Model year 2016 · Ford

2016 Ford Escape recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Escape. The most recent was reported on January 15, 2026. Campaigns are matched by the model names in NHTSA's records: ESCAPE.

NHTSA data through October 6, 2026 · How these pages are built

Campaigns at a glance

Recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Escape, newest first
NHTSA number	Reported	Component
26V011000	January 15, 2026	Equipment › Electrical › Engine Block Heater
25V695000	October 13, 2025	Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera
22V413000	June 10, 2022	Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
17V398000	June 26, 2017	Air Bags › Knee Bolster

Systems involved: Air Bags (1) · Back Over Prevention (1) · Equipment (1) · Power Train (1)

Recall records

NHTSA 26V011000Manufacturer no. 26S01

Equipment › Electrical › Engine Block Heater

Report received by NHTSA: January 15, 2026
Owner notification: Not yet in the record
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 116,672 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record: ESCAPE

Defect summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

Source: NHTSA recall 26V011000, filed by Ford Motor Company. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 25V695000Manufacturer no. 25SA9

Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera

Report received by NHTSA: October 13, 2025
Owner notification: January 2, 2026
Recall initiated by: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Units potentially affected: 1,448,655 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2016 Ford Escape: Not reported – March 20, 2016
Model names in the NHTSA record: ESCAPE

Defect summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Safety risk

A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

Source: NHTSA recall 25V695000, filed by Ford Motor Company. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 22V413000Manufacturer no. 22S43

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl)

Report received by NHTSA: June 10, 2022
Owner notification: October 27, 2022
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 2,925,968 (whole campaign)
Model names in the NHTSA record: ESCAPE

Components: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl); Power Train › Shift Linkage/Cable/Rod

Defect summary

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.

Safety 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.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 22V413000, filed by Ford Motor Company. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

NHTSA 17V398000Manufacturer no. 17C11

Air Bags › Knee Bolster

Report received by NHTSA: June 26, 2017
Owner notification: August 8, 2017
Recall initiated by: Manufacturer
Units potentially affected: 3 (whole campaign)
Build dates listed for the 2016 Ford Escape: December 18, 2015 – December 18, 2015
Model names in the NHTSA record: ESCAPE

Defect summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Ford Escape vehicles. The driver's knee airbag modules installed in these vehicles were produced without the inflator gas generant material, and, as a result, the air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Safety risk

In the event of a crash, if the driver's knee air bag does not inflate as intended, the driver has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace driver's knee air bag, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C11.

Notes in the NHTSA record

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA recall 17V398000, filed by Ford Motor Company. View the campaign on NHTSA.gov

Records reproduce NHTSA's published text for each campaign. Last record date for this page: January 15, 2026.