2016 FORD ESCAPE Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Escape. This model year has 968 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2016 Ford Escape Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Uncategorized Issues
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Ford Escape. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 312 | 5 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 237 | 3 | 6 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 130 | 4 | 2 | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 110 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 82 | 1 | 3 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 67 | 4 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 60 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 32 | 6 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 32 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 22 | 11 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 20 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 20 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 3 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Escape. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 968 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
Unknown
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image failed to function properly and only intermittently operated. The contact stated that the rearview ca…
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 local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the message to take the vehicle to the dealer for service was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The veh…
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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceede…
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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera intermittently operated, and the message “Camera not Available” was displayed. The contact received notific…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rearview camera was inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was i…
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 contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the reca…
See attached document for complaint.
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 local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exc…
Known coolant intrusion, blowing white smoke, blown head gasket
2016 Ford Escape with 50,000 miles developed transmission fault codes P0741 and P1744, indicating torque converter clutch failure. A transmission fault alert appeared on the dashboard with erratic shifting and slipping while driving, creating an unsafe driving condition. The vehi…
My Backup Camera has not worked for 2 years and I have a recall notice from October of 2025 for this exact issues and the recall has not been remedied.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image failed to function properly, and the image was intermittently displayed. The contact received notif…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that on several occasions while in reverse (R), the rear-view camera image was either upside down, blank, or distorted. The vehicl…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the camera had started failing months prior to receiving the recall letter. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed tha…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact shifted from reverse(R) to park(P) several times; however, the back over prevention camera was inoperable. The contact received notifica…
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 fo…
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 while in reverse, the rear-view camera failed to display a c…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Ford Escape.
Recalls for 2016 Ford Escape
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Escape. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2016 Ford Escape — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2016 Ford Escape reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2016 Ford Escape has 968 NHTSA owner complaints, 31 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (312 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Escape?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (312 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (237 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (130 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Ford Escape?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2016 Ford Escape?▾
The 2016 Ford Escape has 31 crash-related complaints and 10 fire reports out of 968 total NHTSA complaints. 19 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2016 Ford Escape have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Ford Escape. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2016 Ford Escape?▾
The 2016 Ford Escape has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Escape reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2016 Ford Escape
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.