Washington, D.C. – January 18, 2026 – The U.S. government auto safety regulator is investigating Ford (NYSE:F) over allegations that some of their vehicles may stall. The defect would increase the risk of a crash and injury, especially in dense traffic.
If this Ford engine issue leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 10,473 vehicles, including:
- 2014 – 2017 Ford Fiesta
- 2015 – 2018 Ford Focus
All vehicles are equipped with a 1.0-liter Ecoboost engine and have manual transmission.
Recall summary
The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on December 18, 2025, following 44 complaints of stalled Ford vehicles.
According to the claims, the engines would seize due to metal shavings in the oil pump caused by a defective timing belt. The timing belt connects the engine’s internal components – the crankshaft and camshafts – and synchronises their rotation. In the affected vehicles it may disintegrate for unknown reasons.
Risks
A stalled car may get hit by other vehicles, especially if this occurs in fast-moving traffic, upping the risk of injury.
Warning signs
Some drivers noticed that a “low engine oil” warning popped up before the engine shut down.
Dangerous incidents
One driver stated that their car “suddenly” lost power while traveling at 65 miles per hour (mph) and had to have its engine replaced after it could not be repaired.
Another driver described a terrifying moment when the engine “began to sound like a tank” and would not restart.
Previous Ford recalls
In December 2025, nearly 110,000 Ford Escape SUVs were recalled because their trims could have flown away while driving.
In October 2025, Ford recalled close to 60,000 vehicles over the risk of fire caused by a leaking engine block heater.
Is your vehicle a part of this recall?
This investigation may lead to a Ford oil pump recall, potentially affecting more than 10,500 vehicles. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
