2016 Ford Escape Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Ford Escape most often describe transmission trouble — loss of power, harsh or slipping shifts, and messages such as "Transmission Fault Service Now" — with many complaints noting the vehicle needed a transmission replacement. A large share of recent complaints concern the rearview camera showing a distorted, inverted, or blank image, often with owners stating the recall remedy part was not yet available. Coolant loss leading to misfires and engine work is another recurring theme, typically reported at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera blank, distorted, or inverted image

   • 281 complaints (24%)
   • median 85,500 mi at 9.9 yrs old (154 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the rearview camera displaying a blank, black, blue, flickering, distorted, or upside-down image while in reverse. Some mention a "Rearview Camera Not Available" or "Camera Unavailable" message, and a few report the proximity alert chime not sounding. Many complaints state the owner was notified of recall 25V695000 but the parts were not yet available, and dealers told some owners the camera needed replacement. Reported from about 28,000 to 150,000 miles, most commonly in the 50,000-100,000 mile range; complaints cluster in recent months.

   Recall 25V695000

   What to check: Check whether recall 25V695000 has actually been completed rather than just received, and test the camera in reverse in daylight and low light. Confirm whether the image is stable and whether the proximity alert sounds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of a parking lot, the image displayed from the rear-view camera was flipped upside down. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11663535, filed 2025-05, 56,000 miles

   “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 local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11742117, filed 2026-06, 28,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission fault messages and loss of power

   • 438 complaints (37%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (261 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,500 (median of 46 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle losing motive power while driving, jerking or shuddering on acceleration, and shifting erratically, sometimes without warning. Many owners report a "Transmission Fault Service Now" or "Service Transmission" message appearing at the time of failure, and in several cases dealers or shops diagnosed the transmission as needing replacement. Some owners also describe the vehicle staying in the wrong gear, revving high, or not engaging drive or reverse as selected. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 120,000 miles, across the full range of seasons and driving conditions.

   Recall 22V4130003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 22V413000 (shifter cable bushing) has been completed, and have a mechanic check shift quality and any stored transmission codes on a test drive. Confirm the vehicle engages drive and reverse correctly and does not hesitate under acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The transmission not in park is showing and what happens is my car tends to go forward if I put it in reverse and go in reverse when I put it in drive but it also go forward whenever I first turn my car on that all happens when I change gears to proceed to drive. My car also stays in 3rd and 4th year when I drive the RPM goes up really high even if I'm just going 20mph. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11372673, filed 2020-11, 95,000 miles

   “While traveling down the highway my vehicle abruptly switched into reverse at 75 MPH I almost lost control. I let the car come to a complete stop but was able to get to the side of the road going on reverse car shifter would go into park but dash said it was in reverse and wanted to go in reverse, I cut off the ignition but could not start back due to it being in reverse and not able to go into park , Ford shows a recall on this model vehicle in 2014 for the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405270, filed 2021-03, 86,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Coolant loss, misfires, and engine damage

   • 151 complaints (13%)
   • median 84,550 mi at 8.1 yrs old (74 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,100 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe low coolant that keeps needing topping up, white smoke from the exhaust, rough idling, hard starting, and check engine lights. Several owners say dealers or mechanics found coolant in a cylinder or on the spark plugs, and some were told the engine block was warped and the engine needed replacement. Others report exhaust fumes inside the cabin while starting. Typically reported between about 65,000 and 130,000 miles, with many cases appearing at higher mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and its condition, look for white residue or smoke at the exhaust, and ask whether coolant loss or a cylinder misfire has ever been diagnosed. A compression or cooling-system pressure test before purchase can show whether coolant is entering a cylinder.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When purchase 2016 Ford Escape within a month service engine light came on you can smell coolant sometines smoke smell took vehicle in they told it was nothing to worry about, from 2016 to 2021 I had to purchase coolant over ten times it was always low the smell continue too the check engine lights comes on stays on however took it in three times with the same answer nothing to worry about is fine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11390603, filed 2021-01, 100 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 60–65 MPH, coolant was leaking into the engine. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an engine replacement was needed. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11592089, filed 2024-06, 105,000 miles

Buying note. This model year has two open recall campaigns worth confirming as completed — the shifter cable bushing recall and the rearview camera recall — since parts availability has been a recurring complaint. Before purchase, have a mechanic check transmission behavior, coolant loss, and any stored codes, as these are the areas owners describe most.

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.