Ford Puma
Ford 1.0L EcoBoost 95 hp entry variant. Puma II 2020-2021.
Wasted Chassis
95 hp in the Puma with the good ST chassis: too little power for the potential. Wasted character.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The 1.0 EcoBoost P4JB (Fiesta MK7 FL, EcoSport, Puma MK2) carries the known oil bath belt risk. Wrong oil type or overdue service intervals cause belt degradation and engine damage.
Symptoms: Engine oil with black particles, warning light, rough running, abrupt engine failure
The 1.0 EcoBoost P4JB is prone to cylinder head damage during overheating events. The engine has very little thermal headroom; a failed thermostat or low coolant can warp the head quickly.
Symptoms: White exhaust smoke, coolant loss, milky engine oil
The 1.0 EcoBoost P4JB in the Fiesta HJ uses an oil-bathed timing belt. Only Ford-approved oil (WSS-M2C948-B) protects the belt from premature degradation. Workshop replacement costs £1,300 and up.
Symptoms: No warning symptoms — sudden engine shutdown possible. Blocked oil strainer from belt debris as an indicator
The front cover seal on early 1.0 EcoBoost engines (up to approx. Feb 2015) was not oil-resistant. Oil attacks the seal, leading to gradual coolant loss. TSI 15-1070 addresses the issue.
Symptoms: Coolant level drops without visible external leak, temperature warning, whitish steam from engine bay.
In vehicles with lots of short trips and inadequate warm-up phases the small turbo bearings wear prematurely. Poor oil condition accelerates wear considerably.
Symptoms: Boost pressure loss, whining from engine bay, blue smoke, increased fuel consumption
The wastegate linkage on the small turbo vibrates due to a leaking vacuum actuator. This causes power loss and a P0299 fault code (underboost).
Symptoms: Rattling noise from turbo area, noticeable power drop, fault code P0299, engine in limp mode.
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
Ford recalled around 4,572 Puma vehicles due to an incorrectly secured driver airbag unit. Inadequate fastening could cause the airbag to fail to deploy correctly in the event of activation.
On approx. 200 Puma mild hybrid vehicles, the battery terminal connections could come loose, leading to system failures and melt damage to components. Ford treated this as a recall action.
In the Puma 155 hp MHEV with 6-speed manual gearbox (6MX65), the 2nd gear synchro ring typically fails between 50,000 and 60,000 km. The gear no longer engages or pops out. Known issue, documented in TSB 23-2410.
On Puma vehicles from model years 2019–2021 (approx. 300 vehicles in Germany), the legally mandated eCall emergency call system was impaired by a software fault. Vehicles had to visit a dealer for a software update.
AC failures are documented on the Puma II, partly due to loose compressor mounting bolts (recall 2016–2018), partly from compressor wear. Sudden AC failures without warning are also reported from everyday use.
Owners report creaking noises from the dashboard, especially with temperature changes. Plastic parts expand and rub against each other. Door and roof frame seals can also let water into the footwell.
Owners report rattling and rubbing noises from the boot. Load cover mounting brackets no longer hold properly after 2–3 years, causing the cover to hang at an angle and restrict the rear view.