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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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
1,115 reportsFACTORY REMOTE START STOPPED WORKING DUE TO LOW BATTERY. NOW THAT BATTERY IS REPLACED, REMOTE START ONLY LASTS 10 SECONDS BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. ALSO, WHEN CAR IS STARTED MANUALLY, WINDSHIELD WIPES HOP FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
WHEN SHIFTING MY CAR INTO DRIVE THE DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN I SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO PARK THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY CONTINUED TO SAY THAT IT WAS IN REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR IN PARK I TURNED…
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WHEN SHIFTING MY CAR INTO DRIVE THE DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN I SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO PARK THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY CONTINUED TO SAY THAT IT WAS IN REVERSE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN PARK. WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR IN PARK I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I COULD STOP IT WAS TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THEN PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON TO KEEP THE CAR FROM CONTINUING TO ROLL FORWARD. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE SHOWED THAT THE BUSHINGS THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE WAS BROKEN. MY RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS SAME SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD HAD WITH PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS OF THE FORD ESCAPE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE RECALLED. IT SEEMS THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 2016 MODEL YEAR AS WELL, AS I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FORD ESCAPE 2016 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE THAT OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCED WITH EARLIER MODEL YEAR FORD ESCAPE VEHICLES. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THIS CAR FROM ROLLING FORWARD AT ANYTIME EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF IS TO KEEP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR THE EARLIER MODEL YEAR FORD ESCAPES IS RECALL NUMBER 18V471000. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY ISSUE NOTED IN THIS RECALL IS IDENTICAL TO THE SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING MY VEHICLE.
DRIVER WAS DRIVING ON DIRT ROAD ON A HOT DAY. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 102 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO LOSE POWER AND SUDDENLY IT JUST STALLED. THE DRIVER THEN WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. THIS TIME THE DRIVER WAITED AN ADDITIONAL 20 MI…
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DRIVER WAS DRIVING ON DIRT ROAD ON A HOT DAY. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 102 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO LOSE POWER AND SUDDENLY IT JUST STALLED. THE DRIVER THEN WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON. THIS TIME THE DRIVER WAITED AN ADDITIONAL 20 MINUTES AND FINALLY IT WORKED AGAIN UNTIL THEY MADE IT BACK TO A GAS STATION. THE FUEL LEVEL WAS BARELY UNDER A HALF A TANK. THE VEHICLE TENDS TO SHUT DOWN ON A HOT DAY WHEN FUEL GOES BELOW A HALF A TANK. IT IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER 2016 FORD ESCAPES.
THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING DOWN RURAL HIGHWAY ON A HOT DAY. IT SHUT DOWN ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 99 DEGREES. THE FUEL LEVEL WAS AT A QUARTER TANK. THE DRIVER THEN LEFT THE VEHICLE OFF ON THE SIDE OFF THE ROAD FOR 10 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL ANOTHER 20 MILES BEFORE BREAKING DOWN AGAI…
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THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING DOWN RURAL HIGHWAY ON A HOT DAY. IT SHUT DOWN ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 99 DEGREES. THE FUEL LEVEL WAS AT A QUARTER TANK. THE DRIVER THEN LEFT THE VEHICLE OFF ON THE SIDE OFF THE ROAD FOR 10 MINUTES AND WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL ANOTHER 20 MILES BEFORE BREAKING DOWN AGAIN.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE. SUDDENLY THE CAR FLASHED "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. THE STEERIMG WHEEL FELT LIKE IT LOCKED, AND BECAME SUPER DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. WE CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A MAJOR ACCIDENT, AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONDING NORMALLY. THE…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE. SUDDENLY THE CAR FLASHED "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER STEERING. THE STEERIMG WHEEL FELT LIKE IT LOCKED, AND BECAME SUPER DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. WE CAME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A MAJOR ACCIDENT, AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONDING NORMALLY. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING COMPLETELY WELL BEFORE THIS. IT HAS JUST 60,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE WAITING ON THE MECHANIC'S CALL, BUT HE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR AS THE VISUAL INSPECTION DIDN'T TURN UP ANY PROBLEMS. WHAT A DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING IN A 2 AND A HALF YEAR OLD CAR.
POWER STEERING FAULT MESSAGE POPPED UP WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AND WE LOST POWER STEERING. WE WERE FORCED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A SHOP 10 HOURS AWAY FROM OUR HOME TO BE REPLACED. WE WILL BE MAKING THE 20 HOUR ROUND TRIP TO GET THE VEHICLE NEXT WEEK AS WE HAS TO RENT A VEHICLE TO GET HOME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARK LEROSE FORD (LOCATED AT 2764 STATE ST, GASSAWAY, WV 26624, (304) 364-5132) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MARK LEROSE FORD (LOCATED AT 2764 STATE ST, GASSAWAY, WV 26624, (304) 364-5132) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO GEAR WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. THE BUSHING WAS GONE FROM THE SHIFTER CABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. THE SHIFTER LEVER COULD NOT BE PLACED IN PARK.
"TAKATA RECALL". WHEN DRIVING A LOUD SOUND IS HEARD AT THE REAR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SOUND GOES ON AND OFF AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE, THE BRAKE GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THEN THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN . THIS HAPPENS WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE DRIVING ON…
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"TAKATA RECALL". WHEN DRIVING A LOUD SOUND IS HEARD AT THE REAR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS SOUND GOES ON AND OFF AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE, THE BRAKE GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THEN THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN . THIS HAPPENS WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. THIS WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. THIS SAME SOUND HAPPEN THREE TIMES BEFORE BUT THE CAR DID NOT SHUT DOWN, THE VEHICLE SHAKE AFTER THE SOUNDS BUT I CONTINUE DRIVING. MY LAST EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE WITH THAT SUDDEN STOP I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR END. MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER WITH MY PASSENGER AND ALSO THE TRUCK DRIVER WHO CAME UP BEHIND ME BLOWING BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. TO BE IN THAT SITUATION BY SEEING A VEHICLE COMING TOWARDS YOU AND YOUR VEHICLE IS STATIONERY IN THE ROAD AND IN THE END THE PERSON WHO REAR END YOU WOULD BE AT FAULT. THIS KEEP ON HAPPENING AND I THINK THIS IS A DANGER TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE CANNOT BE CONTROLLED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THAT INCIDENT
Official recalls
426V011000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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