2016 Ford Escape problems and recalls

Owners have filed 1,102 complaints on the 2016 Ford Escape, and NHTSA has issued 4 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (319 complaints).

1,102
Complaints
4
Recalls
36
Crash reports
10
Fire reports
19
Injuries
34.7
Severity index

Severity index 34.7 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 34.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 126 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 11% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 319 complaints (28.9%)319 29%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 198 complaints (18.0%)198 18%EngineEngine: 197 complaints (17.9%)197 18%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 150 complaints (13.6%)150 14%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 91 complaints (8.3%)91 8%SteeringSteering: 71 complaints (6.4%)71 6%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 61 complaints (5.5%)61 6%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 56 complaints (5.1%)56 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN31928.9%
BACK OVER PREVENTION19818.0%
ENGINE19717.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15013.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM918.3%
STEERING716.4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM615.5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING565.1%

Complaints filed per year

01102202015: 12016: 472017: 362018: 572019: 852020: 732021: 532022: 1572023: 1132024: 1202025: 1452026: 215 (partial year)151617181920212223242526215
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20151
201647
201736
201857
201985
202073
202153
2022157
2023113
2024120
2025145
2026 (year to date)215
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (378 against 283).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V39800026/06/2017AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTERFord 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 s
22V41300010/06/2022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)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.
25V69500013/10/2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAFord 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, intermitten
26V01100015/01/2026EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATERFord 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.

Other Ford Escape model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.