Is the 2016 Ford Escape a bad year?
1,180 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 321, 5.8× a quiet Escape year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2016 Ford Escape were filed between 70k and 108k miles. You're at 89,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Escape owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 89,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 321 (27%) | 70k–108k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Backup cameraSTANDS OUT | 263 (22%) | 60k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 244 (21%) | 54k–108k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 72 (6%) | 18k–102k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 69 (6%) | 42k–90k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 95 (8%) | 11k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 32 (3%) | 30k–64k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 30 (3%) | 12k–64k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 25 (2%) | 26k–79k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 21 (2%) | 15k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 20 (2%) | 13k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 20 (2%) | 17k–67k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Stability control | 8 (1%) | 16k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 89,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,180 complaints: 39 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 108 say the car was towed.
323 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was driving down the highway at about 65 MPH when all of a sudden out of nowhere I couldn't accelerate anymore it was almost like I was stuck in neutral but I was clearly in drive.
Car says it's in reverse but shifter is in park. Car won't start.
Driving at 55MPH on a highway, car sputtered a few times then slowed to zero, would not respond to gas pedal. Thankfully I was able to get to the side of the road.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 89,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Ford Escape: 4
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. 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.
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. 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.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 170
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Ford Escape. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM)…
Some vehicles may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket
2016-2019 Escape vehicles equipped with the 1.6L EcoBoost or 1.5L EcoBoost engines may have missing or damaged dowel alignment pins between the engine…
Neighbouring years
2015 Escape: 1,143 complaints, consider selling · 2017 Escape: 2,707 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford Escape year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Escape years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2016 Ford Escape a bad year?
1,180 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 321, 5.8× a quiet Escape year. At 89,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2016 Ford Escape were filed between 70k and 108k miles. You're at 89,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Escape?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (321), backup camera (263), engine (244), steering (72), fuel system (69). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 70k–108k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Escape have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 26V-011), Backup camera (NHTSA 25V-695), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 22V-413), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-398). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.