THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH OUT WARNING OR ENGINE LIGHT. *TR
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.
Power Train complaints
320 reportsWHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE OFTEN SHUDDERS OR CLUNKS. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME, THE SPEED CHANGED FROM 40 MPH TO 55 MPH. WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER WAITING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR THREE HOURS, MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE WITH 69,123 MILES, WAS TOWED BACK TO MY HOMETOWN TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC. AFTER LOOKING OVER THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMI…
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WHILE TRAVELING AWAY FROM HOME, THE SPEED CHANGED FROM 40 MPH TO 55 MPH. WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER WAITING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR THREE HOURS, MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE WITH 69,123 MILES, WAS TOWED BACK TO MY HOMETOWN TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC. AFTER LOOKING OVER THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TRANSFERRED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THE TECH CALLED AND STATED THE TRANSMISSION DID IN FACT NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $7505.00. THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO ASSIST, AS 'FORD HAS NO ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSIONS.' THE GM FURTHER STATED I COULD ROLL OVER WHAT I OWED AND DRIVE OFF IN A BRAND NEW ESCAPE FOR $500.00 A MONTH. AFTER RESEARCH, IT'S CLEAR THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE, COSTING MANY PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO OUR TRUSTED MECHANIC WHERE IT WILL BE REPAIRED FOR $3500.00.
FROM THE SECOND WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, MY VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. I WAS VERY PUNCTUAL ABOUT GETTING MY VEHICLE SERVICED AS I PURCHASED A SERVICE MAINTENANCE PLAN AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND BELIEVED MY TRANSMISSION WAS BEING LOOKED AT DURING THE SERVICE CA…
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FROM THE SECOND WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, MY VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. I WAS VERY PUNCTUAL ABOUT GETTING MY VEHICLE SERVICED AS I PURCHASED A SERVICE MAINTENANCE PLAN AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND BELIEVED MY TRANSMISSION WAS BEING LOOKED AT DURING THE SERVICE CALLS. I PRESUMED IT WAS MY IMAGINATION HOWEVER AT 121,000 MY VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FROM THE SPEED OF 45MPH. I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT CLEARLY WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY AS IT WAS NOT MOVING WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE WAS NO 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT DID ENGAGE INTO GEAR AND MOVED FOR ANOTHER TWO MILES THEN I GOT THE RED WARNING MESSAGE "SERVICE TRANSMISSION NOW". BECAUSE I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE(A 2016 MODEL) I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR HENCE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING SINCE OCTOBER 2019 WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. I SAW A RECALL FOR THE FORD FESTIVA/FUSION THAT DESCRIBED THE SAME SITUATION BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INFORMATION ON A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL. I HAVE ALSO SEEN COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND FEEL THAT IT IS DANGEROUS. NORMALLY I DRIVE THE FREEWAY BUT THE MORNING IT BROKE DOWN I WAS ON A SURFACE STREET. I FOR SURE WOULD HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. I DO NOT HAVE ANY REPAIR DOCUMENTATION AS I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT TOO!
DROVE THE CAR 90 MILES TO THE HOSPITAL WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR NO SIGNS THAT ANYTHING WAS GOING WRONG. AFTER THE HOSPITAL VISIT WAS OVER, AND WE STARTED TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING FORWARD WHILE STILL ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE FAULT FAILURE WARNING APPEARED ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I STOPPED THE CAR. S…
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DROVE THE CAR 90 MILES TO THE HOSPITAL WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR NO SIGNS THAT ANYTHING WAS GOING WRONG. AFTER THE HOSPITAL VISIT WAS OVER, AND WE STARTED TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING FORWARD WHILE STILL ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE FAULT FAILURE WARNING APPEARED ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I STOPPED THE CAR. SHUT IF OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD BUT THEN QUICKLY LOST THE DRIVING POWER AGAIN. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD ON ACCELERATION. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR TO MOVE IT WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE LIKE IT WAS HAVING ISSUES PULLING INTO GEAR. WE ENDED UP STRANDED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT IN THE HEAVY INTERSECTION OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL. NO.ACCIDENTS HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID IT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD GARAGE.
