2016 Ford ESCAPE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,107 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
77,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 610 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 307 of 1,107 complaints (27.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 311 | 28.1% |
| Steering behavior | 79 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 75 | 6.8% |
| Braking behavior | 59 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 39 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 307 |
| Engine | 197 |
| Back Over Prevention | 170 |
| Unknown Or Other | 150 |
| Electrical System | 88 |
| Steering | 71 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 61 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 51 |
Power Train: 307; Engine: 197; Back Over Prevention: 170; Unknown Or Other: 150; Electrical System: 88; Steering: 71; Fuel/Propulsion System: 61; Engine And Engine Cooling: 51
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 85 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 73 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 133 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 142 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 141 |
| 150,000 and above | 36 |
Under 25,000: 85; 25,000 to 49,999: 73; 50,000 to 74,999: 133; 75,000 to 99,999: 142; 100,000 to 149,999: 141; 150,000 and above: 36
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (142). 497 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2017 | 36 |
| 2018 | 57 |
| 2019 | 85 |
| 2020 | 73 |
| 2021 | 53 |
| 2022 | 157 |
| 2023 | 113 |
| 2024 | 122 |
| 2025 | 145 |
| 2026 | 218 |
2015: 1; 2016: 47; 2017: 36; 2018: 57; 2019: 85; 2020: 73; 2021: 53; 2022: 157; 2023: 113; 2024: 122; 2025: 145; 2026: 218
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 311 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 79 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 75 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10840053 · 2016-03-05 (March 5, 2016)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN BACKING UP. PROBLEM IS PERIODIC BUT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE CAR WOULD BE SLOW TO REACT TO EMERGENCIES SUCH AS BACKING FROM INTERSECTION WHEN IT OCCURS. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP AND MOST OFTEN WHEN GOING FROM FORWARD TO STOP TO BACKING. WHILE PARKING THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL AND THEN LURCH BACKWARDS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10840053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874589 · 2016-06-16 (June 16, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR SPINDLES WERE RUSTED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28....UPDATED 01/24/17 *BF CONSUMER STATED EXCESSIVE RUST TRANSMISSION, BURNING WIRES, SLIPPING BRAKE FAILURE UPDATED 06/12/18*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 28 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874589 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10851954 · 2016-03-28 (March 28, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 NEAR BRADENTON IN FL. 1:00 P.M. PERFECTLY CLEAR & DRY DAY. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, SENT MY FORD INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN, CAR CAME TO A STOP AT A WIRE GUARD RAIL. I DIDN'T HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, SO I HAVE NO RECALL. THIS HAPPENED NEAR A CONSTRUCTION AREA & ALL I REMEMBER IS TRAFFIC SLOWING, PERHAPS I WAS GOING 45-50 MPH, & IN PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT & SIDE NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY HEAD/FACE APPARENTLY HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THEREFORE …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,778 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885168 · 2016-07-15 (July 15, 2016)
DRIVING MY FAMILY HOME FROM A VACATION, I LOST MY POWER STEERING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. THE VEHICLE HAS 2557 MILES ON IT. THE DASHBOARD INDICATED, "STEERING ASSIST OFF - SERVICE REQUIRED - I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND FEARED FOR MY SAFETY, THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE TURNPIKE. I CALLED MY DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS FLAT BEDDED IN TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP. I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY KNOWN ISSUES RELATED TO STEERING WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,557 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10875283 · 2016-06-20 (June 20, 2016)
TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING FUNNY AROUND 5 MONTHS AFTER GETTING MY ESCAPE. I WOULD PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT WOULD JERK OR NOT GO INTO GEAR A FEW SECONDS. THEN IT STARTED SHUDDERING WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IT. AT FIRST MAYBE A FEW TIMES A DAY. YESTERDAY IT STARTED SHUDDERING AND JERKING ALL DAY. AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HIT ME OR I HAD HIT SOMETHING AS MY CAR LITERALLY WENT FORWARD AND A LOUD CLUNK WAS HEARD FROM BEHIND. SCARED BOTH ME AND MY PASSENGER AS IT FELT LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING. I AM REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS THING BECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,220 miles reported. Look up ODI 10875283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896161 · 2016-08-15 (August 15, 2016)
ON MAY 6, 2016 WE PURCHASED A 2016 FORD ESCAPE TITANIUM 2.0 AWD. ON 6/22/16 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO A SHUDDERING WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND GAS IS APPLIED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF SEYMOUR FORD OF JACKSON , MI, WHO HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL, PERFORMED A REPROGRAM OF THE PCM. ON 8/15/16 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN WITH THE SAME SHUDDERING COMPLAINT. SEYMOUR PHONED THE FORD HOT LINE TO ASCERTAIN IF THERE WERE ANY ADDITIONAL RECALLS. SEYMOUR WAS ADVISED BY FORD TO COMPARE LIKE VEHICLES ON THEIR LOT. THEY TEST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10896161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838238 · 2017-10-02 (October 2, 2017)
2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE VEHICLE THAT WAS AGREED UPON. BUT, PROVIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE CONSUMER'S MEDICAL OR PERSONAL REQUESTS. UPDATED 10/2/2017*JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10838238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10892299 · 2016-08-01 (August 1, 2016)
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT 35 MPH THEN ENGINE DIED, SERVICE ENGINE NOW LIGHT CAME ON, MESSAGE CENTER SAID CONTACT DEALER. RESTARTED AFTER PUT IN PARK. CHECKED FOR CODES WITH GENERIC SCAN TOOL, OBD2 CODE P2112 IN MEMORY. CONTACTED DEALER PURCHASED FROM FOR SERVICE. WAS TOLD NO CODES, BUT BATTERY HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED, CLOCK WAS RESET AND ALL RADIO PRESETS ERASED AND BLUETOOTH ERASED.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10892299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11112551 · 2018-07-20 (July 20, 2018)
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING SPEED LIMIT WHEN IT STARTED TO SHUT DOWN. IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND LASTED LONGER TO START AND TO STAY RUNNING. WHEN SHUT DOWN FOR 10 MINUTES IT WOULD TRAVEL ABOUT 20 MILES BEFORE HAVING ISSUES ONCE AGAIN. FOUND OUT WHEN THE FUEL HAS UNDER A HALF A TANK THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE FREQUENT. THIS TIME THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL BUT IT STARTED ACTING UP.
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322462 · 2020-04-27 (April 27, 2020)
DRIVING DOWN VERY BUSY STREET AND VEHICLE STALLED AS I PULLED UP TO TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CAME TO A STOP. AS MANY AS 3-4 TIMES I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED WHILE TRYING TO GET VEHICLE STARTED. PROBLEM SEEMED TO ONLY OCCUR WHEN FUEL TANK IS BELOW 1/2 TANK AND I WOULD NOTICE FUEL FILL PORT FLAPPER VIBRATING AND SUCKING AIR INTO FUEL TANK. THE FORD FOCUS HAS THIS RECALL ON THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE, WHY NOT ON A FORD ESCAPE. SAME PART USED ON BOTH. THIS PROBLEM WENT ON FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE I COULD GET VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322462 at NHTSA ↗