2016 Ford Escape

small SUV / 4-door SUV

2016 Ford Escape 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Not available

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd

The Ford Escape was redesigned for the 2013 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved to the right, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward side structure. Additionally, the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the dummy’s head and torso. The side curtain airbag deployed but does not have sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with forward side structure and outside objects.

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was not maintained well.

During the crash, the dummy's head barely contacted the airbag before sliding off to the left, and the seat belt allowed the dummy to move too far forward, as is evident from the gap between the seat back and the dummy's torso. The side curtain airbag did not extend far enough forward toward the A-pillar.

Door hinge pillar and instrument panel intrusion was extensive and contributed to a high risk of injury to the left hip and a moderate risk of injuries to the left and right lower legs.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1222
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 17
Footrest (cm) 11
Left toepan (cm) 11
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm) 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 10
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 25
Upper dash (cm) 20
Lower instrument panel (cm) 14

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1222
Head
HIC-15 122
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 20
Maximum Nij 0.36
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 13.6
Right 2.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 10
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 100
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.90
Right 0.40
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 4.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 47
Right 69

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2013-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd

The Ford Escape was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Although Ford reinforced the structure starting with the 2017 model year on the driver side to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes, no such changes were made on the passenger side.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then rolled around the right side. The side curtain airbag did not deploy, leaving the dummy's head vulnerable to contact with side structure and outside objects.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger's survival space was not maintained well.

The dummy's head contacted the frontal airbag but then rolled around to the right. The side curtain airbag did not deploy, uncommon for 2018 model year and later vehicles.

Extensive intrusion of the dashboard and door hinge pillar contributed to a likely risk of injury to the right hip.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CEP1807
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 22
Footrest (cm) 14
Right toepan (cm) 12
Center toepan (cm) 10
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 10
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 16
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 27
Upper dash (cm) 19
Right lower dash (cm) 16

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1807
Head
HIC-15 75
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 20
Femur (kN)
Left 3.4
Right 16.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 12
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 1
Right 100
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.38
Right 0.77
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 42
Right 41

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1807
Head
HIC-15 34
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 16
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.39
Right 0.30
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 21
Right 34

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd

The Ford Escape was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Two moderate overlap frontal tests of the Escape were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Ford. Ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the Institute's moderate offset frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well (Institute test car shown).

Smeared greasepaint behind the dummy's head shows where the head was protected from hitting hard structures during rebound by the side curtain airbag in the Institute's test.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal in both tests, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1205 CEF1206
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 6 8
Left (cm) 8 12
Center (cm) 8 10
Right (cm) 8 7
Brake pedal (cm) 3 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1 1
Right (cm) 1 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1 3
Rearward (cm) 1 -1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1205 CEF1206
Head
HIC-15 223 212
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12 23
Maximum Nij 0.22 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24 26
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.6 0.4
Femur force - right (kN) 0.6 0.5
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.27 0.26
Maximum tibia index - right 0.35 0.36
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.7 1.6
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.0 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 38 61
Right 85 85

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2013-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Ford Escape was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Side impact ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Ford.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1203
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1203
Head HIC-15 160
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 41
Lateral force (kN) 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 27
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.70
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.29
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.6
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.5
Combined force (kN) 3.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 47
A-P moment (Nm) -25

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1203
Head HIC-15 118
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 37
Lateral force (kN) 2.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 32
Average deflection (mm) 19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.00
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.41
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.5
Combined force (kN) 2.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 50
A-P moment (Nm) 18

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2013-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,612 lbs
Peak force18,167 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.03

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 12
Distance below top of head (mm) -11
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.1
Head contact time (ms) 46
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 7
Max neck tension (N) 324

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Titanium trim equipped with Equipment Group 301 package
Low-beam headlight typeHID projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and gradual left curves, fair on the sharp left curve and inadequate on the sharp right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Titanium trim equipped with Equipment Group 301 package
Low-beam headlight type HID projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 82.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 39.9 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 62.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 41.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 46.3 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 41.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 127.2 m
Straightaway left edge 111.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 77.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 76.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 53.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 59.5 m

Trim level(s)

  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • Titanium trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim
  • SE trim
  • Titanium trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 112.7 m 272.2%
Straightaway left edge 65.6 m 272.2%
250m radius right curve, right edge 42.7 m 72.8%
250m radius left curve, left edge 43.1 m 56.1%
150m radius right curve, right edge 33.1 m 83.2%
150m radius left curve, left edge 33.6 m 44.0%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 144.5 m
Straightaway left edge 121.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-19 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSE
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSE
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 7
Clearance angle (degrees) 62
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 63
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 19
Clearance angle (degrees) 64
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 46
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor
No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH
Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation