2016 Ford Edge Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Ford Edge most often describe coolant entering the engine cylinders on the 2.0L EcoBoost, showing up as a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke, misfires and a check engine light, and frequently leading to a long block or engine replacement. Brake hose failures that send the pedal to the floor and power steering assist faults that make the wheel hard to turn are also recurrent themes in the complaints. Reports are spread from roughly 25,000 to over 170,000 miles, with the engine and brake items clustering in the 60,000-110,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Engine

   Coolant leaking into cylinders (engine replacement)

   • 375 complaints (41%)
   • median 79,795 mi at 7.8 yrs old (162 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $7,500 (median of 64 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe a check engine light, rough or misfiring running, white or sweet-smelling smoke from the exhaust and coolant that keeps dropping with no visible puddle. Owners say the dealer or mechanic finds coolant in one or more cylinders and recommends replacing the long block or complete engine. Several report that spark plugs were replaced first before the coolant problem was identified, and some say the repair was not covered or only partly covered. Most reports fall between roughly 60,000 and 110,000 miles, though a few appear as low as 35,000 and as high as 170,000.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant reservoir level and look for white residue or smoke at the exhaust; ask whether the engine long block has already been replaced and request service records for coolant pressure tests or misfire codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “30 aug 2020 the check engine light came on and the engine overheated without prior warning or indication. The dealership mechanic told me it was a know issue that the coolant leaks along the engine block. In my case it leaked into the 3rd cylinder and caused misfires. The cylinder is cracked and the engine needs to be replaced. Current milage is 64000 and not covered under the 60000 mile warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353800, filed 2020-09, 64,000 miles

   “The 2016 Ford Edge 2.0L EcoBoost has sadly caused us countless issues and extensive $ to repair. The latest issue is the 2020 investigation that revealed a design defect of the engine block and cylinder head, and coolant has been leaking and burning in the engine cylinder, which has lead to me needing a new engine. Unfortunately, the suit displays documented proof Ford knew about it and didn’t disclose it to buyers. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11621574, filed 2024-10, 172,982 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor (hose/line leak)

   • 167 complaints (18%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (77 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal dropping to the floorboard, sometimes with a pop, and the vehicle not stopping until the pedal is pumped repeatedly. Complaints say the cause was found to be a ruptured or leaking brake hose or line, on the front or rear, and that fluid loss triggered a low brake fluid message. Some describe the repair being done under a recall campaign while others report parts were not yet available. Reports range from about 30,000 to 170,000 miles, with many clustered around 65,000-115,000 miles.

   Recall 25V544000Recall 20V4690003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the flexible brake hoses at each wheel for cracks, bulging or fluid residue, and ask whether the recall repairs for the front and rear hoses have been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ford recall 20v-469 I. Received a letter about break line issues fo the Ford EDGE I own. It has 30,000 miles on it. 2 weeks ago it went through 30,000 mile checkup, including brakes. Told they where fine, no issues. And that Ford still did not have the recall procedure in place and can not get recall repair. Bu I should jot worry, my brakes are fine. They aren't. I was driving and the lines broke. I had no brakes. I was lucky and did not crash. The car can not be driven. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11399350, filed 2021-03, 30,000 miles

   “Pushed the brake pedal backing out of my garage and heard a pop sound, pedal went to the floor. With brake fluid I was able to drive to a local repair shop, though as I approached stop sings and signals the closer I got to stopping, the pedal would drop close to the floor and continue to coast until I stepped hard on the pedal to stop it. I was told (as I have seen in at least one other report on this site) that the right front brake line had a cut on it and had exploded. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11330797, filed 2020-06, 49,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist fault, hard steering

   • 96 complaints (10%)
   • median 21,874 mi at 2.1 yrs old (83 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe a power steering assist fault or service advance trac message with the wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes at low speed and sometimes at highway speed. Owners say the dealer diagnosed a faulty steering gear, rack and pinion or power steering module and quoted replacement, and several note their vehicle was not covered by a related steering recall. Often reported under about 40,000 miles, but also reported past 60,000 and up to 122,000 miles.

   Recall 19V632000

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle was ever registered in a cold-weather state covered by the steering assist recall, and check for stored steering or stability control codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went to start my car and found my battery was low. I got the car jump started and when I put it in gear the power steering was no longer working. I took it to the dealer and was told it needed to replace the steering gear assembly. This is on a car that is less than 4 years old and has less than 26,000 miles. I am told the warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles whichever comes first. Based on my research it looks like others have had similar issues with the steering gear assembly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11348764, filed 2020-08, 25,900 miles

   “Got codes for no steering assist fault and no advance trac, meaning no power steering and no awd. There are recalls for this but was told, my car didn't apply because not made at the plants they were made. Took my car to a Ford dealership, had them look at it, after disconnecting battery for 10 minutes, both came back, but said rack and pinion was bad? My car just past the 36,000 miles in garage miles were 38804. This car only drives on paved roads, not all new paved but good roads. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11300485, filed 2020-01, 37,850 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Fuel vapor canister / EVAP valve causing stalls

   • 88 complaints (10%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,563 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the engine stalling at idle or at low speeds, hesitation after refueling, a check engine light with fuel-related codes, and gurgling or loud noises from the fuel tank area. Owners say the dealer identified a faulty evaporative emission purge or canister valve, and some needed the vapor canister replaced. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 70,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   What to check: Ask whether the purge valve or vapor canister has been replaced, and watch for stalling or hesitation right after refueling during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car has had problems with stalling for several months, when in motion both at low speeds and up to 40 MPH, as well as at idle. Each time the check engine light has illuminated. It has given codes p2196 and p1450. We took it to the dealer for diagnosis, and they said it needs the fuel vapor canister purge valve replaced. I noticed that Ford issued a safety recall for the focus, 18s32, for a faulty vapor canister purge valve, and have found much evidence on the internet that this is a common problem across Ford product lines. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11321324, filed 2020-04, 39,500 miles

   “2.0l ecoboost, 40,000 miles, fwd, engine tries to stall when coming to stop at traffic light, rough idle, makes groaning or thrumming sound similar to helicopter. No power when using accelerator, engine off then on clears issue. Read p2196 code, cleaned maf sensor, but stalling returned. Random, not regular failure, so not able to recreate on demand. No fault code logged most recent incident. Has occurred 4 times over last month”

   NHTSA complaint #11317661, filed 2020-03, 39,630 miles

Buying note. Have any prospective purchase checked for coolant loss and engine misfire codes, and confirm the brake hose and steering recalls have been completed by a dealer. Service records showing prior engine, flexplate or brake line work are worth asking about before you decide.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.