2016 Ford Escape Steering Problems
NHTSA lists 73 steering complaints for the 2016 Ford Escape, 7% of its 1,123 total complaints for the year. The most common failure is sudden loss of power steering assist, often flagged by a "steering assist fault" message, with median failure mileage of 41,900. No related recall is listed.
- Steering complaints
- 73
- 7% of 1,123
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 41,900 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical steering symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden, complete loss of power steering assist, often accompanied by a "steering assist off" or "steering assist fault" dashboard message.
- Some describe the steering wheel locking up or becoming very hard to turn while driving at low or highway speed, in a few cases leading to a crash.
- Several owners had the steering rack or steering control unit replaced by the dealer after repeated steering assist fault warnings.
- A separate group reports the vehicle pulling to the right during acceleration or gear shifts, described by some as torque steer, with dealers telling them this is normal.
- One owner reported the failure recurring after an earlier repair, with the same steering assist fault appearing again months later.
When 2016 Ford Escape steering complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 15, 2016, latest Jul 21, 2026.
Steering recalls for the 2016 Ford Escape
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Steering complaints by Escape model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many steering complaints does the 2016 Ford Escape have?
- NHTSA lists 73 steering complaints for the 2016 Escape, which is 7% of its 1,123 total complaints for that model year.
- Is there a recall for steering problems on the 2016 Ford Escape?
- No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for steering on the 2016 Ford Escape.
- At what mileage do steering problems usually show up on the 2016 Escape?
- The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2016 Escape is 41,900 miles, though some owners reported failures at much lower mileage in individual reports.
- Are steering complaints on the 2016 Escape linked to crashes?
- NHTSA data shows 4 crashes and 0 fires associated with steering complaints on the 2016 Ford Escape, with no injuries reported.
- Is the 2016 Ford Escape better or worse than other years for steering complaints?
- The 2016 Escape's steering share is 7% of complaints, the same as 2015 and 2014, but lower than 2010-2013 and higher than 2017-2022, which range from 1% to 3%.