Known Recalls

Model year record

2016 Ford Escape

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,827 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V011000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component
Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
116,672
Reported to NHTSA
2026-01-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V695000

Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Component
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
1,448,655
Reported to NHTSA
2025-10-13
Owners notified
2026-01-02

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V413000

Power train: shift linkage/cable/rod

Component
Power train: shift linkage/cable/rod
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
2,925,968
Reported to NHTSA
2022-06-10
Owners notified
2022-10-27

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V398000

Air bags: knee bolster

Component
Air bags: knee bolster
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
3
Reported to NHTSA
2017-06-26
Owners notified
2017-08-08

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train36088,000 mi
Back over prevention33885,000 mi
Engine25566,000 mi
Unknown or other21262,000 mi
Electrical system12243,734 mi
Steering8246,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system6968,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling6787,000 mi
Vehicle speed control3522,000 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking29—
Wheels2945,247 mi
Air bags2743,734 mi
Back over prevention: warnings2058,000 mi
Visibility/wiper2023,800 mi
Service brakes1950,000 mi
Structure: body1426,000 mi
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera1278,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission12148,510 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)815,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline880,000 mi
Suspension857,099 mi
Seat belts735,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs742,985 mi
Exterior lighting63,200 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic663,000 mi
Equipment4110,000 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection4—
Structure412,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly4119,500 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel3138,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer2159,759 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger287,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit234,573 mi
Seats22,778 mi
Structure: body: tailgate280,000 mi
Structure: frame and members2113,000 mi
Tires233,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings196,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly1160,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger: hoses/plumbing1102,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1113,918 mi
Exterior lighting: fog lights180,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights155,327 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings114,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister1150,000 mi
Parking brake1100,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)1—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift1—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift1—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid117,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion1—
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate1—
Traction control system1—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal196,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: throttle1—
Visibility1—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core1—
Visibility: glass, side/rear1—
Visibility: windshield112,000 mi

The 2015 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2017 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.