1.5 EcoBoost engine: faults and reliability

• 1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder 120/150/160/182 hp (Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max, S-Max, Galaxy, 2014-2019)

  2014–2019 · 120–182 hp · M8DA, M8MA, M9DA, UNCA

  With caution

  The ANWB notes that its roadside assistance often sees coolant losses from a microcrack in the block, with engine replacement as the fix, although many units exceed 200,000 km without problems; no Ford campaign is recorded in Europe. It is best bought with a history and by watching the coolant level.^[1][2]

• 1.5 EcoBoost Dragon 3-cylinder 120/150/182 hp (Kuga III and Focus IV, from 2018)

  since 2018 · 120–182 hp

  With caution

  The Focus IV testimonials with this engine record no mechanical faults, but the Kuga III is in three successive campaigns over injectors that can crack and cause a fuel leak (22S73, 24S16 and 25S76), and the definitive repair for the last one had not been announced in February 2026. It is only worth buying with the campaign confirmed by VIN.^{[3][4][10][11]}

• 1.5 EcoBoost ST 200 hp (Fiesta ST 2018-2023 and Puma ST, code YZJA)

  since 2018 · 200 hp · YZJA

  With caution

  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.^[3][7][12]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

1. 1Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCylinder head and blockCoolant loss through a microcrack in the engine block (4-cylinder 1.5)Yes: in the four-cylinder 1.5 EcoBoost there are cases of coolant loss attributed to a microcrack in the block that can force a new engine to be fitted. We have found no Ford campaign in Europe.
2. 2Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionFuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)Yes: Ford has recalled the Kuga with the three-cylinder 1.5 EcoBoost because a high-pressure injector can crack and release fuel onto the engine, with a fire risk. The broadest campaign, 25S76 (2026), covers units built between 2018 and 2024.

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

Manufacturer

Ford Motor Company

Family

EcoBoost

Fuel

Petrol

Displacement

1,498 cm³

Cylinders

—

Fuel system

Turbo

Injection

Direct injection

Timing

Chain

Power

120–200 hp

Peak torque

290 Nm

Production

since 2014

Makes

Ford

Technical data^{[5][6][7][8][9]}

1. 2014–2019

   1.5 EcoBoost 4-cylinder 120/150/160/182 hp (Mondeo, Focus, Kuga, C-Max, S-Max, Galaxy, 2014-2019)

   It is the four-cylinder derived from the 1.6 EcoBoost: 1,498 cc with aluminium block and head, turbo and direct injection, integrated exhaust manifold and a clutch on the water pump that speeds up warm-up. It drives the timing with a dry belt (a German guide recommends changing it at 200,000 km or 5 years). It produces 150 hp and 240 Nm in the Kuga and 160 hp in the Mondeo; the codes cited come from engine sellers and we have not been able to match them to each output.^{[2][5][6][8][13][15][20]}

2. since 2018

   1.5 EcoBoost Dragon 3-cylinder 120/150/182 hp (Kuga III and Focus IV, from 2018)

   It is a new three-cylinder, not a cut-down four-cylinder: 1,497 cc aluminium with direct and port injection, integrated exhaust manifold and cylinder deactivation at low load. In the Kuga III the German press and a CompleteCar expert describe a timing chain; they disagree on whether an oil-bathed belt still drives the oil pump. We have not found the engine codes for this version in a reliable source.^{[5][6][9][17]}

3. since 2018

   1.5 EcoBoost ST 200 hp (Fiesta ST 2018-2023 and Puma ST, code YZJA)

   It is the 3-cylinder Dragon in its sporty version: 200 hp and 290 Nm between 1,600 and 4,000 rpm, manual gearbox, with the code YZJA given by two engine sellers. It was introduced with the Fiesta ST in 2017 and also fitted to the Puma ST from 2020.^[5][12][20]

• Timing chain kit

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• Oil filter

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• Air filter

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• Spark plugs

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