2016 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,124 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 36 involved a crash and 10 involved a fire. 19 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 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.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 25V695000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)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.
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.
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.
Campaign 22V413000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, knee bolsterJun 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."
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.
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.
Campaign 17V398000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
92 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Jan 24, 2019, fire
MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE CAUGHT FIRE ON 12/24/2018. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN AN OPEN PARKING SPACE AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE AFTERNOON THE DAY BEFORE. NOTE THE ENGINE WAS COLD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON ON 12/24/2018, MY HUSBAND WAS WALKING OUT TO OUR FORD ESCAPE WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ESCAPE. WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE CAR, WITNESSES SAID THE ESCAPE HAD STARTED SMOKING ON ITS OWN AND THEY HAD HEARD NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE REPORT COMPLETED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE MALFUNCTIONING ELECTRICAL. WE OF COURSE SPOKE TO THE KEN GRODY FORD WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD US BECAUSE THIS WAS A FIRE, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE FORD GENERAL COUNSEL. WE FILE THE CLAIM WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF FORD. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE GENERAL COUNSEL WOULD RESPOND WITHIN 15 DAYS. THAT TIME FRAME HAS COME AND GONE. WE HAVE COMPLAINT MANY TIMES TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE. HOWEVER, FORD HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO US. AAA HAS TOWED THE CAR TO A SECURE SITE AS THE CAR WAS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE WHERE IT WAS SITTING. AAA HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET FORD TO COME AND INSPECT THE CAR SO THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE FIRE CAN BE DETERMINED. BUT FORD WILL NOT RESPOND TO THEM EITHER. WHAT IS MOST DISTURBING TO ME AND SHOULD BE DISTURBING TO EVERYONE, IS FORD'S LACK OF CONCERN AS TO WHAT CAUSED THIS FIRE. HAD THE FIRE STARTED FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR. NOT ONLY WOULD MY FAMILY HAD BEEN IN HARMS WAY BUT SO WOULD OF THE OTHERS AROUND US. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE PARKED IN A GARAGE. FORD NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Jul 23, 2018
THE ESCAPE HAS INCIDENTS WHERE ALL ELECTRICAL POWER STOPS. ALL LIGHTS, IGNITION SYSTEM, EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL STOPS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEED, SOMETIMES AT VERY LOW SPEED, SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING, OR GOING STRAIGHT. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP AND PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THE VEHICLE THEN STARTS AGAIN. AFTER REPEATED TRIPS TO CANBY FORD, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG, AND THE CAR HAS NOT RECORDED ANY CODE INDICATING A PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED ONCE ON A LOCAL FREEWAY AT RUSH HOUR WHICH TERRIFIED MY WIFE. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHILE PARKED AND RUNNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. THE BELOW DATE IS JUST THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT.
Electrical system, Feb 16, 2018
WHILE PARKED, THE RADIO RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. RADIO STATION BUTTONS HAVE TO BE PRESSED NUMEROUS TIME TO CHANGE THE STATION, WHETHER PARKED OR IN MOTION.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Jan 16, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ON 85N IN ATANTA, GA, WHILE ROUGHLY DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 65MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 7AM ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WITH NO WARNING! I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF THE CAR WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 51K MILES ON IT. FOR THIS CAR TO TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON AN ATLANTA MAJOR INTERSTATE, NOT ONLY ENDANGERED MY LIFE BUT THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER DRIVERS! THANKFULLY THERE WAS A GAP IN THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME SO I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE SINCE WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN MOVEMENT BUT WITH NO POWER. I BARELY MADE ON TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER SITTING ON THE SHOULDER FOR OVER 30 MINS, WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED BACK UP. I STILL HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAVE MY MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE CAR. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN NOT "DUPLICATE THE ERROR". DIAGNOSTICS WERE RUN ON THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES AND NO ISSUES WERE FOUND. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE AND FOR THE CARS COMPUTER TO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THE SHUT DOWN. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BUT I AM INJURED OR INJURE SOMEONE ELSE! I'VE LOOKED AT OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND OTHER MOTORISTS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM; THE CAR TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE 2016 FORD ESCAPE AND FORD ISN'T PROPERLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS!
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 7, 2018
REAR END KNOCKING SOUND AFTER AND DURING BACKING UP, ALSO DURING LOW SPEED. THE ELECTRONIC RADIO, SYNC3, AUDIO SCREEN WILL NOT TURN ON IN MILDLY COLD TEMPERATURES (20F DEGREES).
