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: fuel/propulsion system
61 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 20, 2018
WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND BEGIN TO SHUT OFF. IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT WHERE IT WOULD NOT START. WE HAD TO LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES TO RESTART BACK UP FOR ANOTHER 20 MILES OF TRAVEL.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 20, 2018
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND IT STARTING SHUTTING OFF. CAME TO A POINT WHERE IT HAD TO BE SHUT OFF FOR 10 MINUTES TO TRAVEL ANOTHER 20 MILES BEFORE REOCCURRING.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 19, 2018
WHILE TAKING OFF FROM 0 - 20 MPH VEHICLES HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING CAUSING VEHICLE TO ALMOST STALL IN TRAFFIC. HAVE TO PUMP GAS PEDAL REPEATEDLY TO TRY TO GET CAR MOVING. REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES WITH NO REPAIR GIVEN FOR THE PROBLEM OF CAR STALLING WHILE TAKING OFF. HAS DONE THIS SINCE PURCHASED IN 2016 AND CONTINUES UNTIL TODAY. BROUGHT IN FOUR TIMES TO DEALERSHIP CAZENAVE'S MOTOR CO.BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. CONCERNED OF BEING HIT WHILE STALLED IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC OR WHILE APPROACHING ENTRANCES AND EXITS OR WHILE MAKING TURNS. CONCERNED OF BAD ACCIDENT DUE TO VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC.
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.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 16, 2018
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START BACK UP.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 2, 2018
AFTER FUELING CAR STALLS AND DIES.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 17, 2018
HESITATES ON QUICK EXECRATION. MOVING AT ANY SPEED AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. HAPPENS WERE EVER I "HIT THE GAS". BAD WHEN I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY!
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.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 28, 2017
CAR SUDDENLY STARTED SHUDDERING AT 45 MPH, LOST ALL POWER, SERVICE ENGINE NOW LIGHT ON, CAR WAS NO RESPONDING TO ANY ACTIONS .
Fuel/propulsion system, May 24, 2016
ON THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME WITH A CARLOAD OF KIDS. THEY WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET WHEN THE CAR SLOWWED RAPIDLY AND THE ENGINE DIED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND GET TO THE CURB AFTER TRAFFIC PASSED. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE CASE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER A MILE AWAY BY MISSED BADLY ASK THE WAY THERE. THE DEALER MECHANIC WAS ALSO STRANDED IN THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY AND IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE BAD. FORTUNATELY IT WAS LATE WHEN OUR INCIDENT OCCURRED; DURING RUSH HOUR THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 5, 2016
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN BACKING UP. PROBLEM IS PERIODIC BUT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE CAR WOULD BE SLOW TO REACT TO EMERGENCIES SUCH AS BACKING FROM INTERSECTION WHEN IT OCCURS. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP AND MOST OFTEN WHEN GOING FROM FORWARD TO STOP TO BACKING. WHILE PARKING THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL AND THEN LURCH BACKWARDS.