What 188 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Transit Van - Gas

The front subframe and transmission crossmember on my 2015 Ford Transit have experienced severe, premature structural corrosion, resulting in the metal rotting completely through. The subframe is structurally compromised, brittle, and actively cracking.Safety Risk and Imminent Hazard:The subframe is the load-bearing structural skeleton holding the vehicle's engine, steering assembly, transmission, and suspension components in place. Because the metal has rusted through, there is an imminent risk of complete structural collapse while driving. If the subframe snaps or detaches under load, it will cause an immediate loss of steering control and engine displacement, likely resulting in a catastrophic high-speed crash.Passenger and Public Danger:This vehicle is not used for commercial purposes; it is a dedicated family vehicle used daily to transport eleven (11) children. A structural failure at highway speeds puts twelve lives inside the vehicle—and dozens more on the road—at immediate risk of fatal injury.Manufacturer Response:Ford Motor Company (Ford Pro Customer Advocacy, Case Manager: Quatavius) was contacted regarding this premature, widespread engineering defect. Ford formally denied any financial or repair assistance, stating no programs exist, completely disregarding the severe safety risk to the 11 children inside this vehicle. This is a systemic manufacturing defect with 2015-2023 Ford Transit subframes that requires an immediate federal safety investigation and mandatory safety recall before a fatal structural failure occurs As of now the symptoms are the rattling noise of the rotting subframe and steering vibration while driving. We even hit another car and paid for repairs already due to fear of steering loss.

NHTSA ODI 11741522

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear hatch unintendedly opened. The contact stated assumed that the opening was an accident and veered the vehicle off the road and manually closed the hatch. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, she made a right turn and the rear hatch inadvertently opened. As a result, multiple items had fallen out of the trunk. The contact was concerned that the failure could cause an accident. The contact felt unsafe driving the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that she had locked the hatch when the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,053.

NHTSA ODI 11533303

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that he noticed a leak underneath the vehicle on the driver’s side near the engine. The contact inspected the underside of the vehicle and discovered that support near the engine was completely rusted through. The contact drove the vehicle to the local dealer for an oil change, where the vehicle was inspected and found that the rusted support needed to be replaced. The dealer advised the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed by the dealer and by the contact of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11449271

DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM, VAN VIBRATION AT 60-70 MPH COMING FROM DRIVE SHAFT . LAST DRIVE SHAFT RECALL THEY INSTALLED A SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE WEIGHT PIECE ON THE DIFFERENTIAL , SINCE THAN THE VAN IS RATTLING AT THAT SPEED IN WAVES .

NHTSA ODI 11387512

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS LATCHED, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN FORD DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CLEAN THE DOOR LATCH, SLIDING DOOR AREA, AND ALL PARTS OF THE DOOR COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT HEEDED THE ADVICE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11110430

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING BOARDS ON THE VEHICLE WERE TOO NARROW. THE CONTACT FELL OFF THE RUNNING BOARD, BUT WAS UNINJURED. THE DEALER (HOLMES TUTTLE FORD LINCOLN, 660 W AUTO MALL DR., TUCSON, AZ 85705, (866) 930-6255) STATED THAT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND WITH THE RUNNING BOARDS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11097306

WATER LEAK BETWEEN PASSENGER DOOR AND PASSENGER REAR DOOR (DOBLE DOOR)

NHTSA ODI 11058521

STATIONARY VEHICLE; PARKED, DRIVER OUTSIDE VEHICLE WALKED AROUND TO FRONT PASSENGER DOOR; PASSENGER OPENED FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, AND A BREEZE NO MORE GUSTY THAN 1 MPH WAS ALL IT TOOK FOR THE DOOR TO HYPER EXTEND BEYOND HINGE MECHANISM, AND DOOR BROKE ACCESSORY DOOR CLOSING PART, PREVENTING IT FROM TIGHTLY CLOSING AS IT SHOULD. DOOR AJAR ALARM BEEPS, AND THE BODY IS DAMAGED NEAR FENDER OF FRONT PASS WHEEL. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POORLY MADE PART; IF FORD DOOR CAN BREAK EASILY, I. A BREEZE, THEY ARE UNFIT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO DRIVE THEM UNLESS ON CERTAIN DAYS OF SPECIFIC WEATHER OR CLIMATE PATTERNS ARE PREDICTABLE. DEALERSHIP REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY AND TOLD ME TO "TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY DEAL WITH BODY DAMAGE." FORD WAS NOT INTERESTED IN FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS. AUTO SHOP ESTIMATES $1100 FOR A NEW DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11012664

I HAD RENTED THE FORD TRANSIT FROM ENTERPRISE IN NACGDOCHES TX. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2015 A LADY HIT ME AND MY 8 FAMILY MEMBER ON THE WAY TO SHELBYVILLE SCHOOL. WE HIT ON THE SIDE BUT HALF OF THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FELL OFF AND SEAT BEATS WOULDN'T LET HALF OF US RELEASE.. I BROKE MY ARM ...I HAVE INTERNAL BLEEDING..ME AND MY KID WERE FULL OF WHATEVER WAS COMING OUT THE AIR BAGS IT WAS CUTTING US IN OUR FACE ..ONE OF MY DAUGHTER HAVE TO HAVE EMERGENCY SURGERY ON HER MOUTH THE OTHER ONE LOST 3 TEETH DUE TO THE AIR BAGS IT WAS VERY HORRIBLE. .U PROBABLY ASKING YOURSELF WHAT TOOK US SO LONG TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE WELL WE BEEN SPEAKING WITH FORD BOONE IS TRYING TO SOLVE THE MATTER ..BUT PLEASE IF SOMEONE COULD CONTRACT ME WE ARE IN NIGHTMARE FROM THIS IT'S HARD FOR US TO EVER GET OVER IT ..IT'S BEEN A 1YR AND NO ONE WILL EVERY RETURN OUR CALL OR SPEAK WITH US ON THIS MATTER..MY NAME IS [XXX] MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX]..NO THE VEHICLE WASN'T DRIVABLE THE HORN STAYED GOING OFF IT WOULDN'T STOP THEY HAD TO CUT WIRES TO MAKE IT CUT OFF THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T RELEASE ON OUR SIDE SO ME HAD TO BE TRANSFER TO NACDOCHES MEDICAL CENTER BY AMBULANCE AND HALF THE KIDS WENT IN THE SCHOOL CAN ....IT WANT LET ME PUSH THE AIR BAGS ON THE LIST. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10915684

SHUTTLING EMPLOYEES; REPEATEDLY NEEDED TO GET OUT AND PHYSICALLY CAUSE THE REAR LATCH ON THE SLIDING REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO CATCH. WOULD NOT REGULARLY CATCH WITH NORMAL CLOSING OF DOOR. WARNING ON DASH WOULD ILLUMINATE, BUT TRACK WAS APPARENTLY MISALIGNED.

NHTSA ODI 10734006