Ford Transit Engine Problems
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Ford Transit across 9 model years. The 2015 model year has the most (35). The words owners use most often: “air filter” (7% of reports).
- 108engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 61%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air filter: mentioned in 8 of 108 complaints (7%)
- Throttle body: mentioned in 8 of 108 complaints (7%)
- Exhaust manifold: mentioned in 6 of 108 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 55 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 108 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford Transit engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Transit | 5 | 18% | — |
| 2023 Transit | 7 | 12% | 45,000 |
| 2022 Transit | 3 | 8% | 146,390 |
| 2020 Transit | 5 | 6% | 5,000 |
| 2019 Transit | 3 | 8% | 135,000 |
| 2018 Transit | 14 | 24% | 78,000 |
| 2017 Transit | 16 | 16% | 80,000 |
| 2016 Transit | 20 | 13% | 13,025 |
| 2015 Transit | 35 | 18% | 76,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2025
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Transit, F-150, and Explorer vehicles. The connecting rod and rod bearing components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Risk: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the connecting rods and replace the engine long block assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S55.
Fuel system, diesel; engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Model years: 2015, 2016
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Transit vehicles manufactured July 15, 2015, to April 14, 2016 and equipped with a 3.2L diesel engine. A fuel injector or the fuel volume control valve may clog due to metallic debris within the fuel system.
Risk: If debris clogs the fuel system, the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel injection pump and associated parts and, if necessary, will replace the fuel filter and flush the fuel system, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S32.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Followup on previous complaint. Manufacturer unable to perform recall on body because of lift package. Package was installed by manufacturer. Manufacturer releasing vehicle back to consumer as unrepairable, creating a possible deadly risk to both consumer and to highways.
Ford states they are unable to repair this recall #26V061 because the van is lifted, which was a marketing strategy done by Ford on the assembly line. They want the customer to shop dealers and see if anyone can do it. Ford customer service referred problem back to customer
This is the second time this occurred. Please refer to 11757120. While travelling approximately 65 mph the vehicle had a complete shutdown including the engine and all electrical systems in the chassis. When a vehicle has a complete shutdown while driving it is inherently dangerous and life…
Air bag failure at 35 to 45 mph. All sensors on front end should have been activated to deploy. I am reporting this due to this vehical having prior mvc and has been serviced. I am wondering if air bag system was not repaired from prior incidents
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument cluster went blank and the vehicle shut off, causing a loss of drive power. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and restarted. The failure reoccurred four times. The vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Transits have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 108 owner complaints about engine for the Ford Transit. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Transit engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Ford Transit?
The most frequent phrase is “air filter”, in 8 of 108 complaints, followed by “throttle body” (8).
Other Ford Transit problems
- Power Train problems (237)
- Electrical System problems (106)
See all Ford Transit problems.