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What 151 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Transit

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (151)Crash / fire / injury (13)Transmission & drivetrain (59)Engine (20)Body & structure (12)Electrical system (12)Fuel system (12)Seat belts (11)Brakes (10)Steering (7)Speed control (6)Suspension (6)

Newest first · 151 complaints · page 5 of 7

Sep 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALLOTTA FORD LINCOLN (4199 CLEVELAND RD, WOOSTER, OH 44691, (330) 345-6600) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V408000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,500. *TT *AS

NHTSA ODI 11257646

Sep 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FORD'S FINAL FIX FOR 17V408000. I PERIODICALLY INSPECT THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING AND DURING THE INSPECTION TODAY I OBSERVED A CRACK IN THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING. CRACKED FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE, AS EVIDENCED BY 17V408000. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT FORD IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11255518

Sep 12, 2019Engine

I HAVE A 5 TRANSIT VANS AND ALL OF THEM ARE GIVING ME CATALYST PROBLEMS , I CAN UNDERSTAND MAYBE ONE VEHICLE WITH A PROBLEM BUT WHEN ALL HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING RIGHT,MY TRANSIT 3.5 HAS GONE THROUGH 2 OF THEM ALREADY, THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE CATALYST SYSTEM AND IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX I JUST PAYED $2,500 TO REPLACE THE SECOND ONE ON MY TRANSIT 350 3.5 . THIS HAS TO BE LOOKED AT

NHTSA ODI 11255144

Aug 7, 2019Body & structure

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, LATCH SYSTEM NOT ADEQUATE FOR SIZE OF DOOR. HAS OPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN PASSENGER LEANS AGAINST DOOR ON HIGHWAY, OR WHEN SMALL BUMPS ON THE ROAD OR DRIVEN OVER. DOOR IS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AND OPEN. NO AMOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT CAN REMEDY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11242285

Jun 25, 2019Speed control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, GOING NORMAL SPEEDS, PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET AROUND A SEMI AND MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SNAPPED. THE PLASTIC ARM THAT ATTACHES IT TO THE INNER PART IS ALL PLASTIC AND THE VAN IS ONLY 3 YRS OLD AND ONLY 70K MILES. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE BUT NOW MY VEHICLE IS STRANDED WITH NO WAY TO GET IT HOME. *DT *BF *JB

NHTSA ODI 11222530

Jun 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL 17S15 DRIVESHAFT ASSY THAT REPLACED THE REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLING. AT THE TIME, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT COUPLING WAS OBSERVED TO BE LOOSE. THE FRONT COUPLING WAS INSPECTED AND REASSEMBLED. LESS THAN 6000 MILES LATER THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT COUPLING (THE FIBROUS PART) DISINTEGRATED, THE SHAFT SEPARATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINES. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND DOWN HILL. THE DRIVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. PRIOR TO THE EVENT, THE DRIVER HAD NOTICED A LIGHT VIBRATION AND SOUND FOR ABOUT 50 MILES. THE VIBRATION SUDDENLY GOT WORSE JUST BEFORE THE EVENT.

NHTSA ODI 11219325

Jun 4, 2019Body & structure

OUR PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT SECURELY LATCH/CLOSE. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR IT. THIS DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO THEM SHORTLY AFTER OUR PURCHASE. WE NOW DRIVE WITH A NON-SECURE PASSENGER DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11217690

Jun 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

DRIVE TRAIN RUBBER COUPLING FAILURE 104000 MILES. PRIOR INSTALLATION OF COUPLING AT 70,000 MILES. THIS OCCURRENCE DAMAGED DRIVE SHAFT AND COUPLING AT REAR OF TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11217775

Apr 16, 2019Body & structure1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, INSULATION SPEWED THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS COVERED WITH INSULATION, WHICH CAUSED SKIN IRRITATION. SINCE THEN, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED RESPIRATORY ISSUES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TITUS-WILL FORD (3606 S SPRAGUE AVE, TACOMA, WA 98409, (253) 475-4151) WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FLOOR COMPARTMENT CONTAINED MUD AND WATER. A NEW FLOORBOARD WAS INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI 11196749

