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2016 Ford Escape Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 1,164 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
30/100

Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Ford Escape

The 2016 Ford Escape shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.

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4
NHTSA Recalls
4 recalls on record
1,164
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
39
Crash Reports
10 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Ford Escape (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Air Bags: Knee Bolster
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….
NHTSA #17V398000
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Gear Position Indication (prndl)
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…
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…
NHTSA #22V413000
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
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…
NHTSA #25V695000
🔧 Equipment: Electrical: Engine Block Heater
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…
NHTSA #26V011000
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Ford Escape

Based on 1,164 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
317
Back Over Prevention
214
Unknown Or Other
127
Engine
121
Electrical System
84
Steering
71
Engine And Engine Cooling
54
Fuel/propulsion System
36
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Ford Escape — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

2010 2,129 complaints 2011 1,355 complaints 2012 619 complaints 2013 2,757 complaints 2014 2,089 complaints 2015 1,129 complaints 2016 1,164 complaints 2017 2,698 complaints 2018 1,817 complaints 2019 596 complaints 2020 1,831 complaints

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→ Decode a Ford VIN — free Ford VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

✅ Best model years: 2012, 2019 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Ford Escape

Is the 2016 Ford Escape reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Ford Escape has 4 recall campaigns and 1,164 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Escape have?
The 2016 Ford Escape has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford Escape?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Ford Escape are: Power Train, Back Over Prevention, Unknown Or Other, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Ford Escape safe to buy?
The 2016 Ford Escape has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Escape should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Escape are: 2012, 2019. These show the lowest complaint rates.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.