CarRecallWatchThe 2016 Ford Escape has 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 1,180 complaints with NHTSA, including 39 crashes, 10 fires, 21 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Power Train (326 reports).
2016 Ford Escape recalls
Engine Block Heater Can Crack and Cause Electrical Fire
The engine block heater in certain Ford Escape, Focus, and Lincoln MKC vehicles with a 2.0L engine may crack and develop a coolant leak.
Rearview camera may show blank or distorted image
The rearview camera on certain vehicles may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Shifter Bushing May Fail, Causing Unexpected Movement
A bushing that connects the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade or detach on certain 2013-2021 Ford vehicles.
Driver's knee airbag may not inflate in a crash
Some 2016 Escape vehicles were built with driver's knee airbag modules that lack the gas-generating material needed to inflate the bag.
Most common 2016 Ford Escape problems
Problem areas named in the 1,180 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 326 |
| Back Over Prevention | 264 |
| Engine | 201 |
| Unknown Or Other | 158 |
| Electrical System | 95 |
| Steering | 73 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 62 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 57 |
| Wheels | 35 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 |
What owners report
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.
Was sold a 2016 ford escape that apparently has a known coolant leak issue that is caused by a bad engine block. When I bought the car in 2021 I had to wait two weeks to get the car so they could fix a cylinder misfire issue. Had several issues with it overheating and was told that it just needed coolant added. In 2026 was told that the head gaskets was blown and to repair would cost $9000 at the same ford dealership where I bought it. I had another Authorized NAPA Garage replace the head gaskets for $5000 and with in a week had misfire on cylinder #4 again while on the freeway doing 55 MPH which caused the car to stall on the freeway in traffic! Started investigating the issues to find
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. While reversing, there was a delay in the back over prevention camera displaying an image, almost causing the contact to reverse into a pole. The failure mileage was 119,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While reversing, the rear-view camera intermittently failed to display an image. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2016 Ford Escape questions
Does the 2016 Ford Escape have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2016 Ford Escape: Engine Block Heater Can Crack and Cause Electrical Fire; Rearview camera may show blank or distorted image; Shifter Bushing May Fail, Causing Unexpected Movement; Driver's knee airbag may not inflate in a crash. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Escape?
Based on 1,180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (326), Back Over Prevention (264), Engine (201).
How do I check if a recall on my 2016 Ford Escape has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.