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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,288 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 2 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #85

Apr 092023

Escape

  • 109,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed by the dealer that the engine and the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the warranty had expired. No additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

- Sandusky, OH, USA

problem #84

Oct 262022

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
Since purchasing this vehicle there have been many issues. I had purchased the additional warranties also only to have the dealership say they were not covered. First my roof leaked. Had to take to a repair shop through the dealership, luggage racks had to be taken off and welds redone. Next the catalytic converters went bad with only approximately 50,000 miles. Ford would not talk to me and the dealership stated it is not covered under the extended warranty. Somehow I paid minimal repairs but during that time their best mechanic was fired. Next the Continental tires pealed. I had the tire warranty and the dealership would not cover. I called Continental they stated that they knew these tires were bad but yet they were still sold on vehicles! After much complaining and stress all but $400 was covered by Continental. The dealership did very little. At approximately 65,000 the engine blew. I found out by a local repair shop that Ford had an Escape safety issue on their site about the engines. After speaking with Ford twice they refused to speak to me any longer and only the dealership if I wanted the engine replaced. I did and was given numerous different amounts it would cost me. Since this was Ford's manufacturing issue I should have paid nothing. It took over 4 months to repair my vehicle. I had to complain to Ford and the dealership to get a loaner. I am a 66 year old single women who depended on the quality of Ford. I had tried to email Ford representatives and call with no reply ever. Each of these issues had no warnings lights nor were there any problems prior to the issues occurring. These issues could have caused major accident by the engine quitting in traffic or blowing, and the tires pealing. Ford motor needs to pay for all these issues. There needs to be a class action suit.

- Lima, OH, USA

problem #83

Jan 172023

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
Vehicle engine started smoking. Coolant fluid and oil entered the engine compartment caused engine failure and blown rod and more damage to engine. Dealer estimated $12,000 to replace engine. Research determined that many of these vehicles have had similar issues. Very dangerous situation under any circumstance but more so when this occurred on a busy interstate highway. There is currently a class action lawsuit, [XXX]et al v. Ford Motor Company, case no. [XXX] that addresses the failure of Ford to properly address the engine defect. I am not a party to that lawsuit. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Deland, FL, USA

problem #82

Jan 032023

Escape

  • miles

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

Car stared backfiring and engine light came on. Mechanic told me coolant is leaking into cylinder from head gasket. Told me probably need a new engine, told me Ford is aware of problems but aren't going to repair them. Ford has a tech bulletin- SSM 49821

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #81

Dec 052022

Escape

  • miles
I was driving to work and my temperature gauge starting moving all over and car stated, "pull to safety." I pulled over and had car towed to Northside service center in brockport where they had it towed to West Herr dealership in spencerport. West Herr stated the recall doesn't match my VIN and is refusing to repair it.

- Spencerport , NY, USA

problem #80

Nov 302022

Escape

  • miles
I checked this site and my car had 1 recall that I was never informed or made aware of by my manufacturer. I don-€™t know if it-€™s a minor recall or a major one, but it-€™s scary.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #79

Nov 022022

Escape

  • 109,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that she notified a tow truck to jumpstart the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Pep Boys however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

- Washington, PA, USA

problem #78

Sep 222022

Escape

  • miles
Ingine light/suspension lights went on. Car jerks and shakes on the road and pulls to the right making it hard to keep the steering wheel straight

- Eastchester, NY, USA

problem #77

Oct 052022

Escape 4-cyl

  • miles
2016 Ford Escape. Cponsumer writes in regard to loss of engine power.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #76

Aug 242022

Escape

  • miles
My coolant leaked into the cylinders of my engine causing a complete engine failure. When this occurred, there was no warning lights, indicators or check engine notices to notify me that there was a problem with my engine. I was driving down the street & white smoke started billowing out of the back of my car. I was able to make it home but had to have it towed to the dealership. This is a known issue with Ford, with a current lawsuit pending, due to the design of the engine. I have been advised that there are technical bulletins distributed within Ford and the dealer acknowledged there was nothing I could have done to prevent this from happening. My engine was already replaced due to the same defect when it had 34,000 miles on it. This was covered under warranty and the engine was replaced at a Ford dealership. The first time this happened, I was traveling on the freeway and my lights and power completely shut down while I was driving at night and my engine almost started on fire. I also had no warning lights, overheating or check engine notices when that happened. It now has 94,500 miles. This means I have needed 2 engine replacements for the same defect in less than 100,000 miles. The Price Ford dealership in Turlock, CA has quoted me $10,600 to replace the engine, which I am responsible to pay, and advised me to call corporate when I told them of the lawsuit. Ford's Corporate Office advised me that there isn't anything they can do because there isn't a recall issued yet, even though this a known documented issue of their defected engine design.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #75