JUST AS MY CAR REACHED 61,699 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. ON MARCH 29, I WAS DRIVING ON RIDGE RD IN OAK RIDGE, NJ AND STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR GOING UP A VERY SLIGHT HILL TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED OF 40 MPH, BUT THE CAR JUST STARTED SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT STARTED ROLL BACKWARD…
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JUST AS MY CAR REACHED 61,699 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. ON MARCH 29, I WAS DRIVING ON RIDGE RD IN OAK RIDGE, NJ AND STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR GOING UP A VERY SLIGHT HILL TO MAINTAIN MY SPEED OF 40 MPH, BUT THE CAR JUST STARTED SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT STARTED ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL AND I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY STEP ON THE BRAKE. THE DIRECTION I WAS GOING IN WAS ON A SINGLE LANE ROAD AND THERE WERE CARS COMING BEHIND ME.THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE OR MOVE. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT NO MOVEMENT. IN FACT, THE CAR STARTED TO GO BACKWARDS INTO THE OTHER CARS BEHIND ME. I IMMEDIATELY STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING ANYONE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD. SOMEONE CAME OUT OF THEIR HOME TO HELP ME BACK MY CAR INTO HIS DRIVEWAY WHILE I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AT FETTE FORD IN CLIFTON, NJ. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN HELP ME WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BEING THAT I WAS ONLY 1,699 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. IS IT NORMAL FOR A TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARRANTY? I AM AN ESSENTIAL WORKER. ALSO, MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ON 3/2/20 BEFORE THIS HAPPENED FOR WHAT THEY CALL THE WORKS WHERE THEY CHECK ' TIRE ROTATION AND PRESSURE CHECK ' BRAKE INSPECTION ' VEHICLE CHECKUP ' FLUID TOP-OFF ' BATTERY TEST ' FILTER CHECK ' BELTS AND HOSES CHECK AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILES. THEY DID NOT PROPERLY SEAL THE OIL PLUG BECAUSE OIL WAS LEAKING OUT OF MY CAR AFTER I LEFT THEM AND I HADN'T NOTICED UNTIL MY HUSBAND TOLD ME. I WOULD THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CATCH ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS VERY BUSY THE DAY I WENT IN FOR THE WORKS AND IT TOOK HOURS TO GET THAT DONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND TWO UNKNOWN CODES AND TOLD THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND TWO UNKNOWN CODES AND TOLD THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE TORQUE CONVERTER IN MY TRANSMISSION EXPLODED AT 85,000 MILES. AAMCO TOLD ME ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TRAVELLING AROUND 30 MPH. COST $5400.00 TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE METAL SHAVINGS WENT BACK INTO T…
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MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE TORQUE CONVERTER IN MY TRANSMISSION EXPLODED AT 85,000 MILES. AAMCO TOLD ME ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TRAVELLING AROUND 30 MPH. COST $5400.00 TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE METAL SHAVINGS WENT BACK INTO THE TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS!
SLOWED AT FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT ON HIGHWAY, WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER LIGHT, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LONG TRIP. SLIPPAGE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, THEN FREQUENTLY AND "SERVICE TRANSMISSION NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED. SLIPPAGE OCCURRED WHENEVER CAR WAS SLOWED AND TRANSMISSION ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT AND THEN ACCELE…
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SLOWED AT FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT ON HIGHWAY, WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER LIGHT, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LONG TRIP. SLIPPAGE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, THEN FREQUENTLY AND "SERVICE TRANSMISSION NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED. SLIPPAGE OCCURRED WHENEVER CAR WAS SLOWED AND TRANSMISSION ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT AND THEN ACCELERATE AFTERWARD. VERY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TAKING LEFT HAND TURNS IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD AND SLIGHTLY OVER 60K MILE WARRANTEE LIMIT. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $6500.
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.
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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