The Lemon IndexThe engine misfired in the first moments after starting. Full P0316 page
59 owner complaints · the #6 code Ford Escape owners name · 8% of Ford Escape complaints that name a code (every car: 1.0%)
Middle of 71,000 miles · most between 59,000 and 114,000 (9 owners gave it)
Ford Escape owners named P0316 in 59 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2017, 2018 and 2019 model years, at a middle of 71,000 miles. The part they name most is the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (30 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford Escape model years that report P0316
Owner complaints naming P0316, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
71,000 miles is the middle of what 9 owners entered. Half were between 59,000 and 114,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the engine (replaced or rebuilt), in 30 of the 59 complaints (51%). 30 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 5 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: head gasket (29), spark plugs (11) and engine computer (ECM / PCM) (8).
- Engine replaced or rebuilt30 complaints30 mention a repair or replacement, 5 of them say the problem came back · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Head gasket or coolant in a cylinder29 complaints9 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Spark plugs11 complaints6 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)8 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Ignition coils7 complaints7 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford Escape owners paid
- Pistons, rings or valves3 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement
- Turbocharger or wastegate3 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford Escape owners paid
21 complaints mention a recall and 10 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0316
76% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires76%45 of 59 complaints
- Overheats27%16 of 59 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode10%6 of 59 complaints
- Flashing check engine light8%5 of 59 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off8%5 of 59 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard5%3 of 59 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0316 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0301 20 P0300 19 P0304 18 P0302 16 P0217 15 P1285 14
Other codes named in the same Ford Escape complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
- Engine replacement$9,5786 bills · middle bill
- Ignition coil replacement$4001 bill
Repair bills owners named in these 59 complaints (7 in all). Owner reports, not a quote: costs vary by shop and region.
Ford Escape head gasket replacement cost · Ford Escape spark plug replacement cost · Ford Escape ECM (engine computer) replacement cost · Ford Escape turbocharger replacement cost
Recalls on these Ford Escape years
- Engine · 2023, 2024 · issued 2025
The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak. NHTSA 25V372000 - Engine · 2023 · issued 2025
In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine comp… NHTSA 25V345000 - Engine · 2023 · issued 2023
In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine comp… NHTSA 23V380000 - Engine · 2014 · issued 2017
If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil. NHTSA 17V209000 - Engine · 2004 · issued 2012
Inadequate clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector could result in a stuck throttle when the accelerator pedal is fully or almost-fully depressed. NHTSA 12V353000
5 recalls for the same systems (engine) on the Ford Escape model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0316. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0316: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford Escape reliability by year
- 2017 Ford Escape problems and recalls
Other codes Ford Escape owners report
P2111 P2112 P0302 P0303 B2278 P0301 P0304 P1299 P0300 P1450
P0316 on other cars
Ford Edge (43) · Ford Fusion (17)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0316 means
The engine misfired in the first moments after starting. It often shows up as a rough or shaky cold start.
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
- Spark plugs or coils
- Leaking fuel injector
- Coolant leaking into a cylinder
- Carbon buildup on the valves
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11776058, 11768370, 11767130, 11758082, 11744892, 11738955, 11738143, 11735687, 11734956, 11731700, 11720710, 11720701 and 47 more.
Quick answers
What does P0316 mean on a Ford Escape?
Misfire Detected on Startup (First 1000 Revolutions). The engine misfired in the first moments after starting. It often shows up as a rough or shaky cold start.
Which Ford Escape years have the most P0316 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2017 (30), 2018 (15), 2019 (9) Ford Escape named P0316 most (59 complaints in all, 2004–2024). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0316 on a Ford Escape?
Owners most often name the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (30 of 59 complaints), then head gasket and spark plugs. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0316 show up on a Ford Escape?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 71,000 miles; half were between 59,000 and 114,000 (9 owners).
Can I drive my Ford Escape with P0316?
Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0316 on the Ford Escape, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.