May 032019

Escape

  • miles

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

Jerking, unwanted jolting, locked up steering

- Austin , TX, USA

problem #74

Jul 122022

Escape

  • miles
Sice 2016 I've had numerous issues with this vehicle yet no one had told me about your website. Although some of the repairs on this vehicle were under safety bulletins I was never informed. The latest is that my engine light going off and on. I was told it was misfiring, had an appointment set up for repair and it overheated. The mechanic told me to get it to the dealership immediately so it was towed over. Only to find I needed an engine and that there are many Escapes this way. Another issue was the catalytic converters were bad there were there was only approximately 40 to 50,000 on the car at that time and the dealership refused to put it under the extended warranty saying it wasn't covered. However I believe the manager did it and was fired for it. Another issue what's the gas cap area, I was told because there's not an actual cap that that flap on there will eventually allow fumes to escape and cause an issue so I had to pay over $400 for that, again nothing's covered. And I bought the extended warranty. What a joke. Right after I had bought the car the roof was leaking and again was told it was not covered under a warranty and I had to take it to a repair shop. I also cannot get my GPS to update correctly and other smaller issues. This vehicle has been a lemon from day one and I wish I would have sued under it sooner.

- Lima, OH, USA

problem #73

Apr 152022

Escape

  • miles
On April 10, 2022, I received the check engine light indicator on my 2016 Ford Escape. I took the vehicle to a local mechanic to be inspected on April 15, 2022. I was informed after a diagnostic that my Vapor Canister Purge Valve was malfunctioning. I was told that the part could be ordered, but it was on backorder in excess of 4,000 orders. I have had the following problems that continue to put myself and other motorist in danger: I am unable to accelerate past 50MPH due to air build up in my engine causing engine stall outs on major roadways and intersections with the inability to restart the vehicle, as well as the inability to safely refuel my vehicle due to restart problems. My car has stalled out on major state highways and interstates, creating unsafe situations for myself and other motorists. Over the past 4 months I have continued to call my mechanic and Ford, with Ford offering no ETA on the production of the needed part.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #72

Jun 012022

Escape

  • miles
I had replaced my transmission at 100,000 mile mark. I have never had that happen in an older veichle. And when mine went it did the same thing with not going into park all the way. I paid out of pocket for it. And have kept up with oil changes and Maintance on my veichle, and now I am having problem with misfire and it is the head gasket and they garage put a camera down in it and the motor is cracked. I have had nothing but bad luck with this escape. I owe a lot of money on it still and cannot afford to put new motor in it. I-€™ve googled on the issue and I see other reviews of people having the same issue. I have receipts when I did the transmission and would like reimbursement for that and I would like to give my veichle back and not have to finish off the loan, so I can ne able to go get another veichle.

- Perry, NY, USA

problem #71

Jun 232022

Escape

  • 80,000 miles
The driver owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact called on behalf of the wife, who drove into the driveway at approximately 2 MPH, the gear was put into the park; however, the vehicle inadvertently reversed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle stopped in the yard and was not diagnosed or repaired. The driver notified the manufacturer and was informed of a recall that would be coming out soon; however, they provided no more details or timeframe. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000

- Kitts Hill, OH, USA

problem #70

May 192022

Escape

  • miles
Kept saying it was over heating shutting down the motor chugging not gaining speed. Had all spark plugs and coil packs changed ran for 5 days and started dining it all over again.

- Ankeny, IA, USA

problem #69

May 072022

Escape

  • 83,681 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, there was smoke coming from the hood to the windshield. The contact pulled over and there were flames entering the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away since it was not driveable. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,681.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #68

Apr 142022

Escape

  • miles
Engine failed while traveling on state highway Had to coast to a safe parking area Vehicle started after several minutes Engine lights visible before engine failure as engine ran rough Incident occurred twice before returning home. Informed by service mechanic that vehicle needed a purge valve which the local Ford dealer has several valves on back order with no replacement date. Vehicle cannot be driven as losing engine power would be a disaster if I was on a heavily traveled highway. This vehicle has less than 30,000 miles.4

- Bow, NH, USA

problem #67

Apr 152022

Escape

  • miles
The Ford Escape has been a problem since I bought it the tranny went out at 110,000 and the head gasket blew at 140,000 still paying on the car with major problems

- Townsend , TN, USA

problem #66

Mar 012022

Escape

  • miles
Turbocharger failed, leaking exhaust fumes directly into the car cabin. Turbocharger flange warped on the high heat exhaust side due to two of the three support bolts shearing off. Bolts failed because they were a dissimilar metal to the part they were threaded into, and the chemical process between the dissimilar metals weakened the overall strength of the bolts. Once the bolts sheared off, the flange face warped, allowing exhaust fumes to leak into the cabin. The exhaust fumes into the cabin were quite excessive, especially noticeable while parked, and caused headaches and lightheadedness for the occupants. This is a clear manufacturing defect, as any engineer knows not to mix metals in this fashion, and the result was very dangerous to the occupants.

- Hampton, VA, USA

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