Representative 2017 model. Photo: RL GNZLZ from Chile, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 Ford Escape recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2016 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 4
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 1,156
Latest campaign: Jan 15, 2026

Recall summary by component4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Equipment	1	Jan 15, 2026	26V011000
Back over prevention	1	Oct 13, 2025	25V695000
Power train	1	Jun 10, 2022	22V413000
Air bags	1	Jun 26, 2017	17V398000

Safety recalls4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jan 15, 2026Latest campaign


Jan 15, 202626V011000	Equipment: electrical engine block heater An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V011000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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 option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. Campaign NHTSA 26V011000 · Jan 15, 2026
Oct 13, 202525V695000	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. DetailsHide details for campaign 25V695000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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 and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang 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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025. Campaign NHTSA 25V695000 · Oct 13, 2025
Jun 10, 202222V413000	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. DetailsHide details for campaign 22V413000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. 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, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43. Campaign NHTSA 22V413000 · Jun 10, 2022
Jun 26, 201717V398000	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. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V398000 What's wrong 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 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk 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. Ford's number for this recall is 17C11. Campaign NHTSA 17V398000 · Jun 26, 2017

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2016 Ford Escape? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component1,156

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

1,156Complaints filed

37Involving a crash

10Involving a fire

19Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power train	320	28	5	1	8
Back over prevention	241	21	7	0	0
Engine	200	17	3	6	2
Unknown or other	156	13	4	2	0
Electrical system	95	8	1	3	1
Steering	71	6	4	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	62	5	1	1	0
Engine and engine cooling	57	5	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	32	3	6	0	3
Wheels	32	3	1	0	0
Air bags	24	2	12	0	9
Structure	21	2	0	0	1
Service brakes	20	2	1	0	0
Visibility/wiper	15	1	0	0	0
Fuel system	9	1	0	0	0

13 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

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 complete the recall repair was unavailable.”
Filed 10/14/2026 · ODI 11771081
Back over prevention
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera was intermittently inoperable and displayed an inverted, cloudy, or flickering image.”
Filed 10/14/2026 · ODI 11771136
Unknown or other
“It has been 10 months and Ford still does not have the fix for recall 25SA9 to replace the backup camera. This is dangerous and an excessive amount of time to take replacing an electrical component.”
Filed 10/13/2026 · ODI 11770846

Other Ford Escape model years

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2016 Ford Escape recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Escape have?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Escape. The most recent, 26V011000 (reported January 15, 2026), concerns equipment. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Ford Escape?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 320 complaints out of 1,156 filed with NHTSA (28%). Across all complaints, owners reported 37 crashs and 10 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 Ford Escape?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Ford dealer.

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