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: engine
245 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 27, 2018
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN WITH ENGINE FAULT CAR STOPPED RESPONDING MAKING IT A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. I SEE THIS HAS A CLOSED RECALL ALREADY BUT I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE INCLUDED ALL THE CARS AFFECTED.
Engine, Jun 3, 2018
WHILE DRIVING OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL STALL AND/OR THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE MARCH 2018, WHEN IT WAS FIRST NOTICED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON APR 2018 AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AFTER 3 VISITS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR. ON MAY 26, 2018, THE CAR FAILED AGAIN. THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON THIS TIME WHEREAS, PREVIOUSLY IT DID NOT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. THE THROTTLE VALVE WAS REPLACED PER THE CODE. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUED TO STALL AND FAILED AGAIN. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT DI COME ON - BUT SINCE HAS "RESET" BECAUSE IT IS NOW GONE. MY CONCERN OVER THE STALLING IS THAT IT HAPPENS AT ANY TIME AND AT ANY SPEED. THE REACTION IS AS IF THE CAR IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHERE IT SPITS AND SPUTTERS. IF A SEMI IS BEHIND ME AT 65-70 MPH, THEY WILL RAM INTO ME BECAUSE THE DECREASE IN SPEED WOULD NOT GIVE THEM TIME TO REACT. SO DANGEROUS. SINCE APRIL 2018, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM - 4 TIMES AND NEEDS TO GO BACK AGAIN. BOTTOM LINE - NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO TO CORRECT.
Engine, May 9, 2018
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. STARTS BACK UP
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, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 8, 2017
I WAS WAITING FOR THE RED LIGHT IN THE ROAD. AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL. IT STOPPED THERE. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TO MAKE IT MOVE AGAIN. IT HAPPENED ON 2017 SEP, 11/29/2017 AND 11/30/2017. THREE TIMES ALREADY.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 1, 2017
SAFETY HAZARD AND SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION EXISTS WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ESPECIALLY IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK DOING THE SPEED LIMIT. NUMEROUS TIMES, (12 TIMES BETWEEN 14,000 AND 15,363 MILES) THE 2016 FORD ESCAPE HAS HAD COMPLETE POWER LOSS DURING ACCELERATION CAUSING VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY BEGIN SHAKING, LOSE POWER, LOSE STEERING, LOSE BRAKING AND IMMEDIATELY SHUDDER TO A STOP. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, MESSAGE READS: ENGINE FAULT SERVICE NOW. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO) ENGINE REMAINS RUNNING. IF ONE TRIES TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STUMBLE AND WON'T SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR WITHOUT A VERY HARD TORQUING SOUND. THIS FORD ESCAPE BROKE DOWN IN FRONT OF A FORD DEALER AND THE CODE READ BY THIS DEALERS COMPUTER IS P0322-PCM. ACCORDING TO AN INTERNET SEARCH THE P0322 CODE DEFINITION: IF THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) DETECTS AN ERRATIC, INTERRUPTED, OR OTHERWISE UNEXPECTED INPUT SIGNAL FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR OR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, IT WILL STORE THE P0322 CODE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL BE TURNED ON. ON THIS VEHICLE THE CODE IS ONLY ACTIVE WHEN THE FAULT OCCURS, AND THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CODES DO NOT STORE IN MEMORY. IGNITION CAN BE SHUT OFF, THE WARNING MESSAGE DISAPPEARS AND MANY TIMES THE CAR IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN FOR MILES BEFORE REOCCURRING. THE LEASING DEALER STATES THEY HAVE A PROCESS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR THEY DO NOTHING. USING MY PRINTOUT FROM ANOTHER DEALER WITH THE CODE IS MEANINGLESS TO THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE CONDITION IS LIFE THREATENING. THEY SAY THAT IF I FEEL THE CONDITION IS LIFE THREATENING THEN DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR. A FORMAL CASE HAS BEEN OPENED WITH FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, HOWEVER THEY ONLY NOTIFY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, WHICH HE ALREADY KNOWS.
Engine, Aug 21, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER DUE TO AN ONGOING STRIKE AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,592.
