Is the Ford Ecosport more reliable than the Toyota C-HR?

No. The C-HR comes out well ahead. It has 25.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 73.7 for the Ecosport, and half as many recalls. The Ecosport's main weakness is engine failure, including stalling and low oil pressure warnings.

Which has more recalls, the Ecosport or the C-HR?

The Ecosport has more. Federal recall records show 12 recalls across its 2018 to 2022 model years, against 6 for the C-HR. Check the VIN of any car you consider to confirm that recall work was actually completed.

Which costs less to repair?

The C-HR costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $441 a year for it and $775 for the Ecosport. Over five years that is roughly $1,670 saved. A CVT failure on the C-HR could erase that, though, since quotes ran from over $10,000 to $14,000.

What is the main problem with the Toyota C-HR?

The CVT. Owners report a whine, hum or growl that grows louder with speed, usually traced to a failed internal bearing. There is often no warning light. Failures clustered between roughly 59,000 and 128,000 miles, and the fix is a full transmission.

What goes wrong with the Ford Ecosport engine?

Owners report a low oil pressure warning, lost power, then knocking or a stalled engine, often on the highway. Dealers commonly find a failed oil pump belt or tensioner and quote a full replacement over $6,000. Failures clustered around 61,000 to 73,000 miles.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford EcoSport vs Toyota C-HR: Reliability Compared

Ford EcoSport

Good

More Reliable

Toyota C-HR

Good

Reliability favors the Toyota C-HR over the Ford Ecosport by a wide margin. Ecosport engine failures decide it. Owners also filed far fewer complaints about the C-HR, and its yearly repair cost is lower. Both are compact SUVs sold in the US from 2018 to 2022.

How Do the Ford EcoSport and Toyota C-HR Generations Compare?

Every 2018 to 2022 Ecosport belongs to a single design, the second generation (B515). It had facelifts for 2018 and 2021, so a 2021 or 2022 car is the later refresh while 2018 to 2020 cars are not. For the C-HR, the 2018 to 2022 years are the first generation (AX10/AX50), which had a facelift for 2020. A second generation (AX20) arrived for 2023 only, so any 2018 to 2022 C-HR you find is the older design. Neither model changed generations within its 2018 to 2022 run.

Verdict

The Toyota C-HR is more reliable than the Ford EcoSport, scoring 74/100 vs 61/100.

The more reliable car here is the Toyota C-HR, and the gap is large. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold, federal recall records show half as many recalls, and independent repair-cost data puts yearly upkeep well below the Ford's. The Ecosport's engine trouble drives the difference. Stalling, low oil pressure warnings and engine replacements run through most of its problem areas. The C-HR has a serious flaw of its own in the CVT, but it is narrower and shows up less often.

Key Differences

1Toyota C-HR costs $334 less per year to repair
2Toyota C-HR has 48.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Toyota C-HR scores 13 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Ford EcoSport

—

4Toyota C-HR

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostSafety Rating

Ford EcoSport vs Toyota C-HR: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford EcoSport vs Toyota C-HR at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford EcoSport	Toyota C-HR
Reliability Score	61/100	74/100
Years Tracked	5	5
Total Recalls	12	6
Complaints per 10k Sold	73.7	25.6
Annual Repair Cost	$775/yr	$441/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2022 NHTSA	2022 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	0	5

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford EcoSport and Toyota C-HR?

One story runs through most Ecosport complaints: a low oil pressure warning, lost power, then a knocking or seized engine. Dealers often blame a failed oil pump belt or tensioner. Owners also describe repeat failures after recall work and long waits for parts. Stalls led to crashes in the engine, power train, electrical and brake categories. The C-HR's biggest problem is a CVT that whines or growls from a failed internal bearing, usually with no warning light. It also has air bag complaints, where bags did not deploy in serious crashes. The Ecosport has no air bag category.

