The 2016 Ford Escape has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,491,298 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,258 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
EQUIPMENT26V0110002026-01-15116,672 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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…
BACK OVER PREVENTION25V6950002025-10-131,448,655 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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…
POWER TRAIN22V4130002022-06-102,925,968 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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…
AIR BAGS17V3980002017-06-263 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN
304
5crashes1fires7injuries
ENGINE
192
3crashes6fires2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
135
4crashes2fires
BACK OVER PREVENTION
115
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
81
1crashes3fires1injuries
STEERING
68
4crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
61
1crashes1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
50
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
31
5crashes1injuries
WHEELS
28
1crashes
Total complaints1,258
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2016 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that…”
“The contact owns a 2016 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…”
“My car overheated repeatedly and it was diagnosed by liberty ford aurora ohio to be caused by coolant intrusion. I was quoted a price of more than $11,000.00 to replace the engine”
“For about 2 years now my 2016 escape would periodically show a distorted image in the camera when reversing. It was infrequent and would often correct itself before I was done reversing or if I just stopped and put it into park and then reversed again. I received the recall notification when it…”
“The contact owns a 2016 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v695000(back over prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that…”
“My ford escape recently has been experiencing what I believe to be a coolant issue. There was a stained spot on the driveway a couple of times in may 2026 and technicians had said my coolant fluid was on the low side so they topped it up while I was getting the car serviced for an oil change. The…”
“Engine began having coolant intrude into the cylinder bores. Similar to issues related to csp 21n12.”
“The contact owns a 2016 ford escape. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v695000 (back over prevention), however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Multiple dealers were contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Ford Escape as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.