Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

Cross-comparison · Comparison spans different vehicle types

2019 Ford Ecosport vs 2019 Honda HR-V

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
The 2019 Honda HR-V edges this one on reliability data

Reliability data favors the 2019 Honda HR-V (3.7 versus 3.4). These vehicles aren't a typical head-to-head comparison, but if you're cross-shopping them, the data is what it is.

2019 Ford Ecosport

3.4/5
Reliability score
450 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$9,300 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2019 Honda HR-V

3.7/5
Reliability score
210 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$9,250 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

The 2019 Honda HR-V edges this comparison on reliability data (3.7 versus 3.4). These aren't a typical head-to-head, but if you're cross-shopping them, the data is what it is.

If you lean 2019 Ford Ecosport, know what you're getting into on engine and powertrain. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2019 Honda HR-V sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2019 Honda HR-V? Watch the electrical and fuel system. The 2019 Ford Ecosport has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2019 Ford Ecosport
2019 Honda HR-V
engine
336 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
electrical
9 reports
moderate · ~$850
59 reports
moderate · ~$850
powertrain
44 reports
severe · ~$2,500
14 reports
severe · ~$2,500
fuel system
No reports
35 reports
moderate · ~$1,200
brakes
6 reports
moderate · ~$450
7 reports
severe · ~$450
cruise control
6 reports
moderate · ~$600
6 reports
severe · ~$600
steering
4 reports
moderate · ~$700
6 reports
moderate · ~$700
airbags
4 reports
severe · ~$1,100
5 reports
severe · ~$1,100
body
No reports
9 reports
severe · ~$1,500

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2019 Ford Ecosport or the 2019 Honda HR-V?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2019 Honda HR-V comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.7 versus 3.4. The margin is narrow, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2019 Ford Ecosport?

Compared to the 2019 Honda HR-V, the 2019 Ford Ecosport sees more reported issues in engine and powertrain. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2019 Honda HR-V?

Compared to the 2019 Ford Ecosport, the 2019 Honda HR-V has more complaints in electrical and fuel system. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2019 Ford Ecosport has more active recalls (1 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $9,300 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2019 Ford Ecosport on NHTSA · 2019 Honda HR-V on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
Get a free warranty quote →
Sponsored — we earn a commission if you complete a quote. Disclosure.