Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 899 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Edge, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 246 | 27% |
| Steering | 80 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 73 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 69 | 8% |
| Power train | 48 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 39 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 39 | 4% |
| Visibility/wiper | 24 | 3% |
| Wheels | 19 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 19 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Dealer has told me that there is a leak that could impact engine performance/life. They said it could happen in 2,000 or 20,000 miles. What I have experienced is that several times a month when I turn the engine on it ha
NHTSA complaint: Engine
RE: Safety Recall MFG No. 25S87, NHTSA No. 25V544, 08/25/2025 Rear Brake Lines - Potential Failure. It has been OVER ONE YEAR and my car has not been repaired due to lack of parts. This is unacceptable - This Safety Reca
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
Transmission jumps from 2nd to 4th without warning and causes the vehicle to jerk into oncoming traffic
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Total engine failure at 81,000 miles due to coolant intrusion. This is due to a known defect by FORD as outlined in the Technical Service Bulletin #19-2346. Engine light and codes PO316 and PO304 promoted spark plug rep
NHTSA complaint: Engine
My 2016 Ford Edge equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine experienced an internal engine coolant intrusion failure that resulted in significant engine damage and ultimately required replacement of the complete engine asse
NHTSA complaint: Engine
My 2016 Ford has EcoBoost coolant intrusion defect, The system failed to hold pressure, dropping significantly below operational thresholds. A subsequent borescope inspection confirmed that coolant is actively leaking pa
NHTSA complaint: Engine
2.0 Ecoboost coolant intrusion. Vehicle is now undrivable and was told the current engine cannot be repaired and a whole new engine is needed.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
Engine started having a rough idle on start up and within a few days the check engine light came on. Took to Lonnie Cobb Ford in Henderson, TN. DTC P0300 and P0302 diagnosed. Coolant leaking on to piston head. Issue
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Edge. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Min
Risk: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increa
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear w
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured February 9, 2015, to August 12, 2016. During dealer servicing, the affected vehicles may be have been updated with incorrect Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) softwar
Risk: If the operator is not warned of an ABS or ESC malfunction and the ESC loses engine torque control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module, and update the service software, free of charge. The recall begin November 22, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-8
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module. As such, these vehicles fail to
Risk: During deployment, if the air bag does not fully inflate or the cushion detaches, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Risk: A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021.
| Reliability raw | 48 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 60 | average |
| Maintenance | 74 | good |
| Depreciation | 68 | good |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 899 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 246 of them (27%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 48/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 60/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2016 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 63/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.