RecallMyCar

2016 Ford Escape Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 2016 Ford Escape, and owners have filed 1,144 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
1,144
owner complaints to NHTSA
37 / 10
complaints citing a crash / fire
23–26
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 2016 Ford Escape

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Engine block heater (equipment)

    NHTSA 26V011000 Reported 116,672 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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.

    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…

  2. Camera (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 25V695000 Reported 1,448,655 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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.

    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…

  3. Shift linkage/cable/rod (power train) and gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 22V413000 Reported 2,925,968 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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.

    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,…

  4. Knee bolster (air bags)

    NHTSA 17V398000 Reported 3 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    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…

    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…

1,144 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2016 Ford Escape have filed 1,144 complaints with NHTSA; 37 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,702 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 255 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Ford had a recall for backup camera issues issued 10/13/2025. It’s been almost 1 year and no remedy. What is considered a reasonable timeline for this? Is there any way to expedite Fords process to ge”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 6, 2026 · Back over prevention

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Back over prevention

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2016 Ford Escape (Escape AWD, Escape FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined23–26 mpg
City / Highway21–23 / 28–31
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 1.6/2/2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Compare Ford Escape model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Escape model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Ford Escape05
2001 Ford Escape13996
2002 Ford Escape81,027
2003 Ford Escape7558
2004 Ford Escape6499
2005 Ford Escape41,394
2006 Ford Escape3464
2007 Ford Escape2254
2008 Ford Escape31,974
2009 Ford Escape11,693
2010 Ford Escape32,070
2011 Ford Escape21,316
2012 Ford Escape1603
2013 Ford Escape182,750
2014 Ford Escape162,088
2015 Ford Escape91,109
2016 Ford Escape41,144
2017 Ford Escape42,694
2018 Ford Escape41,810
2019 Ford Escape3592
2020 Ford Escape231,604
2021 Ford Escape19349
2022 Ford Escape19234
2023 Ford Escape11100
2024 Ford Escape876
2025 Ford Escape924
2026 Ford Escape23

Checking a specific 2016 Ford Escape

How do I know if my 2016 Ford Escape has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2016 Ford Escape; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 17V398000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.