2016 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Infotainment screen freezes or goes black
- 45owner reports
- 75,000median miles
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 1, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026
45 of the 252 reports of infotainment on the 2016 Escape describe screen freezing.
Part of Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (252 reports) · also: backup camera failure
Tick what matches of 45 reports
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head unit or screen (45 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the backup camera cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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 and remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
NHTSA investigations into the backup camera on the Escape
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance. Open.
NHTSA summary
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
NHTSA summary
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 59,127 and 106,000 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My back up camera doesn't always work, sometimes blank, sometimes black screen. Once I shift to drive it tells me Back up camera not available. I was hoping I'd be included in the camera recall.”
Filed Sep 23, 2025
“Rear view camera is not working properly. Will either flicker on & off while reversing, display upside down, or just show a black screen. This has been going on for a while. There seems to be a recall for this malfunction for several Ford models, however not one for my model.”
Filed Sep 11, 2025
“Backup camera works intermittently, often going to blank blue or black screen. Other ford vehicles have received a recall from ford for this same issue but not mine.”
Filed Sep 5, 2025
“Back up camera does not work. Screen either goes black or multitude of colors. Sometimes it flips to just see ground.”
Filed Aug 10, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 45 reports involved a crash. 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.
Other problems on this car
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 126 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 124 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 118 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 94 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 86 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 57 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 49 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 34 reports