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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,378 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Ford Escape electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #52

Jun 152024

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The rear back up camera works intermittently and the car will not start intermittently cannot find the issue it has left stuck at places because it would not start. Changed the battery and all electrical checked out ok.

- Melbourne, AR, USA

problem #51

May 312023

Escape

  • miles
Auto was purchased from a dealership on 5/31/2023. We drove less than a mile down the road and a warning for "hood ajar" came on. We immediately pulled over only to find the hood was latched. Over the next few months there were numerous other warning/electrical items that came up: trunk ajar warning, problems opening the trunk, back up camera would often go black when car was in reverse, car would start honking like the alarm was going off when it was just sitting in garage with nobody near the car. The car was brought to the dealer on 6/14/23 for a separate recall issue and an electrician was supposed to look at these issues but they weren't at the dealership when we arrived for our scheduled appt. Couldn't get a new appt for a few weeks so went to our local auto shop who confirmed the issues and felt we could try a new battery which he put in on 6/30/23. Went to the Ford dealership on 8/31/2023 and they said we needed to have the APIM replaced and the rear park aid camera and latch. We couldn't afford these repairs. Since then we have taken the car in for tire rotation/oil change. This past week the car will not start unless we jump it with a battery cable. We looked into recalls and found out our VIN isn't under the recall. Obviously, these are safety issues that we had hoped would be covered by the recall. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

- Richfield, MN, USA

problem #50

Feb 222024

Escape

  • miles
Rear backup camera works intermittently. One time display screen was solid white, the next time it was solid green, abd the third time it was solid purple. Yet the reverse guidelines still showed all three times. Fuses are good and recently had battery replaced at dealership.

- Alvin, TX, USA

problem #49

Nov 062023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In Aug. 2021 my 2016 Ford Escape-??s Sync/NAV stopped connecting to my iPhone. I went to Fullerton Ford in Somerville, NJ and a Service Advisor (SA) determined that Sync would not connect with his iPhone or mine. Another SA connected with his Android phone and it worked perfectly. Everything else related to the Sync/NAV was working. I did research online on connecting Sync with iPhone, and was finally able to reconnect to Bluetooth, but never able to connect with the Sync/NAV system. After weeks of trying get the Sync/NAV to work I had it diagnosed by Fullerton Ford. On Sept. 29, 2021 I paid a $100 diagnostic fee to assess the problem. I spent 7 hours waiting while it was worked on. They talked with the technical -??hotline-?? but were unable to determine why the Sync/NAV worked with the Android but not the iPhone. They suggested the problem -??could be-?? the APIM which would cost $866.16 to replace, but told me that they could not guarantee that replacing the APIM would solve the problem. Without a guarantee that spending $966.16 would solve the problem I declined. It was noted on the invoice that the APIM had given a faulty reading but the Service Advisor never told me that or what else could happen if the APIM failed. I suffered with the iPhone issue until Nov. 6, 2023 when I brought the car to Ciocca Ford in Flemington, NJ for service. I-??d learned there was an update to the Sync system so I asked them to do that upgrade. When the car was -??finished-?? the SA advised me that the whole Sync/NAV system had been disabled because the 3 attempts to do the Sync upgrade completely blew out the APIM module, and that it would cost $1,100 to replace it! Now I have no Sync/NAV system at all; no radio, clock, NAV, reverse parking support, or Bluetooth. In addition, the phone charging ports and upper vents of the heating system don-??t work and I don-??t know what else isn-??t working. Other Ford owners have made complaints about APIM module failures to the NHTSA, so Ford should do a recall.

- Bound Brook, NJ, USA

problem #48

Nov 012023

Escape

  • miles
outside key pad is making sounds of door locks locking and unlocking with flashers coming on driving down the rd second time after replacing outside keypad in 2021 at a ford dealership in northern michigan the problem has returned 11-1-2023.i tapped on the outside of the door keypad surface, the problem hasnt came back in the last few days, i believe it will reappear at some point though

- Prineville, OR, USA

problem #47

Oct 032023

Escape

  • miles
The rear view backup camera is faulty and doesn't always work. Sometimes it comes on, but most of the time it just doesn't turn on. There is no specific set of circumstances that dictates if it will work or not.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #46

Aug 082023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle check engine light goes on usually during hot weather. Vehicle stalls and hesitates on acceleration causing unsafe conditions with traffic, intersections, etc.

- Melrose Park, PA, USA

problem #45

May 252023

Escape

  • 116,516 miles
My hazard lights start blinking Turn signals start blinking Doors lock and unlock all without warning Have not had checked out at dealer It costs $139 per hour to diagnosis BOUGHT CAR 5/25/23 The car had been in accident before I bought

- Princeton, IN, USA

problem #44

Aug 182020

Escape

  • miles
Rear camera dosnt always want to work at times when backing up, there will be times where it comes on and cuts out, or it cuts out and comes back on on all pixelised (distorted), or it dosnt come on at all, then there are times where it works, ive had my mechanic look into it and couldnt figure out the issue...i did buy an oem backup camera from the junkyard off an escape 3 years newer then mine but didnt fix the issue

- Champlin, MN, USA

problem #43

Jun 282023

Escape

  • miles
I order a nav upgrade from Ford $299, was unable to install it Ford said go to dealer, car was going to dealer for abs sensor bad and vehicle collision sensor bad, dealer fixed other two problems but couldnt upgrade nav and while dealer tried they killed the whole radio/sync/nav/handsfree turn the touch screen black and unresponsive. Now they want $1000 plus for APIM replacement. I could live without the navigation update but now Ford's sync update killed my APIM/sync/radio/handsfree and I cannot live without that.

- Lothian, MD, USA

problem #42

May 252023

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine control computer malfunction is causing the engine, SYNC, bluetooth, brake lights, and rearview camera to malfunction.

- Burlington, NJ, USA

problem #41

May 152023

Escape

  • miles
Rear view camera stopped working almost a year ago, and out of no where the transmission stopped working. I recently just got an oil change and asked for the works to get my whole car checked out and that report as all the reports before it came back with no issues. So found it surprising that this happened.

- Huntington Beach , CA, USA

problem #40

May 152023

Escape

  • miles
Today- 5/22/2023 - Ford dealer attempted to perform sync3 software update from version 1 to version 3 as promoted and advertised by Ford Motor Co. This was performed by dealer after personal attempts at Wi-Fi and flash drive update processes failed. Following dealer attempted sync 3 update, no update could be accomplished and the synch 3 system is now not active- no radio, Bluetooth( hands free phone usage), no rear camera or safety alarm for potential obstacles when backing up. I was informed the issue is a common result due to defective APIM module. Yet Ford promotes/ provides the software updates ( free) thru their website/ dealers. I have filed a claim with Ford today and initially told there is nothing they can do, but I can purchase a new APIM module ($750) and have it installed ($300) that may correct this.

- Lima , OH, USA

problem #39

Jan 072023

Escape

  • miles
I had the bushing recall done. My interior lights no longer work. I keep getting brake lamp bulb warning. AutoNation dealer Amherst stated it was the battery. Charged me $100 to run diagnostic. Took vehicle to Walmart for battery replacement. Did not fix the issue.

- Monroeville, OH, USA

problem #38

Feb 212023

Escape

  • miles
The specific problem is the ignition switch. Car suddenly shut down the first time while in park, after testing determined it was the ignition switch. Replaced with non OEM switch, same exact problem happened the next day. Replaced with Ford genuine part. Problem still happening, now the car is dying while in motion. Car will not restart once it stops, all lights on dash come on and flicker and then everything dies at once, all electrical components. Vehicle was inspected by mechanic. The problem has been reproduced multiple times even after the ignition switch was replaced. There were no warning lamps or messages or any other symptoms prior to the problem. Nobody can seem to fix this problem and the car is a danger to drive.

- Northport, AL, USA

problem #37

Jul 012022

Escape

  • miles
The vehicle is only 6 years old and the audio control module stopped working, rendering me without a radio. Southgate Ford dealership in Southgate, MI informed me that this is a known issue. I would like to see accountability and have this audio control module recalled. A search online shows many users experience this issue. Not having a working radio is a safety issue. Having access to emergency radio bulletins while driving is imperative. A known issue should be recalled.

- Lincoln Park, MI, USA

problem #36

Aug 012022

Escape 4-cyl

  • 56,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that there was as an abnormal audible alarm sounding inside the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) but was informed by the dealer that the recall repair would not fix the failure with the vehicle. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced and was given an estimate for repair. The contact disputed the diagnosis and believed that the failure was related to the vehicle's computer system. The manufacturer was notified of the recall and was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000. The contact stated that the dealer that the vehicle was purchased from was aware of the defect beforehand.

- Hurricane, UT, USA

problem #35

Jan 162023

Escape

  • miles
APIM crashed after I attempted to do the upgrade The local Ford Dealer tried to repair this but we're unable to and Ford will not cover this because it was 3 months past warranty

- Culpeper , VA, USA

problem #34

Nov 192022

Escape

  • miles
I crashed car because is park according with transmission and car still moved and hit fence, I contact ford for this incident and still waiting someone contact me. So I decide lawsuits against Ford

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #33

Aug 012022

Escape

  • miles
Back up camera just stopped working then my radio went out a week later. It seems this needs to be made a recall since another car owners are having the same issues I am. APIM may need to be resolved.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

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