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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

What owners actually said

1,115 reports
60,000 miles · Jul 7, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System

EMISSIONS PURGE VALVE IS BAD/STUCK. TRUCK STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES. WHEN SHUT OFF TO GET GAS, MUST WAIT 20 MINUTES BEFORE TRUCK WILL START.

NHTSA ODI #11338045

69,397 miles · Jul 7, 2020
Power Train

SHIFT CABLE BUSHING CAME OFF SHIFTER CABLE. GEAR SHIFT MOVES BUT DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR NOR DOES THE DASH SHIFT INDICATOR SHOW IT IS IN ANY GEAR. TRUCK STARTS, ENGINE REVS AND ALL BREAKS AND LIGHTS ARE WORKING. IT WAS FINE YESTERDAY WHEN I PARKED IT IN MY SLOPED DRIVEWAY. TODAY IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN ORDER TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11338042

71,000 miles · Jul 7, 2020
Service Brakes

BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY AND BREAKS WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS ANY NOISE OF PUMP FAILER, HAD TO DRIVE IN THE MEDIAN GRASS TO AVOID A COLLISION THAT WOULD HAVE KILLED MY FAMILY. THE PART THAT FAILED IS THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP PART # BB5Z-2A451-C IT LOOKS AS IF AN INTERNAL PART I…

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BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY AND BREAKS WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS ANY NOISE OF PUMP FAILER, HAD TO DRIVE IN THE MEDIAN GRASS TO AVOID A COLLISION THAT WOULD HAVE KILLED MY FAMILY. THE PART THAT FAILED IS THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP PART # BB5Z-2A451-C IT LOOKS AS IF AN INTERNAL PART INSIDE THIS PUMP FAILED CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS AND FAILING THE PUMP. A SIMILAR ISSUE REGARDING THE SAME PUMP IN THE F-150 WAS RECALLED IN CANADA.

NHTSA ODI #11338009

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

112,000 miles · Jul 1, 2020
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH OUT WARNING OR ENGINE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11337078

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

36,000 miles · Jun 9, 2020
Power Train

WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE OFTEN SHUDDERS OR CLUNKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11328012

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

64,000 miles · Jun 1, 2020
Steering

2016 FORD ESCAPE W/ONLY 64K MILES. I DROVE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER IN CHICAGO ABOUT 2.5 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. ON THE WAY BACK, I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION, ON THE OASIS, AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP (JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER) THE WARNING POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND IT BEC…

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2016 FORD ESCAPE W/ONLY 64K MILES. I DROVE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER IN CHICAGO ABOUT 2.5 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. ON THE WAY BACK, I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION, ON THE OASIS, AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP (JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER) THE WARNING POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND IT BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE... DROVE STRAIGHT (LITERALLY) TO THE FORD SERVICE DEPT & $2030 LATER (CUZ OF COURSE WARRANTY IS DEPLETED), I CAN STEER AGAIN. I SERIOUSLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO PAY SUCH A HEFTY CHARGE JUST BECAUSE FORD MOTOR DIDN'T LEARN FROM THEIR 'POWER STEERING ASSIST' RECALL BACK IN 2014 AND ACTUALLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11326763

90,000 miles · May 5, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR 4. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. I ATTACHED A COPY OF WHAT THEY SAID IS WRONG WITH IT. IT DID NOT SET OFF ANY SENSORS. IT WOULD NOT REVERSE IR DRIVE. THEN A SENSOR WENT ON. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THIS IS SOME SORT OF DEFECT. A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE IT WENT OUT IT WAS CHUGGING IN LIW GEA…

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I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR 4. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. I ATTACHED A COPY OF WHAT THEY SAID IS WRONG WITH IT. IT DID NOT SET OFF ANY SENSORS. IT WOULD NOT REVERSE IR DRIVE. THEN A SENSOR WENT ON. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THIS IS SOME SORT OF DEFECT. A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE IT WENT OUT IT WAS CHUGGING IN LIW GEAR. LIKE IT KEPT SLIPPING. ONCE AGAIN NO LIGHTS CAME ON. SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THINKING IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS IN LOW GEAR. THEN THE DAY IT WENT OUT. I WENT TO PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT GO. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WORKED. AT THIS POINT I JUST WANTED TO GET IT HOME BUT DID NOT MAKE IT. HAD TO GET IT TOWED. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $8000 TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE MAINTAINED THE WHOLE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323343

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