Ford EcoSport vs Toyota C-HR common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford EcoSport	Toyota C-HR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	33.1High	—None
POWER TRAIN	7.2Above Avg	16High
ENGINE	20.2High	0.9Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	4.6Average	3.3Average
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.1Low	1.8Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.3Low	0.6Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.9Very Low	0.4Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.9Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.4Very Low	0.3Very Low
WHEELS	0.4Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.3Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	0.3Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.3Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
PARKING BRAKE	—None	0.2Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.2Very Low

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford EcoSport or Toyota C-HR?

Independent repair-cost data puts the Ecosport at $775 a year and the C-HR at $441. That is $334 more each year for the Ford, or about $1,670 over five years. The C-HR's risk is a rare but costly failure: CVT replacement quotes ran from over $10,000 to $14,000. The Ecosport's engine replacement quotes topped $6,000, and its complaint rate is nearly three times higher per car sold. The data does not give shop-visit counts, but complaint volume suggests the Ford is the likelier to need major work.

How Does Ford EcoSport vs Toyota C-HR Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford EcoSport vs Toyota C-HR year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford EcoSport	Toyota C-HR	Edge
2022	74/1002R / 10C	80/1000R / 2C	Toyota C-HR
2021	60/1003R / 255C	77/1001R / 32C	Toyota C-HR
2020	58/1003R / 390C	76/1001R / 55C	Toyota C-HR
2019	58/1002R / 451C	70/1003R / 101C	Toyota C-HR
2018	56/1002R / 720C	66/1001R / 296C	Toyota C-HR

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Ford EcoSport scored 74/100 and the 2022 Toyota C-HR scored 80/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Ford EcoSport vs the Toyota C-HR?

Pick the C-HR if you want the lower-risk used compact SUV. It has fewer complaints, fewer recalls and lower yearly repair costs. Target 2021 and 2022, the strongest years in the data, and be more careful with 2018 and 2019, the weakest. Whatever year you consider, listen for a hum or growl that rises with speed on the test drive, since the CVT gives no dash warning. Ask for service records too. Consider the Ecosport only if the price is clearly lower and you accept the engine risk. Reported engine failures clustered between about 61,000 and 73,000 miles, often just past warranty, with quotes over $6,000 for a replacement. Lean toward 2021 and 2022 and avoid 2018 and 2020, the weakest years. Check that every recall has been completed, and ask what was done about the oil pump belt. Remember that some owners said problems came back after recall work.

Ford EcoSport vs Toyota C-HR: Common Questions

Is the Ford Ecosport more reliable than the Toyota C-HR?: No. The C-HR comes out well ahead. It has 25.6 owner complaints per 10,000 sold against 73.7 for the Ecosport, and half as many recalls. The Ecosport's main weakness is engine failure, including stalling and low oil pressure warnings.
Which has more recalls, the Ecosport or the C-HR?: The Ecosport has more. Federal recall records show 12 recalls across its 2018 to 2022 model years, against 6 for the C-HR. Check the VIN of any car you consider to confirm that recall work was actually completed.
Which costs less to repair?: The C-HR costs less. Independent repair-cost data estimates $441 a year for it and $775 for the Ecosport. Over five years that is roughly $1,670 saved. A CVT failure on the C-HR could erase that, though, since quotes ran from over $10,000 to $14,000.
What is the main problem with the Toyota C-HR?: The CVT. Owners report a whine, hum or growl that grows louder with speed, usually traced to a failed internal bearing. There is often no warning light. Failures clustered between roughly 59,000 and 128,000 miles, and the fix is a full transmission.
What goes wrong with the Ford Ecosport engine?: Owners report a low oil pressure warning, lost power, then knocking or a stalled engine, often on the highway. Dealers commonly find a failed oil pump belt or tensioner and quote a full replacement over $6,000. Failures clustered around 61,000 to 73,000 miles.

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Decided between Ford EcoSport and Toyota C-HR? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Ford EcoSport and Toyota C-HR

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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