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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

151 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2021
Unknown Or Other

According to the dealership the throttle body is putting the vehicle in Limp mode and the car dies out because of it. Ford has had a recall on vehicles with the same issue. However, the dealership wants yo charge 469.04 for the repair.

NHTSA ODI #11433385

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2021
Unknown Or Other

Only had for a week, and vehicle has trouble at 40mph when shifting, slips or hesitates/misfires when driving at lower speeds, but drives ok past 55mph. Not sure if it is engine or transmission and was recently bought from dealership that said they checked it over, and now after a week I have to take it back in because I do not …

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Only had for a week, and vehicle has trouble at 40mph when shifting, slips or hesitates/misfires when driving at lower speeds, but drives ok past 55mph. Not sure if it is engine or transmission and was recently bought from dealership that said they checked it over, and now after a week I have to take it back in because I do not want it to be anything fuel related ever since it is Ecoboost engine and do not want it to catch fire while driving. Also the trunk will open with remote and only occasionally close with remote, does not work.

NHTSA ODI #11424254

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2021
Unknown Or Other

While driving approximately 1-5 mph the vehicle shuts off and and will not move when the gas peddle is pressed. The vehicle engine light comes on. Vehicle operator has to press the power button in order to shut off the car, put the car in park, and press the power button to turn the car back on. Vehicle then works as intended.

NHTSA ODI #11422900

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2021
Unknown Or OtherCrash

HAD THE CAR IN TO GET THE FRONT BUMPER, PASSENGER BLINKER LIGHT AND THE BLACK PANEL REPLACED. UPON THE BODY SHOP GETTING THE PARTS PREPPED AND GETTING THE CAR STRIPPED DOWN THEY FOUND THE ISSUE WITH THE CROSS MEMBER CONNECTIONS BEING RUSTED THROUGH. HE CALLED ME TO COME LOOK THINGS OVER BEFORE CONTINUING WITH THE WORK.

NHTSA ODI #11419473

81,000 miles · Apr 1, 2021
Unknown Or OtherCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 8 MPH, THE BALL JOINT FRACTURED CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO DETACH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE ON THE STREET. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIV…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 8 MPH, THE BALL JOINT FRACTURED CAUSING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO DETACH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE ON THE STREET. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE BALL JOINT AND CV AXYL NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE'S NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #11405932

95,000 miles · Nov 2, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK IS SHOWING AND WHAT HAPPENS IS MY CAR TENDS TO GO FORWARD IF I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND GO IN REVERSE WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE BUT IT ALSO GO FORWARD WHENEVER I FIRST TURN MY CAR ON THAT ALL HAPPENS WHEN I CHANGE GEARS TO PROCEED TO DRIVE. MY CAR ALSO STAYS IN 3RD AND 4TH YEAR WHEN I DRIVE THE RPM GOES UP…

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THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK IS SHOWING AND WHAT HAPPENS IS MY CAR TENDS TO GO FORWARD IF I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND GO IN REVERSE WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE BUT IT ALSO GO FORWARD WHENEVER I FIRST TURN MY CAR ON THAT ALL HAPPENS WHEN I CHANGE GEARS TO PROCEED TO DRIVE. MY CAR ALSO STAYS IN 3RD AND 4TH YEAR WHEN I DRIVE THE RPM GOES UP REALLY HIGH EVEN IF I'M JUST GOING 20MPH. IF I DO DRIVE MY CAR AT TIMES IT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN SLOW DOWN AND STOP MOVING SO I HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF MY CAR WAIT A BIT AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND THEN IT'S GOOD TO GO FOR A FEW MILES AND MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY WILL MOVE FOR EXAMPLE I WILL BE IN PARK ABOUT TO CHANGE GEARS INTO REVERSE AND MY CAR WILL GO FORWARD I HAVE TO SLAM ON BREAKS SO I DON'T CRASH IT DOES THIS EVEN IF I AM PARKED AND I PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE MY CAR WILL GO INTO REVERSE THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS AT THE GROCERY STORE.

