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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Ford Escape Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2016 Ford Escape has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,180 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Ford Escape, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2016 Ford Escape owner complaints

Owners have filed 1,180 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Escape, describing incidents dated March 10, 2015 to October 28, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 322 complaints
  • Back Over Prevention 259 complaints
  • Engine 249 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 158 complaints
  • Electrical System 95 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 72 complaints

Of the 1,180 complaints on file, 39 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 1,180 complaints, owners report 21 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11774939 · Filed

    We've been having check engine light on "Cylinder 2 misfire". We had the spark plugs replaced and the ignition coil replaced, which fixed it for about a month, but it returned. We had further diagnostics done with video into cylinder 2 and found that we have engine coolant leaking into the cylinder…

  • ODI #11774560 · Filed

    The back up camera failed three years ago and no longer works. This is a safety hazard when backing up, or parallels parking. A recall was issued more than a year ago. And the remedy is still unavailable.

  • ODI #11774362 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V69500 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was contacted and the contact was informed that a letter would be sent when parts were available for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted but…

Read all 1,180 complaints

Owner-reported

2016 Ford Escape mileage at failure

645 of the 1,180 complaints on file for the 2016 Ford Escape give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Power TrainMedian 90,000 milesMiddle half 70,000–110,000 milesBased on 191 complaints
Back Over PreventionMedian 85,000 milesMiddle half 60,000–115,000 milesBased on 158 complaints
EngineMedian 90,000 milesMiddle half 65,000–115,000 milesBased on 125 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire

NHTSA #26V011000 · Equipment — Electrical — Engine Block Heater · NHTSA notice

Reported January 15, 2026 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 116,672 vehicles

Completion not yet reported (dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 26S01

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Rearview Camera Image May Not Display

NHTSA #25V695000 · Back Over Prevention — Sensing System — Camera · NHTSA notice

Reported October 13, 2025 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 1,448,655 vehicles

Repair completion: 1.33% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 25SA9 · Owners notified January 2, 2026 · Vehicles built through March 20, 2016 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Unintentional Rollaway Due to Detached Shift Cable

NHTSA #22V413000 · Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Gear Position Indication (PRNDL) · NHTSA notice

Reported June 10, 2022 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 2,925,968 vehicles

Repair completion: 73.12% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 22S43 · Owners notified October 27, 2022

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Driver's Knee Air Bag may not Inflate/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #17V398000 · Air Bags — Knee Bolster · NHTSA notice

Reported June 26, 2017 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 3 vehicles

Repair completion: 66.67% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 17C11 · Owners notified August 8, 2017 · Vehicles built December 18, 2015 – December 18, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Ford Escape model years

Check your 2016 Ford Escape VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Escape at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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