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2016 Ford Escape

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

612 reports with mileage · 503 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 320 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Back Over Prevention. Review the 206 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 199 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports10 fire reports16 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

16 reports
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34,000 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Service Brakes

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON MY ESCAPE ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. THE CORROSION HAS ALSO DAMAGED THE PADS. THIS HAS LEAD TO PULSATIONS AND UNEVEN BRAKING. MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THOUGH BRAKING PERFORMANCE SUFFERED BEFORE THAT. FORD HAS TOL…

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I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON MY ESCAPE ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. THE CORROSION HAS ALSO DAMAGED THE PADS. THIS HAS LEAD TO PULSATIONS AND UNEVEN BRAKING. MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 34,000 MILES WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THOUGH BRAKING PERFORMANCE SUFFERED BEFORE THAT. FORD HAS TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALTY CONDITIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND DO NOT COVER CORROSION. THIS UNUSUAL WEAR HAS CREATED UNSAFE BRAKING CONDITIONS AND BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE WHICH WERE NOT EXPECTED SO EARLY IN THE VEHICLE LIFE.

NHTSA ODI #11123779

34,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Service Brakes

PRE-MATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE ROTORS. AFTER 34,000 MILES, SQUEAKING BRAKES DEVELOPED. UPON INSPECTION, BOTH REAR BRAKE ROTORS ARE SEVERELY SCORED WHILE FRONT ROTORS SHOW NO WEAR (SMOOTH IN APPEARANCE). REAR BRAKE PADS ARE STILL AT 8MM THICKNESS. REAR ROTORS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN NEAR FUTURE AT OUR EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI #11122774

50,000 miles · Aug 3, 2018
Power TrainService BrakesWheels

TRANSMISSION MAKES WINING NOISE REAR BRAKES GO AT40000 THOU WHEEL BEARINGS GO AT 55000 MILES TRANS JERKS WHEN YOU SHIFT

NHTSA ODI #11115601

16,000 miles · Jul 6, 2018
Service Brakes

2016 FORD ESCAPE 1.6 SE AWD HAS FRONT BRAKE SQUEELING PROPLEM ONCE HEATED UP AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVEN FOR SHORTER TIMES. ABOUT 3/4 AROUND TOWN, 1/4 HIGHWAY DRIVING. BROUGHT IN TO FORD AFTER ABOUT 1 YEAR. THEY SANDED THE SURFACE OF THE PADS, ROTORS. PROBLEM CEASED FOR A LITTLE OVER 8 MONTHS. PROBLEM RETURNED AND NOT BROUGHT I…

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2016 FORD ESCAPE 1.6 SE AWD HAS FRONT BRAKE SQUEELING PROPLEM ONCE HEATED UP AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVEN FOR SHORTER TIMES. ABOUT 3/4 AROUND TOWN, 1/4 HIGHWAY DRIVING. BROUGHT IN TO FORD AFTER ABOUT 1 YEAR. THEY SANDED THE SURFACE OF THE PADS, ROTORS. PROBLEM CEASED FOR A LITTLE OVER 8 MONTHS. PROBLEM RETURNED AND NOT BROUGHT IN UNTIL INCESSANT LIKE BEFORE. THIS TIME, NOTHING WAS DONE. WAS TOLD WITH NO ABNORMAL SIGNS, THIS WAS NORMAL. VIN CHECK RETURNS NO RECALLS.

NHTSA ODI #11109939

3,000 miles · Aug 10, 2017
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other

CONSTANT SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESS TO THE FORD MOTOR PEOPLE. THE CAR TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM...

NHTSA ODI #11014104

7,900 miles · Dec 7, 2016
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE 95 WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A 18 WHEELER TRUCK. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT HURT. FORD INSISTS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10933700

Official recalls

4

26V011000 · Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater

Jan 15, 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

25V695000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Oct 13, 2025

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

22V413000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Jun 10, 2022

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:shift Linkage/cable/rod

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

17V398000 · Air Bags:knee Bolster

Jun 26, 2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Ford Escape vehicles. The driver's knee airbag modules installed in these vehicles were produced without the inflator gas generant material, and, as a result, the air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the driver's knee air bag does not inflate as intended, the driver has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace driver's knee air bag, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C11.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems