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EnginePart report

2016 Ford Escape Engine Problems

Complaints
200about this part
Share
17%of 1,170 total for the year
Median mileage
64,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 200 complaints about the engine of the 2016 Ford Escape, 17% of the 1,170 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 64,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 6 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I pulled out into an intersection to turn left going between 5-10 MPH when my Ford Escape stalled. The electronics remained on, the check engine light turned on and it displayed a message that read transmission not in park . The car was still in drive. I was able to safely roll the car to the side of the road. I was able to successfully restart the car first try.”

NHTSA complaint #11189676, filed 2019-03, 40,000 miles

“My car stopped while driving on a side street. Autonation Ford claimed there was a malfunction which LED to the transmission failure. They wanted $7k to repair. I took it elsewhere for repair and within 1 week after repair the car engine caught on fire while driving. I had been on the interstate but had just exited to a nearby residential area. The entire front of the car was melted. The car is totaled and has been turned over to my insurance company, allstate.”

NHTSA complaint #11310836, filed 2020-02, 71,000 miles

“I was waiting for the red light in the road. After the light turned green, I stepped on the gas pedal, however, the car didn't move at all. It stopped there. I had to restart the car to make it move again. It happened on 2017 sep, 11/29/2017 and 11/30/2017. Three times already.”

NHTSA complaint #11053461, filed 2017-12, 9,700 miles

“I just bought this 2016 Ford Escape in october, 2018. It made it until mar. 2019. No warning light, nothing. It has 78,000 miles and the transmission blew. They are telling me at the jensen Ford dealership that it will cost 6,508.00 due to all that is wrong with the transmission. When it gets hot it leaks transmission fluid badly. It took only 2 days and no warning and it blew. Now I can't pay for it, Ford will not pay for it and I believe they should.”

NHTSA complaint #11185678, filed 2019-03, 78,000 miles

“I was traveling 60 MPH when the engine started shaking violently, I lost the ability to accelerate and the check engine light came on with an error message of engine fault . Once I made it to the side of the road, the engine idled down to 400 and shut off. I tried to crank it up again and the engine immediately started jumping violently. Vehicle was towed to the Ford dealership and they said it was recall 16b32.”

NHTSA complaint #10907621, filed 2016-09, 10,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025519%
20241317%
20232828%
20223314%
20214413%
20201228%
201931753%
20181,16964%
20171,58359%
201620017%
201523921%
201472735%
20131,26646%
20127312%
201124819%
201049324%
200925415%
2008834%
20072510%
20064710%
20051309%
2004316%
2003244%
2002364%
2001273%

Other parts of the 2016 Ford Escape

Transmission and drivetrain
321 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
250 complaintsOther or unknown
158 complaintsElectrical system
95 complaintsSteering
73 complaintsFuel system
71 complaintsEngine cooling
57 complaintsVehicle speed control
32 complaintsWheels
32 complaintsAir bags
25 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsBody and structure
21 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Ford Escape

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology