2016 Ford Escape: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 1,046 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 4 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
1,046
Complaints
4
Recalls
32
Crash reports
10
Fire reports
19
Injuries
32.5
Severity index
Severity index 32.5 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 140 2016 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2016 Ford Escape ranks 112 of 140 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 20% of its model-year peers. See the full 2016 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 317 | 30.3% |
| ENGINE | 194 | 18.5% |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 156 | 14.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 143 | 13.7% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 86 | 8.2% |
| STEERING | 71 | 6.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 61 | 5.8% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 56 | 5.4% |
The single most-reported system is POWER TRAIN, cited in 317 of 1,046 complaints (30.3%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2017 | 36 |
| 2018 | 57 |
| 2019 | 85 |
| 2020 | 73 |
| 2021 | 53 |
| 2022 | 157 |
| 2023 | 113 |
| 2024 | 120 |
| 2025 | 145 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 159 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V398000 | 26/06/2017 | AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER | 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 s |
| 22V413000 | 10/06/2022 | POWER 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. |
| 25V695000 | 13/10/2025 | BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA | 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, intermitten |
| 26V011000 | 15/01/2026 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.