Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Prior to receiving the notification, the contact stated that while driving out of a parking lot, she reversed and parked the vehicle to look for something. The contact opened the driver's side front door to exit the vehicle when the vehicle inadvertently rolled backward and she fell face first onto the ground. The vehicle ran over the contact's knees and crashed into a fence by the wall, then came to a complete stop. The contact chased after the vehicle and parked it in a parking space. The contact received medical attention for a sprained right ankle, a hematoma on the left knee, and tissue damage to both knees. No police report was filed. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifting the gear shifter to Reverse(R) out of a parking space, the vehicle inadvertently drove forward over two curves before crashing into two vehicles and then rolled backward and crashed into a third vehicle. Additionally, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle while the brake pedal was depressed. The air bags were not deployed upon impact. The contact sustained back pain from the collision; however, no medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. Prior to the failure, the dealer was contacted but confirmed that parts were not yet available. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH and coming to a stop at the stop light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and crashed into the rear end of another occupied vehicle. The air bags deployed. The contact sustained soreness on the neck and shoulders but did not seek medical assistance. The passenger of the other vehicle sustained injuries but did not seek medical assistance. A police report was filed. The contact was towed to a tow lot. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they did not have the parts for recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 ( Power Train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000. The consumer stated the repairs were performed on 1/5/22.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle started jerking. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact restarted the vehicle and was able to drive to her residence. The contact stated that upon parking the vehicle, the warning message "Transmission Fault' was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced; however, the dealer repaired the transmission with used parts as the parts needed were on backorder. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed however, no failure was found. The dealer also informed the contact that the parts were on backorder. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH after picking up the vehicle from the dealer, the vehicle jolted violently several times. The vehicle then reversed independently. Additionally, the gear shifter was stuck in drive. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact turned on the hazard lights and beeped the horn continuously to prevent other vehicles from approaching her since she had lost control of the vehicle. The message "Transmission Fault. Service Now." was displayed. The vehicle then shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and veered to the side of the road though the vehicle would shut off intermittently. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his daughter was stopped at a stop light, she depressed the accelerator pedal however, the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact then stated that he received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the recall repair was completed; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound under the hood. The contact then instructed his daughter to steer the vehicle off the roadway. No warning lights were illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping while shifting gear and the vehicle jerked abnormally. In addition, the contact noticed a grinding sound and a burning odor coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure began shortly after the vehicle was purchased. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased. The contact was provided an option to trade the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over camera system displayed a black screen and became disabled. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle decelerated and failed to exceed 4 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, and eventually the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle; however, the engine seized again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and the failure was linked to a recall that was performed on the vehicle in 2022. The vehicle was towed to the residence. In addition, the vehicle had been parked and inoperable since. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that in 2022, a recall notification for the power train was received. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the recall repair was performed, but the failure reoccurred. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon refueling the vehicle and resuming driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The contact was unable to pull over to the side of the road. The contact shifted to neutral(N) and shifted back to drive(D), but the vehicle failed to respond and started rolling backwards on leveled road surface. The contact activated the hazard lights and continuously depressed the brake pedal while steering the vehicle on the busy road. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle made two abnormal loud popping sounds and came to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to Firestone, where the contact was informed that the failure could be related to the transmission, and that the transmission could not be serviced. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to reverse into the garage, the vehicle failed to respond as intended while in reverse(R). The contact stated that upon test-driving the vehicle, the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle felt like the transmission had shifted to neutral, and the vehicle started losing power. The contact stated that the failure occurred several times while driving to an independent mechanic. The contact pulled over as needed. The contact was able to drive to Gateway Automotive Experts, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. …
Related recalls
Power train › Shift linkage/cable/rod
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.
Remedy: 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.
Transmission complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2016 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 321 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2016 Ford Escape, 28% of the model year's 1,162 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Ford Escape transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 22V-413 (shift linkage/cable/rod, Jun 10, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Escape transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 88,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire and 8 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.