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: steering
71 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Apr 29, 2019
STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED MESSAGE SHOWED UP DURING A ROAD TRIP APPROX 325 MILES AWAY FROM HOME ON STARTUP AFTER A REST STOP. STEERING WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. FAULT CLEARED AFTER RESTARTING CAR SEVERAL TIMES, AND STEERING PERFORMANCE WAS BACK TO NORMAL. CONTINUED HOME, WHILE STOPPING THE CAR FOR FUEL ONCE AND TURNING OFF AND BACK ON THE ENGINE, WITH NO FAULT. UPON ARRIVING HOME, FAULT APPEARED NEXT TIME ON VEHICLE STARTUP. FAULT DOES NOT CLEAR ANYMORE. STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT.
Steering, Sep 26, 2018
WHEN STARTING THE CAR AN ALERT POPPED UP STATING "STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". THE STEERING WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING THE MESSAGE CLEARED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 27100 MILES. FORD STATES THAT THE STEERING GEAR HAS FAILED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE MOVING IT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS
Steering, Jul 23, 2018
VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN DRIVING, I STOPPED, TURNED CAR OFF, AND AFTER 5 MINUTES TURNED CAR BACK ON. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON, CAR WAS STATIONARY AND A MEMO FLASHED ON DASHBOARD INDICATING 'AUTOMATIC STEERING FAILURE'. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE I NOTED THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULDN'T MOVE OUT OF ITS STATIONARY POSITION. CAR WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Steering, Apr 25, 2018
WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT NEARLY 70 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS VERY HARD TO TURNBACK TO THE LEFT. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
Steering, Apr 25, 2018
WHEN DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT NEARLY 70 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS VERY HARD TO TURNBACK TO THE LEFT. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
Steering, Apr 20, 2018
WHEN DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AT NEARLY 70 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
Steering, Mar 13, 2018
THE CAR HAS ONLY 36,400 MILES AND THE STEERING SENSOR IS COMING ON AND WHEN DOSE IT MAKES THE CAR HARDER TO STEER. YOU HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO RESET THE POWER STEERING SENSOR. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ABOUT EVERY DAY NOW.
Steering, Dec 30, 2017
3 TIMES THIS LAST THREE DAYS I'VE GOTTEN A STEERING ASSIST FAULT AFTER STARTING VECHILE.FIRST TIME STEERING WAS DIFFICULT FOR ONLY A VERY SHORT PERIOD.2ND AND 3RD TIMES I HAD TO STOP AND RESTART VECHILE THEN IT WAS OK.ALL THREE TIMES WHERE FROM STARTUP.
Steering, Dec 14, 2017
I HAD THE VEHICLE PARK AT WORK AND WHEN I START THE CAR THE INFORMATION CENTER FROM THE VEHICLE ANNOUNCED THAT THE POWER STEERING IT NEEDS REPAIR. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD AND THE POWER STEERING IS GONE.
Steering, Oct 16, 2017, crash
2ND REFERENCE TO 11032043, ROBERTS FORD COULD NOT FIND ANY FAULTS IN THE ECU, ONLY SHOWED A SENSOR ERROR. WAS DRIVING THE SUV ON 10/15/17 AT 1215HRS WHEN I TURNED A 22 DEG TURN AT 15MPH AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WENT THOUGH A DITCH, MISSED A TREE AND FINALLY STOPPED 7 FT FROM SOMEONE'S HOME. #FORDMOTORS NOT VERY HAPPY, 25 YEARS OF FORD PRODUCTS AND ALL I GET IS, WE WILL LOOK INTO IT. OH, WOKE UP THIS MORNING, TURNED THE CAR ON, GUESS WHAT, NO POWER STEERING.
