2016 Ford Escape problems
NHTSA has received 1,426 complaints about the 2016 Ford Escape, and 22% of them involve drivetrain & axles. Next are engine (18%) and backover prevention (18%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,426 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 56 and 14
- Injuries and deaths
- 33 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 743 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 96 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 66 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 95 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 135 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 138 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 110 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 47 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 31 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 15 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 5 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Of the 743 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 75,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (192 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 56 complaints mention a crash; 14 complaints mention a fire; 33 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2016 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 25 model years of the Ford Escape with enough data (488 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
When purchase 2016 ford escape within a month service engine light came on you can smell coolant sometines smoke smell took vehicle in they told it was nothing to worry about, from 2016 to 2021 I had to purchase coolant over ten times it was always low the smell continue too the check engine lights comes on stays on however took it in three times with the same answer nothing to worry about is fine.
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 construction area & all I remember is traffic slowing, perhaps I was going 45-50 MPH, & in process of slowing down. Although there was extensive damage to left front & side no airbags deployed.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part needed to complete the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera became inoperable and displayed a blank screen, resulting in a collision with the stairwell of the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent body shop for body repairs.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted screen. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. In addition, the contact stated that the rear-view camera later displayed a blank screen. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable.