2025) brake drum recallcar-recalls.eu · Other source · published January 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026
  5. Ford EcoBoost engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026
  6. El nuevo Ford Puma 2019 es un crossover pequeño, semihíbrido y con etiqueta ECOHíbridos y Eléctricos · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  7. Ford's Self-Clogging 1.0-Liter EcoBoost Engine Is Finally Getting RecalledThe Drive · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026
  8. The Largest Ford EcoBoost Recalls In 15 Years Of ProductionCarBuzz · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026
  9. Stellantis no es el único afectado por la correa de distribución bañada en aceiteAutofácil · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  10. Ford EcoBlue engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
  11. Every Ford Powered By The 1.5L EcoBoost 'Dragon'SlashGear · Motoring press · consulted 8 October 2026
  12. YZJA engine (Ford 1.5 EcoBoost)Motorinsel · Technical documentation · consulted 8 October 2026
  13. Rückruf: Bei diesen Ford-Modellen besteht BrandgefahrADAC · Motoring press · published 2 February 2026 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  14. Alerta Ford: la correa de distribución del 1.0 EcoBoost puede romper el motor y la NHTSA ya investigaMotor16 · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  15. Correa en Aceite Motor Ford EcoBoost 1.0LIndustrias Dolz · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  16. Self-Clogging Ford Oil Pumps Lead Feds to Investigate 1.0-Liter EcoBoost EnginesThe Drive · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026
  17. 1.0L EcoBoost - Automatic Transmission - Illuminated MIL With Multiple DTCs (TSB 19-2168)Ford Motor Company · Manufacturer · published 28 May 2019 · consulted 26 September 2026