2016 Ford Escape transmission and drivetrain problems
325 of the 1,131 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Escape name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 25 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 of the 325 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 9 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2015: 1 · 2016: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 29 · 2020: 40 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 88 · 2023: 46 · 2024: 36 · 2025: 35 · 2026: 17
Half of the 193 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 69,000 and 108,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,131 complaints in all about the 2016 Ford Escape, 17 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Escape transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
While driving around 40mph, vehicle cut off and displayed a message: transmission not in park. After pulling over and restarting vehicle, the volume on radio moved up and down on its own while transmission in the parked position. Later that day vehicle cut off within 30 seconds of using remote starter.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was a strong vibration when driving the vehicle. The contact noticed that an interim solution was to drive in the s gear and, within a few miles, change the gear to drive to prevent the vibration.
We went on vacation in our new Escape and the transmission started to slip surge and other things that came close to causing 2 accidents. Something should be done about Ford being allowed to put out faulty transmissions for years. My transmission had to be rebuild with only being a few months old. Something should be done about this
On may 6, 2016 we purchased a 2016 Ford Escape titanium 2.0 AWD. On 6/22/16 I brought the vehicle in for service due to a shuddering when the car is shifted from reverse to drive and gas is applied. The service department of seymour Ford of jackson , mi, who have been very helpful, performed a reprogram of the PCM.
Was driving vehicle at 35 MPH then engine died, service engine now light came on, message center said contact dealer. Restarted after put in park. Checked for codes with generic scan tool, obd2 code P2112 in memory. Contacted dealer purchased from for service.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 22V413000 HighJun 10, 2022 · 2,925,968 vehicles
- 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.
25 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54366 Service bulletinNov 12, 2025
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0011 P0012 P0014 P0015 P0016 P0017 P0018 P0019
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Ford Escape names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Ford Escape
Source: the same files- engine problems 255 complaints
- backup camera and parking sensor problems 228 complaints
- electrical problems 92 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Ford Escape?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 325 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (29% of everything owners filed about it), and 25 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Ford Escape?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 22V413000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Ford Escape?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 88,693 miles; half of them between 69,000 and 108,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.