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2011 Ford Transit
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
24 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#5 of 368Among the 2011 models with a matured record, the 2011 Ford Transit ranks #5, scoring higher than 98% of them. See the 2011 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Ford Transit, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Visibility & wipers (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Visibility & wipers
25%6 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“WE HAD A WINDSHIELD WIPER FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO REPAIR SHOP THE OTHER WIPER FELL OFF. WE DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND SHOWED SOME VEHICLES…”
Transmission & drivetrain
17%4 complaints
“NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!”
Engine
17%4 complaints
“WHEN HALF OR 3/4 LOADED GOING UP A HILL ON HWY VAN DOWN SHIFTS A JERKS IN TO GEAR . FEELS LIKE YOU GOT KICKED OFF A HORSE . MOST NOTICABLE BETWEEN 40MPH AND 50 MPH.. T…”
Electrical system
17%4 complaints
“WHEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE VAN IT DOES NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS FOR THE SLIDING DOORS HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE FRONT SEATS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THEM DIFFICULT …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Visibility · 12V374000
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Transit Connect vehicles. The wiper arms may not be adequately riveted resulting in incomplete or inconsistent clearing of the windshield and possible detachment of the wiper arm.
Risk: If the wiper arm detaches, the windshield wiper will fail and the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side wiper arm and blade assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 15, 2012. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Ford before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2011 Ford Transit. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report visibility & wipers problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any visibility & wipers symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident, and can you share a title history and any service records you have?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Ford TRANSIT beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Transit model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Ford Transit against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.