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2016 Ford Escape Wipers & Visibility Problems

11 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data

11
Complaints
Feb 2017Dec 2024
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (11)

mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jul 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 #: 11673935
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: May 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 #: 11658953
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Dec 2024

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 #: 11628486
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Aug 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 #: 11243351
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Jun 2019

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 #: 11228586
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2018

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 #: 11141110
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Aug 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 #: 11119537
mediumVISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Filed: Mar 2018

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 #: 11081045
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Feb 2018

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 #: 11073031
mediumVISIBILITY
Filed: Feb 2017

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 #: 10950141
mediumVISIBILITY/WIPER
Filed: Oct 2016

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 #: 10917588

Other 2016 Ford Escape Issues