2016 Ford Escape: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 1178 complaints
1178
Total Complaints
71,400mi
Median Mileage
Power Train
Top Issue
46
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
40,500
25th Percentile
71,400
Median Mileage
100,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Power Train
299
Engine
181
Unknown Or Other
129
Electrical System
80
Back Over Prevention
70
Steering
67
Fuel/Propulsion System
60
Engine And Engine Cooling
49
Vehicle Speed Control
31
Wheels
28
Severity Assessment
46
Crashes
14
Fires
31
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"VEHICLE WILL CHATTER AND VIBRATE WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE MODE TO GO FORWARD, EVEN WHEN TOTALLY STOPPED TO GO FORWARD. BANGS IN WHEN APPLYING GAS LIGHT OR HARD TRYING TO GET OUT OF WAY OF ON APPROACHING TRAFFIC IN STREET AND PARKING SPOTS. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN JULY 2015 STARTED FROM DAY ..."
"TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN BACKING UP. PROBLEM IS PERIODIC BUT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE CAR WOULD BE SLOW TO REACT TO EMERGENCIES SUCH AS BACKING FROM INTERSECTION WHEN IT OCCURS. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP AND MOST OFTEN WHEN GOING FROM FORWARD TO STOP TO BACKING. WHILE PARKING THIS P..."
"I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 NEAR BRADENTON IN FL. 1:00 P.M. PERFECTLY CLEAR & DRY DAY. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, SENT MY FORD INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN, CAR CAME TO A STOP AT A WIRE GUARD RAIL. I DIDN'T HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, SO I HAVE NO RECALL. THIS HAPPENED NEAR A CONSTR..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Power Train
299 complaints
25th: 68,842 mi
Median: 88,000 mi
75th: 105,250 mi
Engine
181 complaints
25th: 25,000 mi
Median: 64,000 mi
75th: 100,000 mi
Unknown Or Other
129 complaints
25th: 29,501 mi
Median: 62,000 mi
75th: 80,500 mi
Electrical System
80 complaints
25th: 8,305 mi
Median: 30,000 mi
75th: 60,500 mi
Back Over Prevention
70 complaints
25th: 58,500 mi
Median: 80,644 mi
75th: 116,500 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
MI: 84
OH: 76
TX: 75
CA: 69
PA: 65
NC: 62
FL: 56
NY: 47
GA: 47
IL: 46
Who Files Complaints?
0.8%
Original Owners
99.2%
Second+ Owners
Ford Escape — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (4)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Knee Bolster
Campaign 17V398000 | 26/06/2017
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.
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.
Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Campaign 22V413000 | 10/06/2022
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.
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 notifica
Camera
Campaign 25V695000 | 13/10/2025
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.
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. 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
Engine Block Heater
Campaign 26V011000 | 15/01/2026
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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 lett
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
Compare Ford Escape
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28