2016 Ford Escape · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 94owner reports
- 88,000median miles
- $6,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Apr 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
320 of the 1,127 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 94 of those describe transmission failure.
Tick what matches of 94 reports
Transmission failure 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: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (94 reports) and the torque converter (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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
What owners paid
20 of the 94 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,992 to $6,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 71,000 and 112,000 miles, from the 61 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Transmission failed. This is the third transmission in this car, which only has 130,000 miles and has been well-maintained. This transmission failure happened in a busy downtown area with evening traffic (lower visibility, lots of cars, lots of people, lots of angry and impatient drivers as car stopped working in busy area). I am lucky that I was not rear ended during the sudden failure.”
Filed Feb 3, 2026 · 130,000 miles
“I have replaced the transmission due to the toque converter acting up and then failing. I have replaced now 3 coolant parts as well due to leaking and constant overheating and have replaced the block once as well.”
Filed Jan 24, 2026
“Transmission failure. Had to have the transmission repaired at 132,000 miles. Had idle issues and inconsistent speed while driving on the road, constant jerking causing me to lose speed while driving. Check engine light illumination was on but this is not always a tell-tell sign of the transmission failure in these vehicles.”
Filed Apr 1, 2025 · 132,000 miles
“While driving transmission started to wind. Then the warning light came on and car stopped . Had car towed to local Ford dealer . This happened on 1/25/2023. I finally got a call on 2/04/2023. They said I need to replace the transmission, they quoted the cost at $6,400 .”
Filed Feb 4, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 94 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. 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 118 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