2016 Ford Escape Transmission & Powertrain Problems
Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 320 of 1,123 total complaints for the 2016 Ford Escape, or 28% of all filings. Owners report shuddering, jerking, unintended rollback, and stalling, with a median failure mileage of 88,000 and a related recall for the shifter cable bushing.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 320
- 28% of 1,123
- Crashes reported
- 5
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 8
- Median mileage
- 88,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Vehicle shudders, jerks, or bangs when shifting from park to reverse or reverse to drive, even at a full stop.
- Transmission slips or surges unexpectedly while driving, which some owners say nearly caused a crash.
- Vehicle rolls backward or drives forward unintendedly after being placed in reverse or park, in some cases due to a shifter cable bushing issue covered by recall 22V413000.
- Engine stalls or loses power at highway or city speeds, sometimes with warning lights and a message to contact the dealer.
- Unintended acceleration was reported while braking, resulting in a rear-end collision with airbag deployment.
When 2016 Ford Escape transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 1, 2015, latest Sep 9, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Ford Escape
- NHTSA 22V413000Jun 10, 2022Transmission & Powertrain2,925,968 vehicles
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.
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
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. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
Transmission & Powertrain 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 2016 Ford Escape owners complained about transmission problems?
- NHTSA lists 320 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Ford Escape, which is 28% of all 1,123 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2016 Ford Escape?
- Yes. Recall 22V413000 covers the shifter cable bushing on 2013-2019 Escape vehicles. Dealers replace the under-hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing free of charge.
- At what mileage do 2016 Ford Escape transmission problems usually show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 88,000 at the time of failure, though some owners reported shuddering and jerking within the first few thousand miles of ownership.
- What are the most common transmission symptoms reported?
- Owners describe shuddering or jerking when shifting between reverse and drive, slipping or surging while driving, and in some cases the vehicle rolling or moving unintendedly after being shifted into reverse or park.
- Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these transmission complaints?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2016 Escape lists 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 8 injuries.