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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.

About this comparison →

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
74,000 miles · Mar 16, 2020
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED RIGHT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED RIGHT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TOM MASANO FORD LINCOLN LOCATED AT (1600 LANCASTER AVE, READING PA 19607) WHO CONFIRMED THE OIL LEAK AND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #11318271

100,000 miles · Mar 13, 2020
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS....NO ENGINE LIGHTS, THE VEHICLE JERKED THEN WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T MOVE, ONLY ENGINE WOULD REV UP. VEHICLE STALLED ONE TIME AND AFTER STARTING BACK UP IT WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE BUT NO MORE THAN 20-40MPH. HAD TO KEEP PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING TO GET VEHICLE TO KEEP MOVING TO G…

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WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS....NO ENGINE LIGHTS, THE VEHICLE JERKED THEN WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT WOULDN'T MOVE, ONLY ENGINE WOULD REV UP. VEHICLE STALLED ONE TIME AND AFTER STARTING BACK UP IT WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE BUT NO MORE THAN 20-40MPH. HAD TO KEEP PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING TO GET VEHICLE TO KEEP MOVING TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. WARNING MESSAGE FINALLY CAME UP TO SERVICE TRANSMISSION NOW. HAD NO PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION ISSUES OR MESSAGES. THIS ALL HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11317818

80,000 miles · Mar 5, 2020
Engine

CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, RATTLED.

NHTSA ODI #11316320

71,000 miles · Feb 23, 2020
EnginePower TrainFire

MY CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET. AUTONATION FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WHICH LED TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEY WANTED $7K TO REPAIR. I TOOK IT ELSEWHERE FOR REPAIR AND WITHIN 1 WEEK AFTER REPAIR THE CAR ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE BUT HAD JUST EXITED TO A NEARBY …

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MY CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET. AUTONATION FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WHICH LED TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEY WANTED $7K TO REPAIR. I TOOK IT ELSEWHERE FOR REPAIR AND WITHIN 1 WEEK AFTER REPAIR THE CAR ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE BUT HAD JUST EXITED TO A NEARBY RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS MELTED. THE CAR IS TOTALED AND HAS BEEN TURNED OVER TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, ALLSTATE.

NHTSA ODI #11310836

37,000 miles · Feb 17, 2020
Steering

CAR STARTED NORMALLY WHEN LEAVING THE HOME WITH AUTOSTARTER. DROVE TO A GAS STATION, PARKED, WENT INSIDE, CAME BACK OUT AND THE CAR PROMPTED WITH A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" ERROR. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE, NO POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED AND ISSUE REMAINED. UPON GETTING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, REPORTED FULL POWER STEE…

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CAR STARTED NORMALLY WHEN LEAVING THE HOME WITH AUTOSTARTER. DROVE TO A GAS STATION, PARKED, WENT INSIDE, CAME BACK OUT AND THE CAR PROMPTED WITH A "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" ERROR. ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE, NO POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF CAR, RESTARTED AND ISSUE REMAINED. UPON GETTING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, REPORTED FULL POWER STEERING FAILURE REQUIRING FULL REPLACEMENT OF POWER STEERING RACK AND PIN.

NHTSA ODI #11309710

95,000 miles · Feb 14, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN MARYLAND ON 1/29/20 WHEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND REALIZED MY SUNROOF HAD EITHER EXPLODED OR IMPLODED. AS I DROVE I COULD HEAR THE GLASS SLIDING ON THE HEADLINER WHICH FORTUNATELY WAS CLOSED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO WHERE I WAS STAYING AS I WAS WORKING OUT OF STATE (I LIVE IN WELLINGTON, FL) , COVERED M…

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WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 IN MARYLAND ON 1/29/20 WHEN I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND REALIZED MY SUNROOF HAD EITHER EXPLODED OR IMPLODED. AS I DROVE I COULD HEAR THE GLASS SLIDING ON THE HEADLINER WHICH FORTUNATELY WAS CLOSED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO WHERE I WAS STAYING AS I WAS WORKING OUT OF STATE (I LIVE IN WELLINGTON, FL) , COVERED MY CAR ROOF WITH A TARP AND THEN TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS. THE DAY IT HAPPENED THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY, NOT VERY HOT AND THERE WERE NO OBJECTS THAT HIT THE ROOF OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11309105

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2020
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2016. IT'S NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD. NO WARNING OF ISSUES. MY VEHICLE IS REGULARLY HAS OIL CHANGES. IT JUST STOP ON ME AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI #11307919

59,300 miles · Feb 5, 2020
Power Train

FORD ESCAPE 2016, WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET MY CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE HOOD I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY CHECKED FOR WATER, COOLANT WATER WAS EMPTY SO I FILLED WATER AND I TOOK TO THE MECHANIC SHOP THEY SAID ITS COOLANT RESERVOIR

NHTSA ODI #11307317

26,118 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK SEVERAL TREES HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO A FRACTURED PATELLA AND BRUISES. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK SEVERAL TREES HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO A FRACTURED PATELLA AND BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. JACK MADDEN FORD LOCATED AT 825 BOSTON-PROVIDENCE TURNPIKE, NORWOOD, MA 02062, (781)207-9009, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,118.

NHTSA ODI #11306671

62,500 miles · Feb 1, 2020
Power Train

MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE BROKE DOWN ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY, JANUARY 24TH. NO WARNING, NO PRIOR ISSUES OCCURRED. IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK. THE WARNING LIGHT, 'TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW,' CAME ON ONLY WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN. NOT ONLY WAS IT SCARY, BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AS A RESULT, WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE AND…

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MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE BROKE DOWN ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY, JANUARY 24TH. NO WARNING, NO PRIOR ISSUES OCCURRED. IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK. THE WARNING LIGHT, 'TRANSMISSION FAULT SERVICE NOW,' CAME ON ONLY WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN. NOT ONLY WAS IT SCARY, BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AS A RESULT, WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE ANDERSON FORD DEALERSHIP (ANDERSON, SC) WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED. MY CAR HAS 62.5K MILES. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS OF NO HELP. EVEN CONTACTING THE FORD CORPORATION BROUGHT VERY LITTLE IF ANY RELIEF. THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS IS A FAULTY PART. I'VE NOT SEEN A RECALL, BUT I HAVE NOTICED MANY SIMILAR ISSUES HAVE BEEN POSTED. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ODI #11306499

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