2016 Ford Escape · recalls
2016 Ford Escape recalls
NHTSA lists 4 recalls that include the 2016 Ford Escape. The newest, 26V-011, was filed Jan 15, 2026 for the equipment.
- 4recalls
- 4systems
- 1,118owner complaints
Newest recall or investigation Jan 15, 2026 · checked Sep 22, 2026
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN, and a finished repair drops it off the list. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Every recall, newest first
Equipment:Electrical:Engine Block Heater
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.
Risk: 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.
2 of the 1,118 owner complaints on this car cite the equipment. Symptom sheets that include this system: Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (262) · Backup camera goes black or freezes (144) · Engine overheats or leaks coolant (127) · Check engine light or misfire (125).
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
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.
Risk: 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.
209 of the 1,118 owner complaints on this car cite the backup camera, 12 of them the same part of it (Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera). Symptom sheets that include this system: Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (262) · Backup camera goes black or freezes (144) · Infotainment screen freezes or goes black (47).
What owners wrote about camera
“Rear view camera displayed view upside down or blurry lines flashing on the screen. Entire camera assembly replaced due to failure.”
Filed Apr 12, 2024
“Rear view camera doesn't always work when putting the car in reverse. It doesn't go blank, the monitor just remains as if it was going forward. Sometimes when it does work, it remains on while moving forward momentarily.”
Filed Nov 19, 2021
A complaint on the same system is not proof of the recalled defect.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
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.
Risk: 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.
320 of the 1,118 owner complaints on this car cite the transmission and drivetrain, 13 of them the same part of it (Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)). Symptom sheets that include this system: Engine stalls or loses power while driving (118) · Transmission fails or needs replacement (94) · Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (87) · Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (44).
What owners wrote about gear position indication (prndl)
“I have 2 ford escapes a 2015 and a 2016 (2016 referenced in this complaint) both have experienced catastrophic transmission failure within weeks of each other. The transmission would slip and hard shift, eventually disable completely and would indicate the transmission needed to be serviced.”
Filed May 3, 2024
“My vehicle has 57 thousand miles bought it at Ford Dealership with 48k miles and already having transmission issues. Tow truck driver who picked my vehicle up claimed âEvery Ford escape i pick up for a tow is always a transmission issueâ Horrible car, Waste of money.”
Filed Oct 15, 2023 · 48,000 miles
A complaint on the same system is not proof of the recalled defect.
Air Bags:Knee Bolster
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."
Risk: 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.
24 of the 1,118 owner complaints on this car cite the airbags.
Complaints with no recall behind them
The systems owners of the 2016 Ford Escape complain about most that none of these recalls covers, as of Sep 22, 2026. A problem can be widespread without being a safety defect NHTSA can order fixed.
- Engine: 199 complaints, no recalloverheating · misfire
- Electrical: 92 complaints, no recallinfotainment · misfire
- Steering: 73 complaints, no recallpower steering loss
- Fuel and propulsion: 61 complaints, no recallmisfire · stalling
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 56 complaints, no recalloverheating · misfire
More on the 2016 Ford Escape
Problems by mileage on the 2016 Ford Escape · Ford Escape years to avoid