Mar 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT HAD SPLIT IN TWO WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED AS IT WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CROSSROADS FORD OF FUQUAY-VARINA (919-552-2228, LOCATED AT 3217 N MAIN ST, FUQUAY-VARINA, NC 27526). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V408000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 11191594

Mar 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

2016 FORD TRANSIT WAGON HAD A FAULTY PART NEAR THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WHEN THE PARTS FAILED, IT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION CASE AND CAUSED THE OIL'S TO LEAK OUT. WE WERE GIVEN THE OK TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD, BUT NOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN TRANSMISSION IS DAMAGED. WE BELIEVED WHEN THE PARTS FAILED, IT DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11190337

Mar 7, 2019Seat belts

REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS CONSTANTLY BINDING UP AND BECOMING TOTALLY UNUSABLE THESE VANS ARE USED FOR SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS- THESE ARE INSTALLED STATIONARY PRIOR THE VEHICLE MOVING OR AFTER UNIT IS PARKED

NHTSA ODI 11184944

Jan 25, 2019EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO COOPER FORD (LOCATED AT 5292 US 15 501 HWY, CARTHAGE, NC 28327, (910) 947-2244) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11172158

Jan 23, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

WHEN I COLLIDED WITH A FORD TRUCK ALL MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS THEY SHOULD, I COULD NOT MOVE WITHOUT INTENSE PAIN IN MY LOWER BACK SO I SAT IN PLACE UNTIL REMOVED BY EMS. AFTER PARTIAL RECOVERY I EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLT OVER MY SHOULDER HAD BULLED OUT OF THE PILLAR BEHIND MY SEAT (NOT THE FLOOR). I WAS ON A CITY STREET MOVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH. A TRUCK TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND WE COLLIDED HEAD TO HEAD. DAMAGE ON MY VEHICLE WAS PRIMARILY ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11171603

Jan 18, 2019

HYDRAULIC JACK RAM BROKE AND COLLAPSED DUE TO NUT BEING LEFT LOOSE AT MANUFACTURING. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. REPLACEMENT JACK HAS SAME ISSUE OF LOOSE NUT

NHTSA ODI 11170748

Jan 7, 2019

THE WINDSHIELD ON THE TOP SIDE IS LOOSE. WHEN CLOSE THE DOOR THE AIR PRESSURE PUSHES THE WINDSHIELD OUT. WATER ALSO LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11164942

Nov 23, 2018Engine

ELECTRICAL THROTTLE BODY FAILED DURING DRIVING. LOST ALL POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11153333

Nov 23, 2018Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V408000 (POWER TRAIN) BY AUTONATION FORD BELLEVUE (411 116TH AVE NE, BELLEVUE, WA 98004, 425-243-5203), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11153346

Nov 14, 2018Electrical system

ELECTRICAL, WIRING HARNESS CORRODED AND SHORTED OUT DASHBOARD INDICATORS. VAN WAS PURCHASED 10/26/2016 LOOKED AT DIFFERENT WEB SITES SAYING THERE IS A RECALL BUT FORD IS SAYING THAT IT DOES NOT PERTAIN TO THIS VAN, THE DESCRIPTION ON THE WEB SITE IS THE SAME AS DEALER REPAIRED.THE WIRING HARNESS REPAIRED WAS IN THE DRIVERS FOOTWELL, IN THE RECALL NOTICE POSTED IT SAID THE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD BE REPLACED NOT REPAIRED AND THAT A DRAINAGE HOLE BE MADE IN THE FOOTWELL PLUS INSTALLATION OF A FUSE TO PREVENT FIRES. NONE OF THAT WAS DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11151556