Electrical system, Nov 2, 2017
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN IGNITION SWITCH PRESSED. TOOK THE CAR TO FORD DEALER TO FIX AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND STATED THERE IS NO FIX AT THIS TIME. TO GO HOME AND WAIT TO RECEIVE A LETTER ONCE THEY HAVE A FIX TO THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!
Electrical system, Visibility, Structure, Oct 2, 2017
2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE VEHICLE THAT WAS AGREED UPON. BUT, PROVIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE CONSUMER'S MEDICAL OR PERSONAL REQUESTS. UPDATED 10/2/2017*JS
Power train, Electrical system, Jan 16, 2017
WHILE DRIVING AROUND 40MPH, VEHICLE CUT OFF AND DISPLAYED A MESSAGE: TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK. AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING VEHICLE, THE VOLUME ON RADIO MOVED UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARKED POSITION. LATER THAT DAY VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF USING REMOTE STARTER. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 19, 2016
I WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY, I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE OF "ENGINE FAULT". ONCE I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE IDLED DOWN TO 400 AND SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO CRANK IT UP AGAIN AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED JUMPING VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS RECALL 16B32.
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 15, 2016
WAS DRIVING AND VEHICLE BEGAN SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY AND SERVICE ENGINE NOW CAME ON AND VEHICLE ENGINE DIED. THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY YET AND FOUR PEOPLE HELPED TO PUSH ME OUT OF THE WAY.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Sep 11, 2016
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (ROUGHLY 70 MPH) MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING AND SAID "ENGINE FAULT. SERVICE NOW". BY THE GRACE OF GOD I DID NOT GET REAR ENDED. I SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND MADE IT HOME. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT MORNING, THIS TIME ON CITY STREETS GOING ROUGHLY 20 MPH DURING RUSH HOUR. AGAINST, I WAS BEYOND LUCKY TO HAVE NOT GOTTEN INJURED OR WORSE AND THERE WAS NO WARNING AGAIN.
Electrical system, Aug 26, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE DASHBOARD VIBRATED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN HOLE FROM WHICH RODENTS ENTERED AND DESTROYED THE FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,900. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 10/13/16*LJ *TR
Electrical system, Aug 7, 2016
I PURCHASED A 2016 FORD ESCAPE IN JANUARY 2016 ON 8-2-16 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN IN TRAFFIC A THEN STOPPED. MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I MADE IT TO WORK FORD SENT A TOW TRUCK TO MY JOB TO PICK UP ME AND MY TRUCK
Electrical system, Jun 30, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. DASHBOARD CLUSTER. ALL DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT NOT WORK. SIGNAL FOR DOOR GAS SEATBELT SPEEDOMETER . THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND DASHBOARD WHEN DEAD.
Electrical system, Jun 2, 2016
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE VEHICLE THREE WEEKS AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO NOT STARTING. THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT. THEY CLEARED THE CODE, AFTER KEEPING IT FOR WEEK. 6 DAYS LATER IT WAS TOWED FOR THE ISSUES, THEY CURRENTLY STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT SURE WHY IT'S HAPPENING. THEY CAN'T GET IT TO THROW THE CODES, IT WORKS FINE FOR THEM. BOTH TIME WE WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT SITTING IN THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT.
Electrical system, May 16, 2016
PERIODICALLY (COUPLE TIMES A WEEK), THE REAR CAMERA VIEW DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. DURING THE DAY, THE FAULT MEANS TEMPERATURE, AUDIO AND NAVIGATION CONTROLS CAN'T BE USED AND THE CONSTANT REAR CAMERA VIEW IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD IS DISTRACTING WHEN THE CAR IS IN FORWARD MOTION. AT NIGHT, THE FAULT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE GLARE OF HEADLIGHTS FROM FOLLOWING CARS DOMINATES THE LARGE CENTER OF THE INTERNAL CONTROLS. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALERSHIP (TO RESET, REBOOT, UPDATE SOFTWARE) HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 2, 2016
BROUGHT 2016 IN NOVEMBER 2015 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND OFF ON STREETS OR HIGHWAY AND STAYED ON ALWAYS. TRUCK BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 3/22/16 TIL 4/13/16 THAN 4/19/16 TIL DATE. REASONS REPLACED COMPUTER PCM, REPAIRED WIRE TWICE, REPLACE CHIPS, REPLACE WIRE AGAIN. MCCARTHY FORD AND REGIONAL MANAGER NOT GOOD WITH FOLLOW UPS OR GOOD FAITH AGREEMENT.