The 2016 Ford Escape has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,491,298 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,282 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 20, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT26V0110002026-01-15116,672 affected
Defect
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…
BACK OVER PREVENTION25V6950002025-10-131,448,655 affected
Defect
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…
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…
POWER TRAIN22V4130002022-06-102,925,968 affected
Defect
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…
AIR BAGS17V3980002017-06-263 affected
Defect
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…
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.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN
304
5crashes1fires7injuries
ENGINE
193
3crashes6fires2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
140
4crashes2fires
BACK OVER PREVENTION
125
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
83
1crashes3fires1injuries
STEERING
70
4crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
61
1crashes1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
51
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
31
5crashes1injuries
WHEELS
28
1crashes
Total complaints1,282
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My rear camera and therefore cross traffic and parking indications fail almost every time I turn my car on. Ford acknowledges that this is a problem and that there is a recalled part, but they do not have replacement parts and so I must continue to drive with faulty parts.”
“My rear camera and therefore cross traffic and parking indications fail almost every time I turn my car on. Ford acknowledges that this is a problem and that there is a recalled part, but they do not have replacement parts and so I must continue to drive with faulty parts.”
“My rear camera and therefore cross traffic and parking indications fail almost every time I turn my car on. Ford acknowledges that this is a problem and that there is a recalled part, but they do not have replacement parts and so I must continue to drive with faulty parts.”
“I am extremely disappointed with the way ford has handled the recall on the rearview camera for my 2016 ford escape. I received the recall notice about a year ago. Six months ago, I contacted chapman ford and was told the replacement parts were not yet available and that I would be notified when…”
“The contact owns a 2016 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention). The rearview camera was turning on and off, but the vehicle became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and informed…”
“The contact’s parents owns a 2016 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer because the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that shortly after starting the vehicle there was white smoke coming from the vehicle for approximately 5 seconds.…”
“The contact’s parents owns a 2016 ford escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer because the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that shortly after starting the vehicle there was white smoke coming from the vehicle for approximately 5 seconds.…”
“While driving the car, the electronic power assist steering stopped working, making it extremely difficult to steer and drove straight into a curb. Was able to slowly back the car up then very carefully drove to the local shop. Thankfully, no pedestrians were walking on the sidewalk. Power assist…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Ford Escape as of
July 20, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.