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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2025
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. Addit…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. Additionally, while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle shuddered and lost motive power. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, where a passerby assisted the contact in disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, and the vehicle was restarted but lost motive power while attempting to accelerate. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt, and that the ABS system was defective and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced but the ABS system was not replaced because the part was discontinued by the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11701176

63,000 miles · Jan 16, 2025
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The traction control, the ABS, the brakes, and the knee air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the Police Department mechanic VIPD Motor Pool, where it was diagnosed an…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The traction control, the ABS, the brakes, and the knee air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the Police Department mechanic VIPD Motor Pool, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS module had failed, causing other electrical failures. The mechanic determined that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #11636339

120,022 miles · Nov 8, 2024
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the traction control and brake warning lights were illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle…

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the traction control and brake warning lights were illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 120,022.

NHTSA ODI #11624175

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2016
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE IN DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES MADE AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS U…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE IN DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES MADE AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT TURNS, THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. ALSO, THERE WAS A SCRAPING ROUGH FEELING WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. UPDATED 12/13/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10904404

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