Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.
2016 Ford Escape recalls
Equipment: electrical, engine block heater
NHTSA campaign 26V011000 · reported January 15, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 116,672 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
NHTSA campaign 25V695000 · reported October 13, 2025 · Ford Motor Company · 1,448,655 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The fix
- 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.
Power train: shift linkage/cable/rod · Power train: automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)
NHTSA campaign 22V413000 · reported June 10, 2022 · Ford Motor Company · 2,925,968 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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.
- The 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.
- The fix
- 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.
Air bags: knee bolster
NHTSA campaign 17V398000 · reported June 26, 2017 · Ford Motor Company · 3 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- 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."
- The 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.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners report
Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.
Oct 22, 2026 · Back over prevention · 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed a blank, distorted, or upside-down image. The message "Camera Unavailable" was intermittently displayed. The dealer was notified of the failure, and contact was provided an estimate for the repair; however…
Oct 22, 2026 · Back over prevention · 45,100 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V69500 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While reversing…
Oct 22, 2026 · Back over prevention · 50,000 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 not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera displayed a distorted image or a blank screen with the message…
Oct 21, 2026 · Back over prevention · 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the part was unavailable to repair the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign…
Oct 21, 2026 · Unknown or other
The rearview camera repeatedly malfunctions when reverse is selected. It turns off, displays an inverted or distorted image with lines, and most often displays a camera-unavailable message. On approximately October 16, 2026, while backing out of a residential property, the camera displayed that it was unavailable and…
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received October 22, 2026.