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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

Power Train complaints

320 reports
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200,852 miles · Feb 6, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking back and forth. There was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact then lifted the hood and inspected the vehicle but could not…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking back and forth. There was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact then lifted the hood and inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the gear shifter cable bushing and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,852.

NHTSA ODI #11505861

56,000 miles · Feb 6, 2023
Electrical SystemPower Train

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that there was as an abnormal audible alarm sounding inside the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) but…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that there was as an abnormal audible alarm sounding inside the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) but was informed by the dealer that the recall repair would not fix the failure with the vehicle. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced and was given an estimate for repair. The contact disputed the diagnosis and believed that the failure was related to the vehicle's computer system. The manufacturer was notified of the recall and was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000. The contact stated that the dealer that the vehicle was purchased from was aware of the defect beforehand.

NHTSA ODI #11505846

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2023
Power Train

While driving transmission started to wind. Then the warning light came on and car stopped . Had car towed to local Ford dealer . This happened on 1/25/2023. I finally got a call on 2/04/2023. They said I need to replace the transmission, they quoted the cost at $6,400 .

NHTSA ODI #11505523

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2023
Power Train

Vehicle would drop out of gear while driving or at a complete stop. I would press on the accelerator to go; however, the car would be unable to move forward. I would have to put the vehicle in park, turn off the ignition, and then restart the vehicle at which point, the car may move for about a mile before dropping out of gear a…

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Vehicle would drop out of gear while driving or at a complete stop. I would press on the accelerator to go; however, the car would be unable to move forward. I would have to put the vehicle in park, turn off the ignition, and then restart the vehicle at which point, the car may move for about a mile before dropping out of gear again. This would be a continuous process until I could get the vehicle somewhere safe. The vehicle has stopped moving forward while driving on the highway, which causes a safety hazard for every drive on the road. Researching the problem, there are multiple people complaining of the vehicle having transmission problems and Ford has not done a recall knowing that a vehicle that is not in motion on the highway can be life threatening to many others. The vehicle was take to a Ford service facility and their comment has been "we know it is an issue but your transmission is bad and you need a new one."

NHTSA ODI #11505119

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2023
Power Train

Severe engine noise, sounds like the engine might fail at anytime. We were worried that the engine would fail and leave us stranded, we live in a cold climate and were afraid to leave town in the car. The problem was confirmed by the dealer - a manufacturer defective flexplate NHTSA ID#: 10174407. There were no warning lamps.

NHTSA ODI #11505115

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2023
Power Train

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THE DEFECTIVE PART WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND FEELS THE BILL IS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11503935

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2023
Power Train

My 2016 Ford Escape was included in a recall for a bushing related to the functioning of the transmission. While at home the car stopped shifting and wouldn’t move. The car was towed to the nearest Ford dealership and it was confirmed that the problem was with the recalled part. It was repaired but not even 90 days later the sam…

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My 2016 Ford Escape was included in a recall for a bushing related to the functioning of the transmission. While at home the car stopped shifting and wouldn’t move. The car was towed to the nearest Ford dealership and it was confirmed that the problem was with the recalled part. It was repaired but not even 90 days later the same thing happened only this time while driving through the mountains to my job site. It was towed again to the same dealership who is now telling us we need a new transmission. This is all very coincidental since we have had no trouble whatsoever with the transmission until this point. This vehicle is not safe to drive and we contend that it is likely due to the related recall.

NHTSA ODI #11503383

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. In July of 2022, the contact received a safety recall notification from the NHTSA under Campaign Number: 22V413 stating "the bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach." The owner then received another letter in October 2022 stating that remedy parts wer…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. In July of 2022, the contact received a safety recall notification from the NHTSA under Campaign Number: 22V413 stating "the bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach." The owner then received another letter in October 2022 stating that remedy parts were available in which the owner took the vehicle to the local Ford dealership to have it repaired on November 17, 2022. At approximately 5:30am on December 28, 2022 the contact owner was heading to work. When the light turned green at a major intersection, the contact owner's stated the vehicle hesitated accelerating at low speeds despite being in gear (D). Fortunately, the owner pulled over at a shopping center parking lot and had the vehicle towed to the local Ford dealership. At the time of failure, no warning lights or messages were illuminated or displayed from the dashboard. Later that morning, the owner's son reproduced the issue and documented it on video. When the owner's son put the car into reverse (R) the car moved forward and when put into drive (D). The opposite occurred along with hearing a grinding (increased RPMs) and a popping noise when finally in gear. The failure mileage on the vehicle was 135,373 miles. The local Ford dealership confirmed the transmission pump had failed and would cost $1,600 out of the owner's pocket to tear down the transmission despite the owner purchasing an 3rd party extended warranty service from the local Ford dealership.

NHTSA ODI #11502009

83,000 miles · Jan 6, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the highway, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle stalled and lost motive power with the transmission fault warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it wa…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed on the highway, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle stalled and lost motive power with the transmission fault warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced after retrieving 8 transmission failure codes. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #11500537

100,000 miles · Jan 3, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while pulling out of his driveway, the vehicle failed to accelerate as designed. The contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the trans…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while pulling out of his driveway, the vehicle failed to accelerate as designed. The contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced and that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11499896

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