YearToAvoid

2016 Ford Escape Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 263 engine complaints for the 2016 Ford Escape, 23% of all complaints for that year. Owners report unintended acceleration, coolant leaks that lead to burning smells, and engine fires, with median failure mileage at 77,500. No related recalls are listed in this data.

Engine complaints
263
23% of 1,123
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
6
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
77,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle suddenly accelerates without driver input while parking or coming to a stop at low speed, sometimes resulting in a crash.
  • Coolant burns off or leaks internally with no visible puddles, triggering repeated check-engine lights and a burning odor.
  • Engine compartment catches fire, in some cases while parked and in others while driving on the highway or a residential street.
  • Turbocharger leaks lead to burning smells and require replacement of the turbocharger, fuel line, and fuel gasket.
  • Smoke or flames enter the cabin from the hood area while driving at highway speed, forcing the driver to pull over.

When 2016 Ford Escape engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 17, 2016, latest Sep 9, 2026.

2016 Ford Escape engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter192016 Q22017 Q42019 Q22020 Q42022 Q22023 Q42025 Q2
263 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (19).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Ford Escape

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010891 (43%)
  2. 2011428 (33%)
  3. 2012128 (21%)
  4. 20131,468 (53%)
  5. 2014902 (43%)
  6. 2015278 (25%)
  7. 2016263 (23%)
  8. 20171,991 (74%)
  9. 20181,438 (80%)
  10. 2019386 (66%)
  11. 2020144 (9%)
  12. 202149 (14%)
  13. 202246 (20%)
  14. 202338 (39%)
  15. 202417 (22%)
  16. 202511 (46%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2016 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has logged 263 engine complaints for the 2016 Escape, which is 23% of the 1,123 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford Escape engine?
This data lists no related recalls tied to the 2016 Escape engine complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Escape engine problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure among reported engine complaints is 77,500 miles.
Do 2016 Ford Escape engine problems lead to fires or crashes?
Among the engine-area complaints, NHTSA data shows 8 crashes, 6 fires, and 4 injuries.
Is the 2016 Ford Escape engine worse than other model years?
The 23% share for 2016 is lower than the 74% and 80% shares seen in the 2017 and 2018 Escape, meaning 2016 has fewer engine complaints relative to its total than those later years.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.