2016 FORD ESCAPE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 1,080 complaints · 4 recalls
Most-reported system: POWER TRAIN (281 complaints · 26.0%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 35
  • Fires 10
  • Injuries 19
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2015 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution POWER TRAIN appears in 281 of 1,080 owner complaints (26.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. POWER TRAIN: 281 complaints, 26.0% of reports POWER TRAIN 281 · 26.0% · 5 crash reports 1 fire reports ENGINE: 182 complaints, 16.9% of reports ENGINE 182 · 16.9% · 3 fire reports BACK OVER PREVENTION: 172 complaints, 15.9% of reports BACK OVER PREVENTION 172 · 15.9% · 5 crash reports STEERING: 67 complaints, 6.2% of reports STEERING 67 · 6.2% · 2 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 57 complaints, 5.3% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 57 · 5.3% · 1 fire reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 46 complaints, 4.3% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 46 · 4.3% · 1 crash reports 2 fire reports WHEELS: 30 complaints, 2.8% of reports WHEELS 30 · 2.8% · 1 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 25 complaints, 2.3% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 25 · 2.3% · 3 crash reports AIR BAGS: 19 complaints, 1.8% of reports AIR BAGS 19 · 1.8% · 9 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 233 complaints, 21.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 233 · 21.6% · 7 crash reports 3 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
POWER TRAIN 281 26.0% 5 crashes · 1 fires
ENGINE 182 16.9% 0 crashes · 3 fires
BACK OVER PREVENTION 172 15.9% 5 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 67 6.2% 2 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 57 5.3% 0 crashes · 1 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 46 4.3% 1 crashes · 2 fires
WHEELS 30 2.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 25 2.3% 3 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 19 1.8% 9 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 233 21.6% 7 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2015; the first recall shown was reported in Jun 2017. 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2016-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2017-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2017-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2018-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2018-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2018-Q3: 27 owner reports 27 2018-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2019-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2019-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2019-Q4: 25 owner reports 25 2020-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2020-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2020-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2020-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2021-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2021-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2021-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2021-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2022-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2022-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2022-Q3: 67 owner reports 67 2022-Q4: 40 owner reports 40 2023-Q1: 27 owner reports 27 2023-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 2023-Q3: 32 owner reports 32 2023-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2024-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2024-Q2: 29 owner reports 29 2024-Q3: 33 owner reports 33 2024-Q4: 39 owner reports 39 2025-Q1: 34 owner reports 34 2025-Q2: 34 owner reports 34 2025-Q3: 43 owner reports 43 2025-Q4: 34 owner reports 34 2026-Q1: 63 owner reports 63 2026-Q2: 68 owner reports 68 2026-Q3: 65 owner reports 65 Owner reports Oct 2015 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 17V398000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V398000 Recall campaign 22V413000 ◆ Recall campaign 22V413000 Recall campaign 25V695000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V695000 Recall campaign 26V011000 ◆ Recall campaign 26V011000
  • Campaign 17V398000 was reported 369 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22V413000 was reported 2,444 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V695000 was reported 1,909 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 26V011000 was reported 3,580 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 3
2016-Q2 Owner reports 10
2016-Q3 Owner reports 20
2016-Q4 Owner reports 14
2017-Q1 Owner reports 13
2017-Q2 Owner reports 5
2017-Q3 Owner reports 8
2017-Q4 Owner reports 9
2018-Q1 Owner reports 11
2018-Q2 Owner reports 12
2018-Q3 Owner reports 27
2018-Q4 Owner reports 6
2019-Q1 Owner reports 14
2019-Q2 Owner reports 20
2019-Q3 Owner reports 26
2019-Q4 Owner reports 25
2020-Q1 Owner reports 21
2020-Q2 Owner reports 13
2020-Q3 Owner reports 20
2020-Q4 Owner reports 19
2021-Q1 Owner reports 15
2021-Q2 Owner reports 12
2021-Q3 Owner reports 15
2021-Q4 Owner reports 11
2022-Q1 Owner reports 13
2022-Q2 Owner reports 37
2022-Q3 Owner reports 67
2022-Q4 Owner reports 40
2023-Q1 Owner reports 27
2023-Q2 Owner reports 25
2023-Q3 Owner reports 32
2023-Q4 Owner reports 28
2024-Q1 Owner reports 19
2024-Q2 Owner reports 29
2024-Q3 Owner reports 33
2024-Q4 Owner reports 39
2025-Q1 Owner reports 34
2025-Q2 Owner reports 34
2025-Q3 Owner reports 43
2025-Q4 Owner reports 34
2026-Q1 Owner reports 63
2026-Q2 Owner reports 68
2026-Q3 Owner reports 65
Recall campaign 1 17V398000
Recall campaign 1 22V413000
Recall campaign 1 25V695000
Recall campaign 1 26V011000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (4)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V398000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 22V413000

    Report date
    Component:
    POWER TRAIN
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 25V695000

    Report date
    Component:
    BACK OVER PREVENTION
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 26V011000

    Report date
    Component:
    EQUIPMENT
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 1080 complaints · page 1 of 44

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources