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 Sep 9, 2026
319 of the 1,105 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 94 of those describe transmission failure.
Tick what matches of 94 reports
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.
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 and remedy
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.
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 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 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
“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.
Other problems on this car
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 250 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 124 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 118 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