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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

151 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2026
Unknown Or Other

My 2016 Ford Escape is under a recall for the rear view camera. My rear view camera does not work. Ford issued the recall in October 2025 but has not made an effort to repair my vehicle. I have a bad neck and back, it is hard for me to turn and look behind me. I could really use the rear view camera working again.

NHTSA ODI #11751314

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2026
Back Over PreventionUnknown Or Other

My rear camera and therefore cross traffic and parking indications fail almost every time I turn my car on. Ford acknowledges that this is a problem and that there is a recalled part, but they do not have replacement parts and so I must continue to drive with faulty parts.

NHTSA ODI #11750383

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2026
Unknown Or Other

There has been a recall, 25SA9, for over a year for the backup camera on this car. There is no date as to when it will be fixed and the camera is non functional now. This is my daughters car and It needs to be addressed quicker than a year.

NHTSA ODI #11750356

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2026
Unknown Or Other

I am extremely disappointed with the way Ford has handled the recall on the rearview camera for my 2016 Ford Escape. I received the recall notice about a year ago. Six months ago, I contacted Chapman Ford and was told the replacement parts were not yet available and that I would be notified when they came in. Now, a full year la…

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I am extremely disappointed with the way Ford has handled the recall on the rearview camera for my 2016 Ford Escape. I received the recall notice about a year ago. Six months ago, I contacted Chapman Ford and was told the replacement parts were not yet available and that I would be notified when they came in. Now, a full year later, my backup camera still does not work. This is a safety issue--not a convenience feature. When I called Chapman Ford again today, I was told the part was still unavailable for the Escape and was only being supplied for Mustangs. They gave me Ford Corporate's customer service number. Ford Corporate assured me that they would resolve the issue. They contacted Chapman Ford, spoke with Valerie, and told me everything had been arranged. I was told my appointment was set, the repair would be completed at no charge, and the problem would be taken care of. About an hour later, Chapman Ford called me back and said they actually did not have the part after all, could not perform the repair, and there was nothing they could do. After waiting an entire year for a safety recall, this is simply unacceptable. Ford sent out a recall notice acknowledging there was a safety problem, yet they still cannot provide the parts needed to fix it. Owners are left driving vehicles with defective backup cameras and no clear timeline for when the repair will actually happen. Ford should be ashamed of the way this recall has been handled. If you're going to issue a safety recall, you should also have a plan to provide the parts necessary to fix the vehicles within a reasonable amount of time. Customers deserve better communication, better follow-through, and most importantly, a prompt resolution to safety-related defects.

NHTSA ODI #11749231

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2026
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

The electrical radio backup camera does not work it's all malfunctioned.

NHTSA ODI #11748799

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2026
Unknown Or Other

I am the owner of a 2016 Ford Escape. In October 2025, I received a safety recall notice regarding the rearview camera. The notice explained that the camera could fail, display a blank or distorted image, and increase the risk of a crash. Since receiving the recall notice, I have repeatedly contacted Ford dealerships to schedule…

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I am the owner of a 2016 Ford Escape. In October 2025, I received a safety recall notice regarding the rearview camera. The notice explained that the camera could fail, display a blank or distorted image, and increase the risk of a crash. Since receiving the recall notice, I have repeatedly contacted Ford dealerships to schedule the repair. However, I have been told that the replacement part is not available or that there is still no remedy available. As of today, many months have passed, and my vehicle has not been repaired. The rearview camera is an important safety feature, especially when backing up in parking lots or areas where pedestrians or children may be present. Driving without a properly functioning rearview camera exposes me and others to an unnecessary safety risk. I believe Ford has failed to provide a timely remedy for this safety recall. I respectfully request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate this delay and require Ford to make the necessary repair available as soon as possible. This delay has been unreasonable. More than eight months have passed since I received the recall notice, yet Ford has been unable to provide the required repair. A safety recall should be resolved within a reasonable time, and I am asking NHTSA to take appropriate action to ensure that Ford complies with its obligations and protects vehicle owners. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ODI #11748704

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2026
Unknown Or Other

Back up camera has failed.

NHTSA ODI #11747130

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2026
Unknown Or Other

For about 2 years now my 2016 Escape would periodically show a distorted image in the camera when reversing. It was infrequent and would often correct itself before I was done reversing or if I just stopped and put it into park and then reversed again. I received the recall notification when it came out and have been waiting for…

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For about 2 years now my 2016 Escape would periodically show a distorted image in the camera when reversing. It was infrequent and would often correct itself before I was done reversing or if I just stopped and put it into park and then reversed again. I received the recall notification when it came out and have been waiting for the update on when parts are available. For about 5 months now the issue has become more frequent and days ago it has stopped working multiple times, not even giving the display error and keeping the radio screen on and playing music. I just hit 88k miles and take very good care of my car. I haven’t called the dealership because everything I can find when I look says the parts are still not available, even my auto insurance login knows there isn’t a fix. For such an important safety issue this is taking too long for them to do something.

NHTSA ODI #11743973

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2026
Unknown Or Other

Rear view camera delays or not available for reverse driving.

NHTSA ODI #11742555

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2026
Back Over PreventionUnknown Or Other

I received this recall notice in October 2025. I contacted [XXX] in Marion, Ohio to take care of the recall. I was told at that time that they did not have the parts to do the recall. So, I called back January 28, 2026 and was told the part was not available. I then called in March and inquired and was told the same thing. …

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I received this recall notice in October 2025. I contacted [XXX] in Marion, Ohio to take care of the recall. I was told at that time that they did not have the parts to do the recall. So, I called back January 28, 2026 and was told the part was not available. I then called in March and inquired and was told the same thing. So, I phoned again on April 27 and was told that I would have to make an appointment for the recall. Since my husband was going to be taking care of it, he called the next day to schedule an appointment. An appointment was made of April 29 and they said they could come to our house to do the recall. No one showed up on that date. So, we called on April 30 to see why. They said the tech called in sick and would contact us when he was back. We waited until today, May 6 and called them back as no one had called. TODAY, they tell us that there is no active recall on our car.... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11736033

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.

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