NHTSA ODI #11372673

151,000 miles · Oct 26, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND THE 2ND ONE JUST WENT OUT. HAVE TO PUT ANOTHER ONE IN. HOW LONG WILL IT LAST. WHY HAS FORD NOT DONE A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSION'S,

NHTSA ODI #11366515

96,000 miles · Jul 2, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other

HEAD GASKET WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF EXHAUST KEEP LOSING ANTI FREEZE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11337120

79,759 miles · Jun 29, 2020
Unknown Or Other

VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY HAS STARTED TO SEND OFF THE AUDIBLE ANTI-THEFT ALARM AND LIGHTS AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN EXPLANATION. THE CAR GETS DROVE 1-2 TIMES A WEEK (~100 MILES). JUST HIT 80,000. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE AUDIBLE ALARM/ LIGHTS…

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VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY HAS STARTED TO SEND OFF THE AUDIBLE ANTI-THEFT ALARM AND LIGHTS AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN EXPLANATION. THE CAR GETS DROVE 1-2 TIMES A WEEK (~100 MILES). JUST HIT 80,000. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE AUDIBLE ALARM/ LIGHTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON! THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS JUNE 19, 2020 AT 8:00PM...NEXT WAS JUNE 20 AT 7PM, 1:30AM, 4:30AM. I LEFT THE CAR UNLOCKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND IT WAS QUIET UNTIL I LOCKED IT. IT WENT OFF ON JUNE 28, 2020 AT 3:18AM. I HAVE CHECKED THE BATTERY TERMINALS FOR CORROSION. VERY CLEAN. I RESET THE COMPUTER BY PULLING THE POSITIVE TERMINAL OFF THE BATTERY, INSERTING KEY TO ON POSITION, REPLACING POSITIVE TERMINAL. CONSULTED A REPUTABLE MECHANIC. HELP

NHTSA ODI #11331576

62,000 miles · Jun 7, 2020
EngineUnknown Or OtherFire

I BELIEVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH PREVIOUS MODELS OF FORD ESCAPES AND OTHER MODELS WITH THE RECALL BASED ON THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING BURNING AND FIRES IS STILL A RELEVANT ISSUE IN MODELS FURTHER. I BOUGHT MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE A YEAR AGO FROM CARMAX WITH 61K MILES. WITHIN ONE MONTH AND CONSTANT SERVICE THE CAR W…

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I BELIEVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH PREVIOUS MODELS OF FORD ESCAPES AND OTHER MODELS WITH THE RECALL BASED ON THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING BURNING AND FIRES IS STILL A RELEVANT ISSUE IN MODELS FURTHER. I BOUGHT MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE A YEAR AGO FROM CARMAX WITH 61K MILES. WITHIN ONE MONTH AND CONSTANT SERVICE THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP BURNING COOLANT. NO LEAKS OR ANYTHING I PAID TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS BECAUSE ALL OF THEM TOLD ME THERE HAD TO BE A LEAK. CARMAX STATES THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THEY CAN NOT COVER. BUT IT SEEMS TO NOT BE ANY PERSON AT FAULT. THERE ARE NO LEAKS I'VE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. IT'S STILL RUNS A YEAR LATER, BUT CATCHES ON FIRE IF LEFT RUNNING IN PARK OR IDLE FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES. SMOKES A TON FIRST THEN SOMETHING IGNITES. EVERY TIME YOU START IT THOUGH THERE'S A CLOUD OF THICK WHITE SMOKE WHICH EVENTUALLY CLEARS WHILE I'M DRIVING. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR THIS SO I HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING IT LIKE THIS. FORD HAS HAD THIS ISSUE ALREADY IN THE PREVIOUS MODELS. I'VE ATTACHED THE CUTOUT FROM THE PRIOR RECALL ON PREVIOUS MODELS. I APPRECIATE AND THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE APART OF HELPING THE BIGGER PICTURE.

NHTSA ODI #11327656

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