Used car safety, rank #153 of 181
Ford EcoSport 4WD Safety Rating (2018-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2018-20 Ford EcoSport 4WD, a small SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2018-20 Ford EcoSport 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 67 per million registered vehicle years against a small SUVs average of 42.6, which is 57% above the class average. That places it #153 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 20.2/100.
What the Ford EcoSport death rate means
At 67 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Ford EcoSport 4WD is 57% worse than the small SUVs average of 42.6. The 95% confidence interval is 29 to 104, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 45 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Ford EcoSport. It is no higher than the Ford EcoSport's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest small SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Ford EcoSport 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Toyota C-HR at a death rate of 2.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota C-HR | 2018-20 | 2 (0 to 7) | 79.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Honda CR-V 4WD | 2020 | 14 (0 to 36) | 66.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 2WD | 2019-20 | 17 (0 to 39) | 63.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Santa Fe 4WD | 2019-20 | 19 (0 to 37) | 62.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota RAV4 hybrid 4WD | 2019-20 | 20 (0 to 40) | 61.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Compass 2WD | 2017-20 | 27 (6 to 48) | 52.1 | n/a | n/a |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4WD | 2017-20 | 28 (3 to 53) | 50.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Equinox 4WD | 2020 | 30 (0 to 62) | 48.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford EcoSport 4WD (this page) | 2018-20 | 67 (29 to 104) | 20.2 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for small SUVs: 42.6 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
Safety recalls for the Ford EcoSport 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
3 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering back over prevention, engine and engine cooling, air bags.
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Back over prevention: software
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge.
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Engine and engine cooling: engine, oil/lubrication, pump
Risk: A loss of oil pressure can result in an engine stall and a loss of power braking assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the oil pump tensioner assembly and oil pump drive belt, free of charge. If engine failure occurs due to a damaged oil pump belt and/or oil pump belt tensioner, Ford has authorized dealers to replace the engine assembly as an interim repair before the availability of remedy parts for the final repair. This repair will be free of charge (parts and labor).
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Air bags: frontal, driver side, inflator module
Risk: Air bag modules missing the first-stage booster propellant will not deploy as intended in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag module on either the driver or passenger side, free of charge. This recall began February 18, 2021.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Ford EcoSport 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Ford EcoSport 4WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 67 per million registered vehicle years for the 2018-20 Ford EcoSport 4WD, 57% above the class average (42.6 for small SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 20.2 out of 100 and rank #153 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Ford EcoSport 4WD driver death rate?
67 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 29 to 104. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Ford EcoSport died at a rate of 45 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2018-20 models.
How does the Ford EcoSport 4WD compare with other small SUVs?
The small SUVs class averages 42.6 driver deaths per million; the Ford EcoSport 4WD sits at 67. Among the 9 small SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Toyota C-HR with a death rate of 2.