IllustrationWHEN STARTING THE CAR AN ALERT POPPED UP STATING "STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". THE STEERING WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING THE MESSAGE CLEARED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 27100 MILES. FORD STATES THAT THE STEERING GEAR HAS FAILED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE MOVING IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS
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
860–25K
7325–50K
13350–75K
14275–100K
141100–150K
37150K+
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 reportsCAR LOSES THROTTLE RESPONSE RANDOMLY. LUCKILY I'VE HAD SOMEWHERE TO GET OFF ROAD EVERYTIME ON HIGHWAY. WHEN SEARCHING CODE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A FIELD SERVICE ACTION TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE NOW.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A TOWN CENTER PARKING LOT, AND I WENT IN TO A RESTAURANT TO HAVE DINNER. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES, SEVERAL PEOPLE CAME RUNNING IN TO ADVISE THAT A GREY FORD WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE A SILVER 2016 FORD ESCAPE, SO I WENT OUT TO SEE IF I NEEDED TO MOVE MY CAR, AND TO MY SURPRISE REALIZED THAT I…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A TOWN CENTER PARKING LOT, AND I WENT IN TO A RESTAURANT TO HAVE DINNER. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES, SEVERAL PEOPLE CAME RUNNING IN TO ADVISE THAT A GREY FORD WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE A SILVER 2016 FORD ESCAPE, SO I WENT OUT TO SEE IF I NEEDED TO MOVE MY CAR, AND TO MY SURPRISE REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY CAR ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS IN FLAMES ... AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED SHORTLY THEREAFTER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TOTALED AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOWED IT AWAY. THE ENGINE WAS A 1.6L TURBOCHARGED MODEL ... AND ON CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, THERE APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ENGINE FIRES WITH THIS MODEL ENGINE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF NOTIFICATION FROM FORD MOTORS, AND THE VEHICLE RAN TOTALLY FINE UNTIL THE FIRE, WITH NO COOLANT LEAKS, OR ENGINE OVERHEATING.
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…
Read full complaint
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.
CAR STARTED VIBRATING WITH REDUCED POWER. THE ERROR CODE WAS P2111: THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM - STUCK OPEN
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.
****NOTE - VIN FOR A TOYOTA RAV4 2010, NOT A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. NEED MORE INFORMATION **** IN LIGHT RAIN, THE WIPERS JAM ON THE WINDSHIELD. AT TIMES, DIRECTLY IN YOUR VIEW. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY. IT OCCURS WHEN MOVING AND STATIONARY.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN I25 IN COLORADO. IT WAS 75 WITH CLEAR SKIES WITH NO CARS AROUND ME. SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOT GUN WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. WE SOON REALIZED MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT IT. IT JUST EXPLODED. WE LATER FOUND OUT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON. THANKFULLY WE HAD THE SHADE PULLE…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING DOWN I25 IN COLORADO. IT WAS 75 WITH CLEAR SKIES WITH NO CARS AROUND ME. SUDDENLY I HEARD A LOUD SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOT GUN WENT OFF IN MY VEHICLE. WE SOON REALIZED MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT IT. IT JUST EXPLODED. WE LATER FOUND OUT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON. THANKFULLY WE HAD THE SHADE PULLED CLOSED SO NO ONE WAS INJURED.
TRANSMISSION MAKES WINING NOISE REAR BRAKES GO AT40000 THOU WHEEL BEARINGS GO AT 55000 MILES TRANS JERKS WHEN YOU SHIFT
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY - THE CAR STALLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. PRIOR TO STALLING, THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND THEN STALLED.
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.