Engine, Apr 8, 2017
LOSING ENGINE COOLANT.
Engine, Jan 5, 2017
CARBON MONOXIDE: THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST FREQUENTLY IN THE VEHICLE. I TURNED ON A MULTI-GAS MONITOR TO FIND CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS AS HIGH AS 100 PPM AND OXYGEN CONCENTRATIONS BELOW 19%. THIS OCCURS AT IDLE AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINDOWS ROLLED UP OR DOWN, AIR ON OR OFF, OR RECIRCULATION ON OR OFF. I DO NOT GET ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH 2011-2014 EXPLORERS BUT NOT MUCH INFORMATION ON THE ESCAPE. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NOT AWARE OF AN ISSUE EITHER. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT IN AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT THE VEHICLE HAS IS A WARNING LIGHT AND REDUCTION OF POWER WHEN THE TURBO CHARGER GETS OVERHEATED. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 7, 2016, crash
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON INTERSTATE 95 WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A 18 WHEELER TRUCK. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT HURT. FORD INSISTS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR
Engine, Nov 8, 2016
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY - THE CAR STALLED OUT ON THE FREEWAY. PRIOR TO STALLING, THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND THEN STALLED.
Engine, Nov 8, 2016
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE NOW LIGHT COME ON. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE DOING 65MPH THIS MORNING WHEN IT CUT OUT. I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT GETTING HIT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERS LIKE IT IS ONLY RUNNING ON ONE CYLINDER. IF I SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT, THE SERVICE ENGINE NOW LIGHT GO OUT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 11,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS THE SERVICE ENGINE NOW LIGHT WAS ON, THEY CANT FIX IT. THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF TWO WEEKS. I AM AFRAID I WILL GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
Engine, Nov 2, 2016
JUST TURNED OVER 9,000 MILES ON MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE "STALLS" AND STARTS TO SHUDDER WITH THE ENGINE FAULT LIGHT COMING ON. NO CONTROL OVER ACCELERATOR. OR STEERING. THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT TURNING ON A BUSY STREET OR TRYING TO GET ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE STREET SINCE THE CAR WOULD HARDLY GO. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT SEEMED FINE. I PULLED BACK ON THE STREET AND IT DID IT AGAIN. PULLED OVER AND DID THE SAME THING, GOT BACK ON THE STREET AND IT STALLED FOR THE 3RD TIME. I PULLED OVER AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER, IT WAS UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD TOLD TODAY IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDED REPLACED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE SITTING DEAD IN THE WATER LIKE THAT ON A BUSY STREET, I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR EVEN KILLED IF I HAD BEEN ON AN INTERSTATE OR BUSY 4 LANE. MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WAS WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH AND IMMEDIATELY CAME TO RESCUE ME!
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 31, 2016
WHILE DRIVING THE FORD ESCAPE ON A MAIN ROAD TODAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO IDLE VERY ROUGH, THE ORANGE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY AS I WAS GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT, WHERE I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND PROCEEDED HOME. I HAVE CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. *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.
Steering, Engine, Sep 19, 2016
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH MY VEHICLE DIED. NO POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS. THE SCREEN SAID 'ENGINE FAULT'. MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND IT RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY. DROVE A LITTLE FURTHER, SAME THING. MANAGED TO GET IT HOME BUT IT DID THIS 4 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND. IT IS AT THE SHOP TODAY BUT THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON NOW SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 12, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED AND A "SERVICE ENGINE" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Aug 9, 2016
LSUDDEN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER UNEXPECTEDLY DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEED. RUFF RUNNING WITHOUT ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. WARING MESSAGE OF "HILL ASSIT" NOT ACTIVATED. VERY DANGEROUS SENARIO WHILE ON INTERSTATE. OCCURRED 3 (THREE) TIMES IN 2 DAYS. CAR WAS A HERTZ RENTAL CAR AND I WAS TOLD, AFTER COMPAINING THAT REQUESTED CAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE, THAT THIS CAR IS BETTER AND MORE RELIABLE THAN MY REQUESTED TOYOTA RAV 4. THINKING BACK IT'S AS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THE ESCAPE'S LIABILITY.