Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2016 Ford Escape
NHTSA data on file today
The 2016 Ford Escape has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,180 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V011000 Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V695000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V413000 Unintentional Rollaway Due to Detached Shift Cable NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V398000 Driver's Knee Air Bag may not Inflate/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 322 complaints
- Back Over Prevention 259 complaints
- Engine 202 complaints
- Unknown or Other 158 complaints
- Electrical System 95 complaints
- Steering 71 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).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$13,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2016 Ford Escape exhibits below-average reliability based on 1,156 owner complaints and four recall campaigns involving critical systems such as powertrain and airbags. These highlight potential issues with drivetrain components, rearview cameras, and insufficient knee airbag inflators. The data indicates potential concerns, but the evidence is somewhat limited regarding other failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 80,000-120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| Rearview camera | 50,000-100,000 miles | $400–$800 | common |
| Engine | 90,000-130,000 miles | $3,000–$6,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake inspection and service
- Replace air filters
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system check
- Battery check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine oil leaks
- Transmission slipping
- Unusual vibrations
- Camera display malfunctions
- Delayed gear engagement
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2016 Ford Escape at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.