2016 Ford Escape Visibility Problems

The rear camera first started failing intermittently, and now occurs constantly. The camera goes black on the screen. I nearly backed into a child in a grocery store parking lot.

NHTSA ID

11751670

Incident

Jul 6, 2026

Unknown

NHTSA ID

11733646

Incident

Apr 24, 2026

Rear camera screen will turn black and not work for days at a time, or will sometimes display for a second and then as I’m backing up, it’ll turn black. Then for a day it’ll work just fine, then the next day be back to not working again out of the blue. I have been in no accidents. It once even displayed my view upside down. Yes it’s available for inspection upon request. I would say people are very at risk because I can’t trust it to work and I might hit someone if the screen goes black on me while I’m backing up. I haven’t brought it to a dealership or others because of cost and time. This has been going on for years, I’m not sure when it first started… maybe around the 80,000 mile marker?

NHTSA ID

11689010

Incident

Sep 23, 2023

Rear view camera is not working properly. Will either flicker on & off while reversing, display upside down, or just show a black screen. This has been going on for a while. There seems to be a recall for this malfunction for several Ford models, however not one for my model.

NHTSA ID

11686493

Incident

Jan 7, 2025

Faulty Switch. Windshield wipers don't work when I try to turn them on. While driving, they will randomly turn on by themselves and will not cut off until the vehicle is turned off. Waiting for a mechanic to get the part.

NHTSA ID

11673935

Incident

Jun 19, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 58 MPH in the rain, the sunroof glass panel exploded and shattered. The contact continued driving. The contact had not sustained any injuries. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 119,500.

NHTSA ID

11658953

Incident

May 4, 2025

Mileage

119,500 mi

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s and passenger’s side windshield wipers failed to operate as intended while activated. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the body control module needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted by the independent mechanic, and the parts for the repairs were ordered. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ID

11628486

Incident

Jul 15, 2024

Mileage

95,000 mi

The rear backup camera intermittently cuts in and out. The touch screen also intermittently turns black and is unresponsive. After it died, I replaced the infotainment touchscreen computer. The rear backup camera is still intermittent and unreliable. Other owners have complained online about poor seals in the rear wiper assembly, which leads to leaks that corrode the camera's wiring harness and cause an intermittent video signal. I feel this is a known problem that Ford is choosing to ignore and is dangerous when the backup camera cuts out while backing up.

NHTSA ID

11626598

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

Backup camera fails intermittently and unpredictability. Often just a blank blue screen appears, sometimes an error message over a video image appears, and other times the camera works at first but fails after a few seconds. It can work one minute, and the next time the car is shifted into reverse (such as when parallel parking) it may not work (or vice-versa). OBDII fault codes indicate a possible communications/electrical issue. Online reports reveal that there are scores of other owners of model year 2014-2019 Ford Escapes with the same or similar issues with their back-up cameras (one mentioned having theirs replaced at least _4 times_ while the car was still in its warranty period). No other warning lamps are available. The alert text that (only sometimes) appears on the display screen when the camera fails is non-specific (e.g. “Camera not available.”). This has been occurring for at least the last 3 or 4 years. For all intents and purposes, since this fault is so unpredictable, I can no longer consider this car to possess a back-up camera. Safety: while I have never had a serious, another driver could easily fail to see and possibly collide with property or individuals while reversing (especially when the camera image disappears in the middle of an in-progress reversing operation). I am more than happy to make my vehicle available for inspection upon request. Ford has issued a recall for the seemingly identical issue for 2020 model year vehicles, but not for my 2016 Ford Escape (nor, to my knowledge, many other model years using an identical camera and display design).

NHTSA ID

11625446

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD. I JUST REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD ON JULY 19, 2019, AND HAVE A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AGAIN TODAY, AUGUST 12, 2019. IN MY 30 YEARS OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD FOR CRACKING AND NOW I'VE DONE IT TWICE IN LESS THAN A MONTH.

NHTSA ID

11243351

Incident

Aug 12, 2019

Mileage

23,800 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING ON JUNE 20, 2019. CONFIRMED IT WAS NOT A FUSE. IT WAS SUMMER WHILE I WAS AWAY ON VACATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHICH IS AN 8 HR DRIVE FROM HOME. WIPERS SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED WORKING LIKE NORMAL AFTER TWO DAYS NOT WORKING. THAT SAME DAY ON JUNE 22, 2019 DURING DRIVE IN 95 DEGREE HEAT ON HIGHWAY IN STAND STILL TRAFFIC ON 8 HOUR DRIVE HOME, WIPERS STARTED TURNING ON AT VARIABLE SPEEDS ON THEIR OWN AND COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF, CHANGED SPEEDS, OR AFFECTED BY ANYTHING WITH THE WIPER SWITCH. THE WIPERS ARE NOT AUTOMATIC OR RAIN SENSING AND IT WAS A CLEAR DAY. WIPERS DID NOT TURN OFF UNTIL TRAFFIC CLEARED, THE CAR WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PRESUMABLY COULD BE COOLED BY THE CAR MOVING. A SLIGHT MELTING SMELL WAS NOTED DURING SPONTANEOUS TURNING ON OF WIPERS. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY CONTROL MODULE AS THE CONNECTION WAS BAD AND AFFECTING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. COST ME $433.47 IN PARTS AND LABOR.

NHTSA ID

11228586

Incident

Jun 22, 2019

Mileage

59,941 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITH A LOUD NOISE. GLASS ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE GLASS WAS REMOVED FROM THE SUN ROOF AREA BY A GLASS REPAIR FACILITY WHO ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT GLASS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE SUN ROOF REPLACEMENT PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11141110

Incident

Oct 17, 2018

****NOTE - VIN FOR A TOYOTA RAV4 2010, NOT A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. NEED MORE INFORMATION **** IN LIGHT RAIN, THE WIPERS JAM ON THE WINDSHIELD. AT TIMES, DIRECTLY IN YOUR VIEW. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY. IT OCCURS WHEN MOVING AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11119537

Incident

Aug 12, 2018

Mileage

24,750 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OR MORE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL WHISTLING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A 3/8 GAP BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND PLASTIC TRIM. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (CROSSROADS FORD OF INDIAN TRAIL, 88 DALE JARRETT BLVD, INDIAN TRAIL, NC 28079) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: PAF-14252656-R9Y2C0. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ID

11081045

Incident

Feb 25, 2018

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE BACK WINDSHIELD ON MY 2016 FORD ESCAPE SHATTERED FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS WARMING UP THE CAR ONE MORNING AT MY RESIDENCE WITH THE BACK DEFROSTER ON. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT THIS WEEK, WHICH I DID NOT DISCOVER UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY UPON APPROACHING THE VEHICLE. THE BACK DEFROSTER WAS USED WHILE WARMING UP THE VEHICLE THAT MORNING. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS UNKNOWN, HOWEVER, I SUSPECT IT MAY SOMEHOW BE RELATED EITHER WITH USE OF THE BACK DEFROSTER COMBINED WITH THE COLD WEATHER, OR PERHAPS SOMETHING STRUCTURALLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS OCCUR WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I'VE DRIVEN BEFORE AND FOR IT TO HAPPEN TWICE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE, AS I DO NOT BELIEVE IT WAS HIT WITH A FOREIGN OBJECT, ESPECIALLY TWO TIMES. BESIDES THE COST AND INCONVENIENCE, I AM ALSO CONCERNED WITH A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING THE BACK WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID

11073031

Incident

Feb 13, 2018

Mileage

17,000 mi

2016 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE VEHICLE THAT WAS AGREED UPON. BUT, PROVIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE CONSUMER'S MEDICAL OR PERSONAL REQUESTS. UPDATED 10/2/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10838238

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED UPWARDS AND MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE GLASS SHATTERED AND THE PIECES FELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DID NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNUSUAL. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE HIT THE ROOF TO CAUSE THE EXPLOSION; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DISAGREED. THE MANUFACTURER GAVE THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER AND PROMISED TO CALL THE CONTACT BACK. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER'S, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,592. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10950141

Incident

Feb 7, 2017

Mileage

21,592 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN IT RAINED, AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE WATER POURED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DRENCHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 12/21/16*LJ

NHTSA ID

10917588

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

500 mi