Service bulletin SSM 45967

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10092401
Published by NHTSA	2017-02-21
Manufacturer's number	SSM 45967
Manufacturer's date	2016-08-03
NHTSA component	POWER TRAIN

NHTSA's summary

SOME 2016 ESCAPE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT NO TRANSMISSION UPSHIFT AFTER A DOWNSHIFT EVENT WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THIS CONCERN. NO REPAIRS SHOULD BE PERFORMED FOR THIS CONCERN AT THIS TIME. CUSTOMERS CAN CONTINUE TO USE CRUISE CONTROL. TEMPORARILY CYCLING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION RETURNS TO 6TH GEAR WILL ALLOW CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION IN HIGH GEAR UNTIL THE NEXT DOWNSHIFT EVENT. TO ASSIST WITH THE INVESTIGATION USE THE REPORT A VEHICLE CONCERN LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OASIS REPORT AND SUBMIT A GLOBAL CONCERN REPORT (GCR). CONTINUE TO MONITOR OASIS FOR UPDATES.

The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

Components

Transmission and driveline

Vehicles listed
FORD ESCAPE	2016

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
2022311	2022-06-13. Powertrain
22V413000	2022-06-10. POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
SSM 54366	2025-11-19. Service bulletin. Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
TSB 22-2066	2022-05-02. Service bulletin. Some 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2018 C-MAX, 2014-2019 Escape, 2014-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles may indicate an incorrect shifter lever position. This may be due to the bushing at the transmission end of the shifter lever cable resulting in a mismatch of cluster and selected gear position. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the bushing and on certain vehicles install the protective cap over the selector at the transmission end of the selector lever cable.
TSB160001	2021-12-20. Service bulletin. 49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - March 2016 Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B141B and/or B141C
LTR3756	2021-12-20. Service bulletin. 49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
TSB 21-2152	2021-06-03. Service bulletin. Some 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2018 C-MAX, 2014-2019 Escape, 2014-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles may indicate an incorrect shifter lever position. This may be due to the bushing at the transmission end of the shifter lever cable resulting in a mismatch of cluster and selected gear position. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the bushing and on certain vehicles install the protective cap over the selector at the transmission end of the selector lever cable.
SSM 49821	2021-06-01. Service bulletin. Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK11 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
TSB 21-2033	2021-04-03. Service bulletin. Some 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2018 C-MAX, 2013-2019 Escape, 2014-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles may indicate an incorrect shifter lever position. This may be due to the bushing at the transmission end of the shifter lever cable resulting in a mismatch of cluster and selected gear position. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the bushing and install the protective cap over the selector at the transmission end of the selector lever cable.
SSM 48725	2020-05-04. Service bulletin. 2016-2019 Escape vehicles equipped with the 1.6L EcoBoost or 1.5L EcoBoost engines may have missing or damaged dowel alignment pins between the engine and transaxle. When either a new long block or new short block is installed in the vehicle and the dowel pins were found missing or damaged upon disassembly of the original engine, the flexplate (6375) must be replaced. For engine overhauls or other engine related repairs where the engine and transaxle do not require separation, replacing the flexplate is not required. This direction also applies to existing service publication repairs where the engine and transaxle are separated as part of the repair procedure. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01.
SSM 48423	2020-01-08. Service bulletin. Some 2015-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK11 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
SSM 47976	2019-06-07. Service bulletin. On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was not applied from the factory. Also verify that the engine/transmission alignment dowel pins are present as well as the engine crankshaft dowel pin, if equipped, when installing the transmission. Failure to adequately lubricate the converter hub greatly increases the likelihood of the flexplate cracking in the future. Missing dowels may cause a misalignment issue also resulting in a premature failure. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01.