2016 FORD ESCAPE Safety Overview
The 2016 FORD ESCAPE has been closely monitored for safety issues.
Official NHTSA Recalls
The NHTSA has issued 4 official safety recalls for this vehicle. Key affected components include:
- Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
- Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Severe Defect Warnings
Notably, some of these defects carry severe risks, such as an electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Consumer Complaints
Consumers have also filed 20 safety complaints.
Common areas of concern reported by owners include:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Visibility
Why It Matters
Staying informed about these safety records is critical for FORD ESCAPE owners to ensure ongoing reliability and safety on the road. Always consult an authorized dealer for official remedy repairs.
Latest Vehicle Recalls
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 M...
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA Recall 26V011000: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. Check affected vehicles and find your free remedy.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Linco...
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.
NHTSA Recall 25V695000: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the... Check affected vehicles and find your free remedy.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusio...
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.
NHTSA Recall 22V413000: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the... Check affected vehicles and find your free remedy.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Ford Escape vehicles.
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.
NHTSA Recall 17V398000: In the event of a crash, if the driver's knee air bag does not inflate as... Check affected vehicles and find your free remedy.
Recent Complaints
Component: 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 do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and stated that the remedy was only available for Mustang vehicles. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure."
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing out of the garage at approximately 3 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle directly behind it. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank image. The parked vehicle sustained damage to the front driver’s side fender. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was not towed. There was no warning light illuminated. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. No injuries were reported. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); as the possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 206,000."
Component: 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 do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure."
Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
"recall has remedy not available since Oct 13, 2025 for the rear view camera. This has been an issue in several models of Ford vehicles. I have a 2019 FORD MUSTANG that had the same issue and the recall was completed in 5 months. the manufacturer has failed to provide a remedy for 10 months."
Component: ENGINE
"It appears the engine has gone bad. Water leaking into cylinders. Car is in shop now. Friendly Ford in Arkansas City, Ks. They may have contacted you."
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
"See attached document for complaint."
Component: ENGINE
"First the transmission failed on the freeway and was almost squished between a semi and car. I pay thousands to get it fixed and now the engine light is on and the transmission fluid and the coolant are leaking into each other. I can't accelerate very well and they said it can't be fixed only a NEW engine. The mechanic at your dealership said it's a known problem and that there is no recall yet. I'm sorry for the working family this a cost that can not be endured! This is terrible. The car can not accelerate very well for passing vehicles or when entering onto the freeway. It is very much a safety issue and needs to be addressed."
Component: SEAT BELTS
"The seatbelt stopped retracting properly and no longer locks when I break suddenly or when I pull the belt all the way out"
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed an upside-down image or a blank image. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 87,000."
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER
"My 2016 Ford Escape is subject to safety recall 25SA9 / NHTSA 25V695 involving the rearview camera. Ford's recall states that the rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image in reverse, or may display a message that camera is unavailable. The rearview camera is now completely nonfunctional. It previously worked intermittently but progressively worsened and is gone now. When I place the vehicle in reverse, the center display either remains blank or continues displaying the navigation/map screen shown while driving. It does not display the rearview camera image. The vehicle and camera are available for inspection upon request. This creates a significant safety risk because I have lost the rearward view provided by the camera when backing up. This is particularly concerning because this is the exact safety defect addressed by the recall: an unavailable rearview camera (for a [XXX]!!) can reduce driver's view behind the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. I have contacted Ford dealerships regarding this recall both in Texas, where I previously lived, and in Utah, where I now live. I have been told that the replacement remedy part is still unavailable, so the recall repair cannot be performed. Ford's original NHTSA recall filing stated that final remedy owner notifications were planned for June 29–July 3, 2026. It is now August 23, 2026, and remedy remains unavailable. The problem has not been repaired or resolved by a dealer because the recall replacement part is unavailable. I have not had the vehicle inspected by police or an insurance representative. The camera initially worked intermittently and then stopped altogether. The current symptom is that, when in reverse, the display either remains blank or continues showing the navigation/map screen instead of displaying the rearview camera image. I am requesting that NHTSA review Ford's handling of recall 25V695/25SA9, particularly the continued lack of an available remedy. THIS IS UNSAFE! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)"
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the rear-view camera image was upside down or blank. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 125,000."
Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION
"This recall has been going on for almost a year. And I was having problems for at least a year or two before that it’s to the point where we’re almost every time I try to use it it says unavailable. This is a safety concern as a backup camera is a vital safety feature. Ford is taking a long time to fix this issue."
Component: 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 do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera failed to display an image and displayed a black screen. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 59,127."
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. However, the rear-view camera later displayed a blank image. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and two cases were filed. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000."
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,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 do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse(R) on several occasions, the rear-view camera went black and failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the radio turned on and off independently, and the screen failed to operate as intended. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000."
Component: 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 do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the recall repair could not be completed because parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired until parts became available. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000."
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the camera screen was blank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on back order. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000."
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
"I am filing this complaint regarding a serious safety issue with the rearview camera on my Ford vehicle. My rearview/backup camera does not function properly when I place the vehicle in reverse. The display either shows a blank screen or a severely distorted image, preventing me from reliably seeing the area behind my vehicle. Ford issued a safety recall concerning rearview-camera problems in October 2025. I have contacted Ford/dealership personnel regarding the recall and the defective camera. I have been advised that the replacement part needed to repair my vehicle is not currently available. This is extremely concerning because the rearview camera is an important safety feature that is specifically intended to provide visibility behind the vehicle while backing. At present, I cannot depend on the camera to show me what is behind my vehicle. This creates an increased risk of striking a person, another vehicle, property, or another obstruction that I may not be able to see. The problem is not merely an inconvenience or cosmetic issue. I am experiencing an actual loss of rear visibility while the vehicle is in reverse. Ford has acknowledged the safety concern through its recall, yet I am still unable to obtain the required repair because I am being told that the necessary part is unavailable. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter and determine whether Ford is adequately addressing the recall and providing affected owners with a timely and effective remedy. I would also like this complaint to document that I have reported the safety defect to Ford/dealer and that the vehicle remains unrepaired because the necessary replacement part is reportedly unavailable. I am concerned about continuing to operate the vehicle without a functioning rearview camera and believe this unresolved condition presents an unreasonable safety risk."
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION
"The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera was blank while reversing. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown."
Component: 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 do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera was intermittently inoperable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000."