Ford Puma ST
Ford 1.5L EcoBoost 3-cyl 200 hp Puma ST. Same YZJA family as Fiesta ST Mk8.
Puma ST — Small but Wild
200 hp in a light crossover with a sports chassis: the Puma ST is a surprise. Agile, direct, with real bite.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The 1.5 EcoBoost ST in the Puma ST (200 hp) subjects the turbocharger to heavy load under frequent high-rpm use. Turbo bearings wear prematurely especially if the engine is not warmed up sufficiently or oil condition is poor.
Symptoms: Boost pressure fluctuates, whistling from turbo, bluish smoke at high rpm
Early Puma ST (2020–2022) with 1.5 EcoBoost YZJA may still be affected by the cylinder block hairline crack issue. The block should have been revised after mid-2019, but old-stock units were still fitted.
Symptoms: Coolant loss, white smoke, foaming coolant reservoir
The 1.5 EcoBoost ST in the Puma suffers from wear on the high-pressure fuel pump lobe of the exhaust camshaft. A sticking roller follower creates extreme abrasion on the cam lobe. Ford dealers often recommend a complete engine swap; machining the lobe is the cheaper option.
Symptoms: Irregular fuel pressure, rough engine note under load, hard metallic noise from valvetrain
Early 1.5 EcoBoost four-cylinder engines (up to approx. March 2019) are prone to hairline cracks in the cylinder block. Coolant enters the cylinders and causes severe engine damage. Short block replacement required.
Symptoms: Rough cold start, white exhaust smoke, coolant loss without external leak, engine warning light.
Individual 1.5 EcoBoost engines show piston ring fractures from as low as 35,000 km. The affected cylinder loses compression completely; short block replacement required.
Symptoms: Sudden power drop, heavy juddering or engine stall, measurable compression loss in one cylinder.
Despite its sporting tune, the YZJA ST is also prone to fuel-oil dilution on short trips. ST drivers who predominantly drive short distances should shorten oil change intervals to a maximum of 10,000 km.
Symptoms: Oil level rises, fuel smell in engine oil
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.