Steering, Oct 6, 2017
IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE HAD A FAULT CODE, STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. 4 TIMES IN MY DRIVEWAY UPON START UP, ALMOST DROVE OFF DRIVEWAY DOWN 20 FOOT CREEK. ONE OF THEM WHILE TRAVELING FROM A 55MPH STATE ROUTE TRYING TO TURN RIGHT, SLOWED TO BELOW 20 MPH AND TRIED TO TURN WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN, I TRAVELED ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO A GRAVEL ENTRANCE FOR TRACTORS INTO THE FIELD. I HAD TO LOCK THE BRAKES UP AND SLID INTO THE CORN FIELD. ONCE STOPPED, I TURNED THE ESCAPE OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR 10 MINUTES, RESTARTED THE ESCAPE AND BACKED OUT ONTO THE ROAD SAFELY. I AM AT ROBERTS FORD IN ALTON, IL. THE CODE IS NOT SHOWING, (SO SAYS THE SERVICE WRITER, SO FORD IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR. THE DATE BELOW IS THE LAST TIME IN WHICH THIS HAS HAPPEN. SAFETY BEFORE PRODUCTION, MUST BE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY FAMILY OR THE PUBLIC. TIME FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.
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 .
Steering, Jul 4, 2017
2016 FORD ESCAPE WITH 5770 MILES. STARTED CAR AND HAD STEERING ASSIST FAULT. NO POWER STEERING. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING UNIT DUE TO A STEERING CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS IT WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. REPAIR COVERED BY WARRANTY. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE.
Steering, Apr 3, 2017
POWER STEERING GEAR FAILED CAUSING CAR TO LOOSE POWER STEERING. CAR WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. PULLED THE CAR OVER. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED 2 MINUTES. TURNED CAR BACK ON AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK ON. DROVE TO DEALER WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUE. THEY REPLACED STEERING GEAR.
Steering, Mar 8, 2017
IN JULY,, 2016 THE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED WHERE THEY FOUND A "FAULTY STEERING RACK" THAT, I ASSUME WAS REPAIRED. TODAY, MARCH 8, 2017 I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE IN TOWN AND THE "STEERING ASSIST FAULT" SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. IT WAS, AGAIN, TOWED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY, BOTH TIMES I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC BUT ON A SIDE STREET. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE ON A HIGHWAY OR A MAJOR ROAD THINGS MAY HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY AND COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE-THREATENING.
Steering, Feb 13, 2017
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP ON PAVED HIGHWAY. VEHICLE ALSO PULLS TO RIGHT DURING LOWER GEAR SHIFTS UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION ON PAVED HIGHWAY.
Steering, Dec 9, 2016
THE 2016 FORD ESCAPE DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT, I CHECKED FOR IT. IT NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES HAS DEVELOPED WHAT I WOULD CALL TORQUE STEER. IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT UPON FAIRLY HARD OR SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION. MY AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO DO THIS AND CLAIM THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND NO REPAIRS NEEDED.
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.
Steering, Jul 25, 2016
STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING. COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING WITH ONLY 1186 MILES ON THE CAR. OWNED IT LESS THAN 2 MONTHS.
Steering, Jul 19, 2016
IN FOLLOW UP TO MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT NUMBER 10885168, STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION WHILE OPERATING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW STEERING RACK AT 2500 MILES.
Steering, Jul 15, 2016
DRIVING MY FAMILY HOME FROM A VACATION, I LOST MY POWER STEERING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. THE VEHICLE HAS 2557 MILES ON IT. THE DASHBOARD INDICATED, "STEERING ASSIST OFF - SERVICE REQUIRED - I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND FEARED FOR MY SAFETY, THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE TURNPIKE. I CALLED MY DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS FLAT BEDDED IN TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP. I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY KNOWN ISSUES RELATED TO STEERING WITH MY YEAR AND MODEL FORD. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NONE FOR THE 2016 AT THIS TIME, THERE WAS A HUGE RECALL WITH THE 2014 FORD ESCAPE FOR THIS SAME STEERING ASSIST ISSUE. HOPEFULLY, NOBODY WILL GO THROUGH WHAT I DID. THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE EASILY CALLED A MAJOR ACCIDENT.