RoadVitals

2016 Ford Escape Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest May 3, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 1,079 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed May 3, 2024

I have 2 ford escapes a 2015 and a 2016 (2016 referenced in this complaint) both have experienced catastrophic transmission failure within weeks of each other. The transmission would slip and hard shift, eventually disable completely and would indicate the transmission needed to be serviced.

NHTSA ID
11586791
Incident
May 2, 2024
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Mar 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to move upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The message "Insufficient Transmission Fluid. Service Now" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had failed, and the transmission fluid was leaking. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 159,834.

NHTSA ID
11577619
Incident
Mar 13, 2024
Mileage
159,834 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 12, 2024

Out of the blue on highway. Tachometer reved up to 6 without using throttle. No power, then it jumped out of gear to neutral down a hill. I almost got hit by a truck , no dash lights came on till I called fot help and my husband drove to a safe area and ford escape reared up in air . Then transmission default light came on . A guy put transmission module in to it and it didn't work. So this is not right if it was recalled and now it is doing the issue later

NHTSA ID
11576915
Incident
Mar 9, 2024
Transmission
Filed Nov 6, 2023

The transmission went out suddenly while driving. My safety was at risk since it suddenly went out while the vehicle was in motion on a typically busy road. I had to pull over with my hazards on hoping no one would hit me.The car was taken to a local dealer where they determined there were metal shavings in the transmission and it needed to be replaced. A warning came up on the screen but when it came up it was determined that the cause was not need to fix immediately and did not relate to the transmission.

NHTSA ID
11553862
Incident
Nov 1, 2023
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Oct 15, 2023

My vehicle has 57 thousand miles bought it at Ford Dealership with 48k miles and already having transmission issues. Tow truck driver who picked my vehicle up claimed “Every Ford escape i pick up for a tow is always a transmission issue” Horrible car, Waste of money.

NHTSA ID
11550014
Incident
Sep 28, 2023
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Oct 9, 2023

Transition suddenly failed when under normal driving. No symptoms were present when driving. Failed out of nowhere.

NHTSA ID
11549091
Incident
Oct 9, 2023
Mileage
148,510 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 27, 2023

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THE DEFECTIVE PART WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND FEELS THE BILL IS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE.

NHTSA ID
11503935
Incident
Jan 27, 2023
Transmission
Filed Dec 22, 2022

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11498549
Incident
Dec 22, 2022
Transmission
Filed Sep 28, 2022

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE RELATED TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-413.

NHTSA ID
11486845
Incident
Sep 28, 2022
Transmission
Filed Sep 1, 2022

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-413. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A LOCAL SHOP PRIOR TO BEING NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CONSUMER'S REQUESTED DUE TO IT NOT BEING REPAIRED AT A DEALER.

NHTSA ID
11482376
Incident
Sep 1, 2022
Transmission
Filed Aug 11, 2022

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE RELATED TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 22V-413.

NHTSA ID
11478743
Incident
Aug 11, 2022
Transmission
Filed Aug 3, 2022

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE COSNUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED SAFETY RECALL 22S43/ 22V413.

NHTSA ID
11477378
Incident
Aug 3, 2022
Transmission
Filed Jul 11, 2022

Over a month ago, the transmission on my vehicle blew while I was driving the car. There were no warning signs or lamps prior to this issue. I have been made aware of the recall and I am not sure if the transmission failure is due to this recall. A mechanic has looked at it and has confirmed that a new transmission is needed.

NHTSA ID
11473306
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jul 6, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported

Cranked car to leave, left running to run back in my home for a forgotten item. As I’m walking toward my home, my car started rolling backwards. I ran try and stop it as it was only moving 1-2mph. Hit my mailbox and started veering right towards a light pole and utility box in neighbors yard. I was able to get to it after falling twice, got the door open, but by that time, it was too close to the pole. I let go to avoid injury and the driver side door hit dead center of the light pole. The car is not drivable now. The door was smashed forward, hinges were busted, and door was flat against left front fender.

NHTSA ID
11472499
Incident
Jun 22, 2022
Transmission
Filed Sep 7, 2021
1 injury reported

I had driven my vehicle normally until one day I put the car into Park and it continued to roll forward. The shifter was stuck in park and would not move, but my dash indicated the vehicle was in Nuetral. The cable between the shifter and the transmission was damaged. Prior to this the sun roof has stopped working and my backup camera started malfunctioning as well. This is after I had to get the fuel injector replaced and the turbo replaced before that.

NHTSA ID
11431965
Incident
Sep 6, 2021

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .