The Ford Escape is a highly competitive and affordable vehicle in the “compact SUVs” segment of the car market. It has everything to make it rank highly; a spacious interior, agile handling, and a turbocharged peppy engine. Unfortunately, the safety is lacking and we going to see why. Officially having 379 complaints and just 1 recall, there is no shortage of problems. A faulty turbocharger and powertrain are the most common issue. Defective electric wiring causing fires are among the most bizarre ones. This article aims to give a fair chance to the 2016 Ford Escape among its competitors like the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Honda CR-V, and the Nissan Rogue and provide you an incisive answer on whether it should be your next SUV of choice.
2016 Ford Escape User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Problems
- Engine head gasket blown and turbocharge leaks-2016 ford escape coolant leak seems to be a reoccurring problem, mainly due to the premature failure of the head gasket. As a result, the cylinders can misfire, the engine can overheat, and or cause total engine failure depending on the time taken to notice the issue. So far Ford has not been supportive of this issue according to the complainers. The turbocharge has been cited to leak exhaust fumes into the cabin, this can be hazardous to the occupant's health even if it is for a short while. The dealership has diagnosed it as a fuel system failure and needs it replaced, some dealerships helped diagnose and repair the problem. The engine also seems to be defective in other areas forcing the users to do a complete engine recall which can range anywhere around $10,000.
- Brake failure- The '16 Ford Escape owners had their brake fail while in operation, fortunately, it only resulted in minor crashes. The issue cited by the various users was the brake vacuum pump part #BB5Z-2A451-C I, and prematurely worn-out brake rotors and pads. The dealership for some was willing to change the "brake vacuum pump", but when it came to the brake rotors and pads the owners had to pay it from their pocket. Less than helpful ABS and hill assist systems were also noticed by the users.
- Fuel System defects-The build of the 2016 escape has a malfunctioning canister purge valve and fuel tank vacuum which causes the engine to stall, especially after fueling it up. The dealership has been less than cooperative on this matter and in most cases, the owners had to pay from their own pocket for the parts to be replaced. As this seems to be a common trend among the 2016 Ford Escape, the owners are surprised there is no recall done on this matter.
- Powertrain and its problematic transmission-The 2016 ford escape transmission problems were the most common issue the owners faced. The vehicle would lose motive power, decelerate and then eventually stall out, the dealership though diagnosing it with transmission failure themselves, was extremely difficult to deal with. Users were asked to pay upwards of $6k to fix the entire transmission. People are still surprised as to why a 2016 Ford Escape transmission recall is yet to be made since the number of people affected by this is many. Another common problem was the gears slipping into reverse or neutral, and when the drivers try to switch the gears finding the gears difficult. This can be in part due to the defective transmission system, but a verified reason is still not provided. Users have also stated their 2016 ford escape starting problems with no explanation further provided.
- Steering failure- Despite various users stating that their power steering system failed mid-operation and the steering wheel locked up randomly, the dealership stated that there was no solution yet to be found, and had to deal with the issue for time being.
Electrical Problems
- Electrical malfunction with the infotainment system- The infotainment system was causing more harm than good for various users, systems like the radio, Bluetooth, and GPS were constantly malfunctioning and causing the screen to go black. Whether the users have informed or fixed the issue is unclear at the moment.
- Fire caused due to electrical malfunction- Due to malfunctioning electrical wires, the engine would catch up on fire. There is no specific area of defect, as some stated that their Infotainment system area caught up on fire, while another stated the engine area to be the culprit.
- No key detection malfunction-Another issue that is a nuisance to the owners of the 2016 Ford Escape owners who have keys to start up the vehicle. Due to defective software in the anti-theft system, the keys are not detected when inserted in the ignition and thus leave the driver unable to drive the vehicle.
Safety Problems
- Airbags' failure to deploy-Some users have stated that despite a major crash the airbags failed to deploy for them, causing them to be injured extensively. Ford is aware of one of their airbags; the driver's side knee airbags, being faulty and hence has initiated a recall against NHTSA ID: 17V3980000.
- Seatbelts failed to protect-The seatbelts failed to lock and keep the occupant safe, thus causing the occupants to be ejected and causing them extensive injuries. No further detail is provided on this matter, Ford is yet to notify the reasons as to why this happened.
Exterior Problems
- Doors and tailgate fly open-Due to a defective latch/lock, the doors and tailgates of the 2016 Ford Escapes come flying open while the vehicle is in motion. The dealership helped in most cases in fixing this up.
2016 Ford Escape Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional remarks. |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
June 26, 2017, |
17V3980000 |
Drivers' side knee airbags won't inflate. I am |
The airbag module installed for the driver's side airbags in these vehicles were produced without the inflator gas generant material, and, as a result, the airbags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash. Therefore fails the FMVSS regulations and a potential safety hazard. |
Your dealership will change the driver's side knee airbags for free. |
Should you buy the 2016 Ford Escape
It is noted that although the 2016 Ford Escape has 1 recalls, there are several recurring patterns of issues, especially with the defective transmission and coolant leaks. Unfortunately, along with a generally bad customer experience with the dealership, Ford has also chosen to ignore these recurring issues. As such, it would be wise to look for an alternative. Allbet, the vehicle can be a good purchase, provided you get a good deal and ensure that your head gasket and transmission system are working properly. Although, the 2016 Honda CR-V is a much better choice, having fewer complaints and recalls. Not to mention that the Honda SUV has a 5-star NHTSA safety rating, while the 2016 Escape has only a 4-star safety rating from NHTSA.
