Ford Transit Problems by Year
NHTSA has 789 owner complaints and 65 safety recalls on file for the Ford Transit, across 15 model years (2001–2027). The 2015 model year has the most complaints (193). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Ford Transit years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Transit year: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2015 Transit: 193 complaints, 26 recalls
- 2016 Transit: 156 complaints, 21 recalls
- 2017 Transit: 98 complaints, 18 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 Transit: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2014 Transit: 3 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2025 Transit: 4 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Transit problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 237 | 11 | 6 |
| Engine problems | 108 | 9 | 1 |
| Electrical System problems | 106 | 12 | 3 |
| Structure | 55 | 12 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 53 | 12 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 51 | 7 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 42 | 8 | 3 |
| Wheels | 38 | 10 | 0 |
| Steering | 36 | 8 | 0 |
| Seats | 33 | 5 | 1 |
| Suspension | 26 | 11 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 25 | 7 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 6 | 3 |
| Tires | 20 | 9 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 15 | 8 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 14 | 8 | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ford Transit problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2016: power train (60)
- 2015: power train (78)
All Ford Transit model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Transit | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2026 Transit | 5 | 1 | — | Wheels | |
| 2025 Transit | 4 | 4 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2024 Transit | 28 | 10 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Transit | 59 | 18 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2022 Transit | 39 | 16 | — | Back Over Prevention | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2021 Transit | 24 | 4 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Transit | 84 | 9 | — | Seats | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 Transit | 37 | 9 | — | Unknown or Other | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2018 Transit | 58 | 14 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 Transit | 98 | 18 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Transit | 156 | 21 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 Transit | 193 | 26 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Transit | 3 | 3 | — | Power Train | |
| 2001 Transit | 1 | 0 | — | Suspension |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Transit years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2015 (193), 2016 (156), 2017 (98), 2020 (84) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Transit year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Transit?
Power Train, with 237 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Transit have?
65 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.