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
1,124 reports, newest first.
Back over prevention, Feb 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to reverse(R), the rearview camera became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the rearview camera image appeared upside down. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,500.
Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Feb 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel indicated that the engine was overheating. While driving at 35 MPH, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, where the vehicle experienced complete engine failure. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that coolant was leaking into the engine because of a fault in the engine block. The engine needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that it was a known failure with the vehicle and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The engine block failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V011000 (Equipment); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed through an online complaint of the failure; however, the contact was not able to speak with a representative. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Power train, Feb 19, 2026
Transmission failed at 83000 miles with no warning or prior issues. I was driving home from work and the vehicle completely stalled out in traffic. Had it towed to a shop and was quoted nearly the cost that the vehicle is worth to have the transmission replaced.
Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2026
I stopped at the end of my road and went to take a left and my car was in the road and didn’t want to go. Luckily I wasn’t hit and I got it out of the road. I believe it’s from the transmission.
Back over prevention, Feb 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera screen illuminated at start-up, but failed to display the image of the rear of the vehicle as needed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.
Back over prevention, Feb 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's ability to safely drive the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated, or messages of failure displayed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Engine, Feb 11, 2026
Description of Incident: While operating the vehicle, the Check Engine Light (CEL) illuminated. I took the vehicle to an authorized dealership, where a diagnostic scan revealed fault code P0247. The dealership confirmed that the wastegate solenoid has failed. Safety Risk: The failure of the wastegate solenoid prevents the Engine Control Unit (ECU) from properly managing turbocharger boost levels. This results in "limp mode" or a significant reduction in acceleration and engine performance. Furthermore, improper boost regulation poses a long-term risk of catastrophic engine damage, which could lead to a stall or fire while the vehicle is in motion. Additional Information: DTC Code: P0247 (Turbocharger Wastegate Solenoid B) Symptoms: Check Engine Light, diminished throttle response. Repair Status: Confirmed by dealership diagnostic and completed.
Back over prevention, Feb 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed an upside-down image. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
Back over prevention, Feb 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Protection); however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Back over prevention, Feb 10, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was initially blurry and then became inverted while in reverse(R). The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,200.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Feb 6, 2026
Recall issue: The vehicle failed and became disabled due to the shift cable bushing while in a parking lot on private property, with driver in the vehicle. The gear would not shift or go into park and continued to roll forward until either I hit the curb or applied the brake. Ford will not pay for the tow or diagnostic fee to have the problem diagnosed at another body shop (before I knew of the recall) Ford will not replace shift cable, only install protective cap. Recall issue: rearview camera displays distorted images, and does not always show rear view when backing up. It shows blank sometimes, and forward when reversing. Visibility unclear when backing. Ford will not replace as they say they do not have the parts to replace. This leaves the vehicle at high risk for safety issues.
Equipment, Back over prevention, Feb 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The rearview camera failure was intermittent. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 26V011000 (Equipment); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.
Exterior lighting, Back over prevention, Feb 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that within a year of purchasing the vehicle, the reverse lights failed to illuminate while shifted into reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to a dealer for service; however, the mechanic informed the contact that the dealer was unaware of how to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the rearview camera occasionally displayed an upside-down image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, and the dealer was unaware of how to fix the vehicle. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Power train, Feb 3, 2026
Transmission failed. This is the third transmission in this car, which only has 130,000 miles and has been well-maintained. This transmission failure happened in a busy downtown area with evening traffic (lower visibility, lots of cars, lots of people, lots of angry and impatient drivers as car stopped working in busy area). I am lucky that I was not rear ended during the sudden failure.
Back over prevention, Jan 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The back-over prevention camera had started to fail, and the image was blurry. The contact called the local dealer for several months to check on parts availability. The dealer informed the contact that the part was not available, and another notification would be sent when the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.
Back over prevention, Jan 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted to reverse, the screen displayed an upside-down image. No warning light was illuminated. Several local dealers were contacted, including Chalmers Ford (2500 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Corrales, NM 87048), Rich Ford Sales (8601 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112); however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Back over prevention, Jan 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rear-view camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). In addition, the alarm to warn the driver when a pedestrian was walking behind the vehicle or if an oncoming vehicle was behind the vehicle, failed to function as intended. The message "Rear-view camera Unavailable" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering, Jan 28, 2026
Steering went out suddenly and i was unable to move my steering wheel in the middle of driving. I had no warning lights or other symptoms before losing steering.
Back over prevention, Jan 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a white screen. The contact stated that it was difficult to see what was behind the vehicle. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Service brakes, Jan 26, 2026
I bought a 2016 Ford Escape SE 2 Days ago and just found out it had no back Brake Pads of any measurable thickness, and the Front Brake Pads were nearly as thin. Does not meet Oregon Used Car Sales Laws. Can you help me ? Call the Dealer so they fix them ? Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 24, 2026
I have replaced the transmission due to the toque converter acting up and then failing. I have replaced now 3 coolant parts as well due to leaking and constant overheating and have replaced the block once as well.
Back over prevention, Jan 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that occasionally there was no image displayed on the screen, or the image was frozen. The failures had occurred several months before receiving the recall notification. The local dealer was contacted several times, and the contact was informed that parts for the recall repair were still not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Back over prevention, Jan 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera was inoperable. The stated that the rearview camera displayed an intermittent and brief image. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 22, 2026
I have a 2016 Ford Escape SE with the Ecoboost engine. I have been experiencing the same issue with misfires in port 4 which also shows an open circuit every time as well for over the past year. The dealership has replaced everything underneath including but not limited to my spark plugs, wires, coils, and even my entire wiring harness. The issue is still happening and they do not know what is causing it. I think my vehicle may fall under the complaint failure FORD currently has on their 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 Ecoboost engines. It has been to the dealership for the same repairs over 8 different times. When is enough actually enough. I have lost power several times in traffic and it's like slamming on my brakes. This is how bad the misfire is. My check engine light has been flashing due to this issue as well as being on solid. Please help or advise.
Back over prevention, Jan 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank image. The contact stated that the message “Camera not Available” was displayed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer prior to the recall. The contact was informed that the rear-view camera screen display needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was recently contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.