2021-2022 Ford Ecosport Axle Shaft Recall (25V126)
Ford Motor Company · 18,648 vehicles · Reported February 28, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 18,648 2021-2022 Ford Ecosport vehicles. The front axle half shafts may disconnect from the transmission, which can result in a loss of drive power. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. In addition, a disconnected half shaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V126 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V126000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S12 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 28, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Ford Ecosport |
| Units affected | 18,648 |
| Build dates | April 1, 2021 to July 20, 2022 |
| Component | Power Train > Axle Assembly > Axle Shaft |
| Safety risk | A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. In addition, a disconnected half shaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Ford Ecosport in recall 25V126?
The front axle half shafts may disconnect from the transmission, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 EcoSport vehicles. The front axle half shafts may disconnect from the transmission, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Ecosport with recall 25V126?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. In addition, a disconnected half shaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. In addition, a disconnected half shaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the axle shaft.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V126?
Recall 25V126 covers 18,648 vehicles: 2021-2022 Ford Ecosport.
NHTSA lists 18,648 vehicles in this campaign, built April 1, 2021 to July 20, 2022. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Ecosport |
What is the fix for the Ecosport axle shaft recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the half shafts as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace the half shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S12.
When was recall 25V126 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V126 to NHTSA on February 28, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2021 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| July 20, 2022 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| February 28, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V126000. |
| May 29, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 19 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 475 days. If your Ecosport was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Ecosport is part of recall 25V126?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V126 is open on your Ecosport, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V126000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Ecosport owners do about recall 25V126?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V126000 applies to your Ecosport.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any axle shaft symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Ecosport owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 269 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 51 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 25V126 was reported on February 28, 2025, owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after February 28, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 269 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 51 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford Ecosport: 258 complaints in total, 50 about the transmission
- 2022 Ford Ecosport: 11 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Car has experienced loss of power randomly. Dealership wray ford of bossier city Louisiana sold car without disclosing recalls or defects.
2021 Ford Ecosport owner, LA, NHTSA complaint 11651572, filed March 30, 2025
Car looses power mid drive since (has happened since Sept 2024.) Powertrain light sensor comes on and car throttles low, cuts completely off sometimes. Numerous Powertrain malfunction/ reduced power notifications on My ford app.
2021 Ford Ecosport owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11651872, filed March 31, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ecosport. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) Cooling) and 25V126000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
2021 Ford Ecosport owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11652313, filed April 2, 2025
Can recall 25V126 make my Ecosport a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this axle shaft recall means their Ecosport qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2021-2022 Ford Ecosport: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Ecosport been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Ecosport recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V126
Did the recall 25V126 fix work?
Since recall 25V126 was reported on February 28, 2025, owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 3 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 25V126000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Ecosport is part of recall 25V126000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V126000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.