2016 Ford ESCAPE: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE WILL CHATTER AND VIBRATE WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE MODE TO GO FORWARD, EVEN WHEN TOTALLY STOPPED TO GO FORWARD. BANGS IN WHEN APPLYING GAS LIGHT OR HARD TRYING TO GET OUT OF WAY OF ON APPROACHING TRAFFIC IN STREET AND PARKING SPOTS. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN JULY 2015 STARTED FROM DAY 1WITH PROBLEM, TAKEN IT TO FORD DEALER 3 TIMES THEY KNOW OF PROBLEM, SAYS CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAY FORD HAS THEIR HANDS TIED UP AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE TO HAVE IT FIXED YET. THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10779154 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

VEHICLE WILL CHATTER AND VIBRATE WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE MODE TO GO FORWARD, EVEN WHEN TOTALLY STOPPED TO GO FORWARD. BANGS IN WHEN APPLYING GAS LIGHT OR HARD TRYING TO GET OUT OF WAY OF ON APPROACHING TRAFFIC IN STREET AND PARKING SPOTS. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN JANUARY 2016 STARTED FROM DAY 1 WITH PROBLEM, HAVE NOT TOKEN TO FORD DEALER YET BUT I DID CALL THEM THEY KNOW OF PROBLEM, SAYS CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAY FORD HAS THEIR HANDS TIED UP AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE TO HAVE IT FIXED THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10852761 at NHTSA ↗

BROUGHT 2016 IN NOVEMBER 2015 AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND OFF ON STREETS OR HIGHWAY AND STAYED ON ALWAYS. TRUCK BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 3/22/16 TIL 4/13/16 THAN 4/19/16 TIL DATE. REASONS REPLACED COMPUTER PCM, REPAIRED WIRE TWICE, REPLACE CHIPS, REPLACE WIRE AGAIN. MCCARTHY FORD AND REGIONAL MANAGER NOT GOOD WITH FOLLOW UPS OR GOOD FAITH AGREEMENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10862552 at NHTSA ↗

PERIODICALLY (COUPLE TIMES A WEEK), THE REAR CAMERA VIEW DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE. DURING THE DAY, THE FAULT MEANS TEMPERATURE, AUDIO AND NAVIGATION CONTROLS CAN'T BE USED AND THE CONSTANT REAR CAMERA VIEW IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD IS DISTRACTING WHEN THE CAR IS IN FORWARD MOTION. AT NIGHT, THE FAULT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE GLARE OF HEADLIGHTS FROM FOLLOWING CARS DOMINATES THE LARGE CENTER OF THE INTERNAL CONTROLS. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALERSHIP (TO RESET, REBOOT, UPDATE SOFTWARE) HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865277 at NHTSA ↗

ON THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 MY WIFE WAS RETURNING HOME WITH A CARLOAD OF KIDS. THEY WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET WHEN THE CAR SLOWWED RAPIDLY AND THE ENGINE DIED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND GET TO THE CURB AFTER TRAFFIC PASSED. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE CASE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER A MILE AWAY BY MISSED BADLY ASK THE WAY THERE. THE DEALER MECHANIC WAS ALSO STRANDED IN THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY AND IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD GONE BAD. FORTUNATELY IT WAS LATE WHEN OUR INCIDEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870702 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-06-26 (June 26, 2017)

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."

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.

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.

Reported: 2022-06-10 (June 10, 2022)

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 2025-10-13 (October 13, 2025)

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 2026-01-15 (January 15, 2026)

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.

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

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.