Home · 2017 Ford Transit High Roof 15 Pass · Complaints

What 95 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Transit High Roof 15 Pass

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 (95)Crash / fire / injury (6)Transmission & drivetrain (40)Engine (16)Electrical system (11)Speed control (6)Brakes (5)Backup camera & sensors (4)Body & structure (4)Steering (4)Airbags (3)Fuel system (3)

16 of 95 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Apr 17, 2026Fuel System, OtherEngine

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that DTC: P2002 was displayed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the diesel particulate filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 23M01 (Certain 2015-2019 Ford Transit 3.2L Diesel Replace Diesel Particulate Filter); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 172,000.

NHTSA ODI 11731837

Mar 30, 2026Engine

A known Ford defect on the 2017 3.5 ecoboost engine is when the manifolds, improperly designed and installed, warp and snap off the manifold bolts holding the manifold to the engine. The result is a great deal of extremely hot exhaust fumes being emitted in the engine compartment rather than out the end of the exhaust pipe. There were NO messages, lamps or other indicators of the manifold failure until a wheezing, rattling sound was emitted.

NHTSA ODI 11728098

Feb 28, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I have had many issues with this vehicle. The engine leaks oil onto the exhaust causing the engine to smoke, the engine uses antifreeze, the transmission will downshift at highway speeds to such a low gear that I need to put the van into neutral so that the engine doesn't blow up. It uses brakes quickly, (New brakes every 10,000 miles or so). Gas milage is less then 12MPG as well.

NHTSA ODI 11721118

Apr 29, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I have wrote to you before on this, but today (4.29.25) while driving downhill at 65 mph, no cruise control on, my van downshifted ON ITS OWN down to third gear and luckily, I was smart enough to shift the van in neutral and then back to drive or I would have blown up the engine. This is not just happening to my van, I have a friend who has purchased one and the transmission has gone out with only 35,000 miles on his van. My van is leaking oil and leaving spots everywhere it is parked, and it is using antifreeze at the rate of about a gallon every two weeks. This engine is total junk and neither the dealership, Ford, nor NHTSA are doing anything to correct this. Eventually, these engines are going to kill someone by locking up at highway speeds. Enough is enough! Ford needs to fix or replace these engines before someone dies!

NHTSA ODI 11657579

Apr 1, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and vibrated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to dealer where it awaited a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11652038

Mar 26, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I have sent this before, but my vehicles transmission will downshift, (at highway speeds), to a lower gear. I always have to put the van into neutral and then back into drive to get it to drive normal again. Also the van leaks oil onto the manifold which starts smoking. My van also uses antifreeze and I need to refill the coolant about every 2-3 days. This ecoboost engine is dangerous.

NHTSA ODI 11650680

Nov 19, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The transmission will downshift when deceleration and will actually throw you forward in the seat due to dropping into a lower gear. Vehicle has also developed an oil leak where oil is dripping onto the manifold, possible engine fire hazard. Engine is losing coolant due to possible blown head gasket.

NHTSA ODI 11626151

Nov 6, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Transmission will downshift on its own when vehicle is decelerating making engine RPMs over rev. Only way I have found to prevent this is to shift to neutral and then back to drive. I don't like doing this because it could accidently get shifted into reverse while driving at highway speeds! Valve cover leaks dripping oil onto the exhaust manifold causing the vehicle to smoke very badly and could possibly cause a fire.

NHTSA ODI 11623831

Jun 26, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine

1. Vehicle has oil leaking out of valve covers so bad it starts smoking from under the hood. 2. Transmission will stick into low gear and I have to put the vehicle into neutral to get it to start shifting correctly again. Vehicle will also pulsate speed with transmission growling. 3. Turbo chargers not operating correctly causing Vehicle to buck and hesitate under acceleration.

NHTSA ODI 11596910

Apr 16, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine

Vehicle has 140,000 miles on it. 1. Has valve cover oil leak where dripping oil is dripping onto the manifold and starts smoking. I talked with the dealership, they said they wont fix it under their "Lifetime warranty". I am concerned it will start a fire. 2. The transmission will suddenly downshift and seems to lock into lower gear when decelerating. Only way to get it to stop is to put vehicle into neutral while coasting and then back into drive. I am afraid its going to lock up and cause me to spin out. 3. The engine has a turbocharger issue in which when I try to pull out into traffic, it will sometimes buck, hesitate and backfire before it accelerates. Eventually I am going to try and pull out and it's going to do that and I am going to get hit! It seems to do it while coasting and then when accelerating again, that's when it happens. I took vehicle to dealership (Johnson City Ford) where they provide a "Lifetime powertrain warranty", but they are telling me that unless I have all service records, they will not fix it under the warranty. The only thing I have done with this vehicle is oil changes when the vehicle tells me it's due, Tires and brakes. I also called "Contact Ford" about the problem, and they basically told me it's not their problem, so there is a record somewhere of me contacting them Twice.

NHTSA ODI 11583218

Nov 20, 2023Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Our fleet of Ford transits are all having similar issues. This is the 2nd time this particular vehicle has lost power while driving causing extremely dangerous safety concerns. We were instructed by Ford to replace the throttle body which was done in 2021 and now the same issue is occurring. Ford needs to remedy this issue long-term. This issue is affecting the trust from my employees to provide them safe transportation, inoperable vehicles are causing lost revenue and the rest of my fleet is now unreliable causing concern for more serious accidents. This is a major issue for people that have Ford Transit fleets.

NHTSA ODI 11556071

Nov 15, 2023Electrical systemEngineFuel system

Vehicle loses ability to control acceleration going into a "limp" mode while on the highway. This poses a serious safety risk to the driver, passenger and all other drivers on the road. The van has to "coast" to safety. This occurs with no warning and is very sporadic. The throttle body was replaced 7/1/2021 after 109,256 miles. This is a repeating issue with my fleet of Ford Transits ranging from 2015-2018, some vehicles having this part replaced more than once.

NHTSA ODI 11555248

Dec 13, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngine

When driving my transit 250 it vibrates a lot and I was told that the transmission is going out. After I researched I find that this is a common problem with this Ford vehicle. It cost about $4000 to fit and Ford is not helping customers with their vehicle. Why is there no recall on this problem?

NHTSA ODI 11497295

May 5, 2021EngineElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND SHUDDERED AND JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE DUE TO AN UNIDENTIFIED ECM FAILURE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULLINAX FORD OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH (2317 FL-44, NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL 32168, (386) 267-4980) AND THE ECM MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD RECUR DUE TO WATER LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11415296

Mar 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR TYPICALLY WHILE GOING DOWN HILL ON INTERSTATE AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH OR GREATER. THE RESULTING SHIFT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV FAR PAST RED LINE AND CAUSES SEVERE UNINTENDED DECELERATION. SITUATION HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND AFTER A FEW MORE HARSH SHIFTS GOES BACK TO NORMAL. CONTACTED MULTIPLE FORD DEALERS WITH NO ANSWER TO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11316321

Jul 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

ELECTRICAL THROTTLE BODY FAILED DURING DRIVING. LOST ALL POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11231213

Working with the data? Download all 95 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 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 2017 Ford Transit High Roof 15 Pass verdict →