Nov 8, 2018Transmission & drivetrainSeat beltsSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WE ARE A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY . AND HAVE BOUGHT 4 OF THESE VEHICLES REGRETFULLY WE ARE SO OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE ISSUES THEY HAVE HAD , A NUMBER OF MAJOR ISSUES LIKE SPEED SENSORS GOING BAD THROTTLE BODY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WITH ONLY 60,000 DRIVEN... LOSS OF POWER WHILE ON THE ROAD YOU NAME IT. CURRENTLY HAVE 2 OF THE VEHICLES AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON TRANSMISSIONS WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD FOR SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE , WE ARE LOSING MONEY BY HAVING OUR VEHICLES SIT AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING TO GET SERVICED ALL THE TIME, IS ONE ISSUE AFTER ANOTHER ITS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT WE CROSS OUR FINGERS EVERYDAY HOPING FOR OUR DRIVERS TO MAKE IT BACK WITH NO ISSUES AND ALWAYS THINKING WHERE IS THE NEXT VAN GOING TO BREAK DOWN AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT. VERY FRUSTRATING HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERYDAY HEADACHE.

NHTSA ODI 11150035

Oct 3, 2018Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT 350XLT EQUIPPED WITH FOUR CONTINENTAL VANCO FOURSEASON TIRES, SIZE: 285/65/R16C (NA). WHILE DRIVING, ALL FOUR TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND CHIPPING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT RUBBER TREAD PIECES WERE VISIBLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER (NORM REEVES FORD, 18900 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA) WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11133039

Aug 20, 2018Body & structure

IF YOU OPENED EITHER FRONT WINDOW WHILE DRIVING, HOT AIR WOULD BLOW FROM UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AT A HIGH VOLUME ON THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGERS LEGS. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT AND SAW A @3"X 4" OVAL HOLE IN THE FLOOR AND I COULD SEE THE GROUND. FORD HAD NOT INSTALLED THE PLUG THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THAT HOLE. THAT HOLE IS DIRECTLY ABOVE A HEAT SHIELD AND THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THERE IS ALSO A CONNECTION AT THAT LOCATION ON THE PIPE. AFTER I DISCOVERED THE HOLE, I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PLUG INSTALLED THERE, AND THEY ORDERED THE PART(S). AFTER A RECENT 12 HOUR TRIP IN THIS VEHICLE FAMILY MEMBERS HAD COMPLAINED OF HEADACHES, AND A COUPLE COMPLAINED OF NAUSEA AND VOMITED. ALTHOUGH ON THAT TRIP WE HAD THE WINDOWS CLOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING ON, I WONDER IF WE WERE ACTUALLY SUFFERING FROM BEING EXPOSED TO EXHAUST FUMES.

NHTSA ODI 11121155

Jul 23, 2018

THEY PUT A HITCH AND TRAILER LIGHTING PACKAGE ON AND WE LOSE BRAKE AND SIGNAL LIGHTS ON THE TRAILER. WE WERE ON A TRIP AFTER THEY INSTALLED AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. THEY HAVEN'T FIXED IT.

NHTSA ODI 11113019

Jun 21, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed control

DRIVING ON HIWAY SUDDENLY NO DRIVE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING,INABILITY TO DRIVE NO GAS PEDAL RESPONDING I CALL THE FORD DEALER AND SAID THAT THER IS NO RECALLS ON THAT BUT LOOKING ON INTERNET FOUND RECALL 17S15

NHTSA ODI 11103036

May 21, 2018Engine

THE VAN STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND LOST POWER WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AT APPROX 25MPH. THE ELECTRONIC PANEL DISPLAYED AND ERROR MESSAGE STATING, "ENGINE FAULT SERVICE NOW". WHEN RESTARTED THE VAN STARTED SHAKING WHEN PRESSING THE EXCELERATOR. VAN WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES

NHTSA ODI 11097091

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Working with the data? Download all 151 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Ford Transit verdict →