2016 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 118owner reports
- 72,000median miles
- $756median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report May 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
642 of the 1,127 complaints on this car are about the engine. 118 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 118 reports
Stalling on other Escape years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the throttle body (8 reports), the engine (5 reports), the fuel pump (4 reports) and the ignition coil or plugs (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
All 4 recalls on the 2016 Ford Escape, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Escape
Underhood fires caused by fuel leak. Closed oct 30, 2025, led to recall 25V-467.
Healey brothers ford / open recall sale. Open.
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 27, 2024.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 28, 2014.
Electronic throttle body malfunction. Closed feb 21, 2013.
Engine stalling. Closed aug 31, 2004.
Engine stalling. Closed apr 15, 2004, led to recall 04V-165.
Engine stalling. Closed sep 10, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
19 of the 118 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $318 to $4,200.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 97,000 miles, from the 82 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Ford Escape that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2016-2018 Escape/Focus/Transit Connect vehicles equipped with a remote start system may exhibit an immediate engine shut off with or without diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1594 stored in the BCM after using the remote start function to start the engine.
SOME 2016-2017 ESCAPE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO BUILT ON OR BEFORE 8/21/2106 MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT CONCERN WHERE THE AUDIO CUTS OUT AND THE RADIO DISPLAYS A NO SIGNAL MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING IN OPEN SKY CONDITIONS IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS ...
SOME 2015-2016 F-150, C-MAX, EDGE, MKS, TAURUS, AND FLEX AND 2016 EXPEDITION, EXPLORER, ESCAPE, FUSION, MUSTANG, MKZ, MKX, NAVIGATOR, TRANSIT AND TRANSIT CONNECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L, 2.5L, 3.5L OR 3.7L GASOLINE ENGINE AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE ...
SOME 2013-2016 ESCAPE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE, LOW RPM AT IDLE OR A STALL ON HOT RESTART WITH NO DTCS IN SELF TEST. THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH BEING SEIZED.
What owners wrote
“The end of February was driving and I noticed white smoke blowing from my exaust, then my car lost power.”
Filed Mar 23, 2026
“Transmission failed at 83000 miles with no warning or prior issues. I was driving home from work and the vehicle completely stalled out in traffic. Had it towed to a shop and was quoted nearly the cost that the vehicle is worth to have the transmission replaced.”
Filed Feb 19, 2026 · 83,000 miles
“Transmission suddenly loosing power without any signs on highway , car has only 93k miles , at highway speed I lost all power without warnings .”
Filed Oct 6, 2024 · 93,000 miles
“I was driving down the highway doing 70 mph my car lost all power and a warning light came on said engine failure. This is dangerous. We could've gotten killed.”
Filed Jun 30, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 118 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 267 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 127 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 125 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 94 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 87 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 65 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 58 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 49 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 34 reports