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The 2016 Ford Escape has 1,031 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 1 active recall campaign.
The 2016 Ford Escape has 1,031 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 312 complaints, typically surfacing around 88,139 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Escape | 2,743 | 5 |
| 2014 Escape | 2,067 | 3 |
| 2015 Escape | 1,028 | 3 |
| 2016 Escape (this page) | 1,031 | 1 |
| 2017 Escape | 2,624 | 2 |
| 2018 Escape | 1,725 | 2 |
| 2019 Escape | 559 | 2 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 57,205 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
My car set a code , and the engine misfired. I took all the necessary steps, but the code reappeared. I have Car Shield, and they are saying its cracked block but refuse to replace the head gasket. My mechanic believes it's the head gasket, so a cracked block seems common in…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the heater failed to operate with the check engine warning light was intermittently flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that coolant was leaking into cylinder #3.…
My 2016 Ford escape cannot accelerate even I pressed the pedal. It just has 74000 miles but showing transmission issues. It's so dangerous and threaten my life and others.
3 times this last three days I've gotten a steering assist fault after starting vechile.first time steering was difficult for only a very short period.2nd and 3rd times I had to stop and restart vechile then it was ok.all three times where from startup.
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
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.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 1,031 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Ford Escape has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2016 Ford Escape is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 75 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 10,000–116,516 mi; Steering: 70 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 16,000–84,500 mi; Reliability score 6.4/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 312 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 88,139 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 1,031 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 88,139 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 312 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 88,139 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 88,139 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 1,031 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.