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Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

2016 Ford Escape — Known Issues & Recalls

4 Recalls951 Owner Complaints8 Categories Affected
951
Total Complaints
4
Open Recalls
30
Crashes
10
Fires
19
Injuries

Complaints from Jan 2025 to Dec 2025

The most reported issue is power train problems (256 complaints). 30 complaints involved crashes. 10 involved fires.

Open Safety Recalls (4)

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 17V398000

Component: 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 such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Oct 2022

NHTSA Campaign: 22V413000

Component: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 25V695000

Component: 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, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 26V011000

Component: 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.

Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 951)

Back Over Prevention12 issues
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Apr 2026

Your rear-view camera stops working when you shift into reverse, even after switching between reverse and park multiple times. This is a safety feature designed to help prevent backing accidents, and your Ford dealer has informed you that the recall fix for this issue isn't available yet. The repair will likely involve replacing or reprogramming the camera system or its wiring connections.

NHTSA #: 11728479
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your 2016 Ford Escape's display screen is unexpectedly turning on and off repeatedly, even after you shut off the vehicle, which is draining your battery. This is related to a recall (Campaign 25V695000) for the back-over prevention system, but Ford hasn't made the repair parts available yet despite what you feel is an unreasonable delay. Your battery has had to be replaced three times due to this issue, and your dealer has confirmed the parts aren't in stock to fix it.

NHTSA #: 11728251
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rear-view camera isn't displaying a clear image when you put the car in reverse. Ford has issued a recall (Campaign 25V695000) to address this back-over prevention issue, but the replacement part isn't available yet, and the manufacturer hasn't provided a timeline for the repair. Your dealer is aware of the problem, and you should follow up on the recall status since your vehicle hasn't been repaired yet. The fix will likely involve replacing or recalibrating the rear-view camera system.

NHTSA #: 11727880
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rear-view camera displays an upside-down image when you put the car in reverse, and then the screen goes black. Restarting the vehicle temporarily fixes it, but the problem happens again shortly after. This is a known issue covered under a Ford recall, but the repair hasn't been completed yet.

NHTSA #: 11727429
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rear-view camera occasionally goes black or displays an upside-down image when you put your car in reverse, making it difficult to see behind you safely. This is a known issue covered by a manufacturer recall, but Ford has taken longer than expected to contact you about getting it fixed. The problem appeared around 60,000 miles on your vehicle. The fix will likely involve recalibrating or replacing the rear-view camera system.

NHTSA #: 11726954
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your 2016 Ford Escape's rear-view camera is showing a blank or distorted image instead of a clear view. Ford issued a recall (Campaign 25V695000) to fix this back-over prevention system, but the replacement part hasn't been available yet at your dealer. You've been waiting longer than expected for the repair to be completed.

NHTSA #: 11725914
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rear-view camera displays a black screen when you put your car in reverse, blocking your view and making it unsafe to back up. More recently, your radio screen also went black. Ford has issued a recall for this issue, but the replacement part isn't available yet, and you're concerned about the delayed repair timeline. The fix will likely involve replacing the camera module or display unit once the part becomes available.

NHTSA #: 11724604
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

You received a Ford safety recall notice in October 2025 about your back-over prevention system (Recall 25V695), but six months later Ford hasn't resolved the issue. You're concerned that Ford isn't prioritizing customer safety and believe the company needs to face penalties to force faster action on this recall.

NHTSA #: 11724667
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rear-view camera stopped working and won't display an image on your screen when you try to back up. There's a recall (Campaign 25V695000) for this issue, but your dealer says replacement parts aren't available yet—the manufacturer has only distributed parts for Mustang vehicles so far. You may want to contact Ford directly to check on part availability and timing for this recall repair.

NHTSA #: 11723784
highBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rearview camera image appears blurry or unclear when you shift into reverse. Ford has issued a recall to fix this back-over prevention system, but the required repair parts weren't available when you tried to get it done at the dealer. You're concerned that Ford has taken too long to make these parts available for the recall work.

NHTSA #: 11723607
mediumBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

You received a recall notice for your 2016 Ford Escape related to back-over prevention, but the dealership told you the replacement part isn't available yet. You're concerned that Ford has taken too long to make the part available for the repair.

NHTSA #: 11725260
mediumBACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

You received a recall notice for your 2016 Ford Escape related to back-over prevention, but the dealership told you the required repair part isn't available yet. You feel the manufacturer has taken too long to make this part available for the recall repair.

NHTSA #: 11724917
Unknown Or Other2 issues
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2026

Your car is leaking oil from the rear main seal and the transaxle. You noticed that Ford issued a recall for this same problem on older models in the 2000s and are wondering if your 2016 should be covered under that recall. Fixing this will likely involve replacing the rear main seal and inspecting the transaxle for leaks, which may require transmission work.

NHTSA #: 11724479
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rear backup camera display is showing distorted or upside-down images, and sometimes it doesn't appear at all. This makes it difficult to see behind your vehicle when backing up. The fix will likely involve checking the camera connection, replacing the camera unit itself, or updating the infotainment system software.

NHTSA #: 11723986
Seat Belts,engine,back Over Prevention1 issue
criticalSEAT BELTS,ENGINE,BACK OVER PREVENTION
Filed: Mar 2026

Your 2016 Ford Escape has multiple issues that haven't been repaired. The rear-view camera displays a distorted or unavailable image when backing up, which blocks your view and makes it unsafe to reverse. The front passenger seat belt won't retract properly after unbuckling. Additionally, your engine recently stalled with the check engine light on, and afterward you noticed a strong fuel smell coming through the air vents and an unusually low oil level, suggesting excessive oil consumption. These issues require a dealer inspection to diagnose the camera malfunction, seat belt mechanism, engine stalling, and oil leak or burning problem.

NHTSA #: 11726406
Power Train,unknown Or Other1 issue
criticalPOWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2026

Your car rolls forward or backward when it's parked and turned off, which suggests the parking brake or transmission isn't holding properly. Additionally, your car won't accelerate beyond 5 mph and makes a whining noise when you try to drive. This combination of issues points to a serious transmission or drivetrain problem that needs immediate professional diagnosis.

NHTSA #: 11725259
Engine1 issue
criticalENGINE
Filed: Mar 2026

Your check engine light came on just 2 weeks after purchase. After multiple repair attempts—including spark plug replacement and a $500+ dealership service—the light kept returning. The Ford dealership diagnosed a manufacturing defect: holes throughout the engine are allowing antifreeze to mix with oil, which eventually caused the engine to fail completely after 6 months of driving. Fixing this issue would require replacing the entire engine, with no guarantee the new one wouldn't have the same problem.

NHTSA #: 11723471
Electrical System,vehicle Speed Control,engine1 issue
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Mar 2026

While driving in late February, you noticed white smoke coming from your exhaust, followed by your car losing engine power. This combination of symptoms suggests a significant engine or fuel system issue that requires immediate diagnosis. A mechanic will need to inspect your engine, exhaust system, and fuel delivery components to determine the cause.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11726398
Unknown Or Other,fuel/propulsion System1 issue
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2026

Your transmission failed unexpectedly at 101,000 miles while you were driving, requiring a complete rebuild. Additionally, your EVAP purge valve failed without warning, causing your car to stall or not start when you tried to refuel. Both components may need inspection or replacement to restore normal operation.

NHTSA #: 11725309
Steering,suspension,unknown Or Other1 issue
highSTEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2026

Your rear camera is not working. Additionally, you're experiencing an issue with your rack and pinion steering system. The repair will likely involve diagnosing the camera system and inspecting or replacing the rack and pinion assembly.

NHTSA #: 11725360

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