Ford Transit Problems: Passenger Van Had Rough First Year with Powertrain Troubles, but Far Fewer Issues Per Year Since

Cameron Aubernon
Mar 4, 2022

A modern van for a more modern time, the fourth-generation Ford Transit landed in the United States with a rough first year in 2015. However, newer models, especially the 2021 model year, have nearly all the kinks smoothed out.

2015 Ford Transit

Key Points

  • The fourth-generation Ford Transit received the most complaints in 2015 (its first year in production): 119 complaints registered by consumers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including 48 for the powertrain alone.
  • The highest and second-highest number of recalls occurred with the 2015 and 2016 Transits, most focusing upon the seatbacks from aftermarket upfitters.
  • There are also four open investigations linked to the fourth-generation Transit: three involving Zipcar renting recalled Transits before fixing safety defects, one for rearview camera non-compliance.
  • Subsequent years of the fourth-generation Transit–the first to be sold in the U.S.–saw fewer complaints and recalls.

2015 Ford Transit

Aftermarket Seat Recalls Haunt the Fourth-generation Ford Transit

Introduced in 2013 at the Detroit Auto Show, the fourth-generation Ford Transit was the replacement for the long-running Ford E-Series line of cargo and passenger vans.

The fourth-gen. Transit was also the first to be sold (not just manufactured, as with the third-gen. Transit) in the United States, bringing its name across the Atlantic from Europe, where it had been hard at work since the mid-1960s.

Like with most first-year production, the 2015 Ford Transit suffered from some quality issues. Among the 26 recalls issued for the van by the NHTSA, eight focus exclusively upon the seatbacks.

Affecting the Freedman GO-ES seats installed by various outfitters, the recalls – issued between November 6, 2018 and April 29, 2019 – state that when the back seat cushion “is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion may not remain locked into place when under load,” like those found during a crash.

Alas, the issue not only affects the 2015 model year, but also the 2016, 2017, and 2018 model years. Consumers are instructed to contact Freedman and/or the dealers for repairs to the seats, which will be made free of charge.

2015 Ford Transit

Driveshaft Issues the Second-largest Recall for the Ford Transit

While the aforementioned aftermarket seats contributed to the largest recall for the fourth-gen. Ford Transit, the second-largest recall affects the drivetrain.

Affecting every model year of the Transit from 2015 to 2020, the driveshaft coupling and U-joints attached to the front driveshaft (the latter on models using aftermarket hybrid systems) may fail, causing power loss, plus damage to brake and fuel lines, as well as rolling despite being in park unless the parking brake is engaged.

The solution for the driveshaft coupling recall is for owners to take their Transits into their nearest dealership every 40,000 miles to replace the flexible coupling until a mechanical U-joint attached to the driveshaft’s front section is installed. As for the aftermarket hybrid system, XL Hybrids will replace the front driveshaft with a new unit free of charge.

2015 Ford Transit

Four Investigations into Ford Transit, Only One Affects the Van Directly

Of the four open investigations into the fourth-gen. Ford Transit by the NHTSA, only one affects the van directly.

Opened August 3, 2021 and covering the 2020 Transit, the investigation states Ford filed a noncompliance recall report on September 23, 2020 covering over 630,000 Ford and Lincoln units involving the rearview camera’s printed circuit board. Insufficient electric conductivity caused the camera to function intermittently. The investigation is still open as of this writing.

The remaining three affect Zipcar, a car-sharing service based in Massachusetts. Covering 2015, 2016, and 2017 Transits, the investigations – open since April 2, 2018 – look into whether or not Zipcar complied with the National Traffic and Motor Safety Act, which requires rental agencies to not “rent, lease, or sell a recalled vehicle until the safety defect or noncompliance is remedied.”

Per the investigation, at least one Transit was rented to a consumer without first repairing the recalled driveshaft coupling.

2015 Ford Transit

Majority of Complaints Filed Cover First Three Years of the Ford Transit

A grand total of 274 complaints filed by consumers covers the 2015, 2016, and 2017 model years of the fourth-generation Ford Transit, with 119 made about the 2015 model year. In contrast, the 2018 through 2021 models received a total of 58 complaints, the 2018 model year receiving the most with 22.

Of the complaints filed, most focus on the electrical system and engine, sometimes in combination. Various issues include fuel pump leaks, water entering the air filter, and shorts all through the electrical system. Electrical gremlins continued to be noted on 2018 through 2020 models, while the 2021 model has none thus far.

2015 Ford Transit

Fourth-generation Transit Prepares for Electric Future, Problems Largely Resolved

In 2020, the fourth-gen. Ford Transit received a mid-cycle refresh, including a new face, new dash, and, for North America, new powertrain options. In November of 2021, the new 2022 E-Transit electric van entered production in Kansas City, Missouri.

Amid all of this, the problems and recalls affecting Ford’s workhorse van have fallen into the single digits for the 2021 model year: A recall for the seat belt locking retractor, and two complaints regarding the front overhead shelf and a sheared bolt on the right front wheel.

All this is to say that the newest fourth-gen. Transits should provide plenty of trouble-free service, whether lugging bouquets of flowers or hauling passengers to and from the hotel. Fourth-generation models from 2018 through 2020 may need more work, while 2015 through 2017 models should either be fully repaired before purchase or avoided entirely.

Photos: Ford

Owner Reviews

accountCircle John Smith on October 5, 2021
Our Ford Transit Has To Many Issues
Had 30k on it when I test drove it, now it's at 39k. Entire front suspension is shot, torque converter leaks, drive shat still shakes after recall work, no dealership or alignment shop can align it back into specs, wind noise in the cab is so loud it's hard to have a conversation, cross member bolts come loose continually and all this is very common and ford has no remedies for almost all the issues.
accountCircle Chris Hackbarth on August 29, 2021
Nothing But Constant Problems With The Ford Transit
3000 miles needed throttle body, 25000 miles complete rear end.42,000 miles crankcase sensors all 4 crankcase vent, 55000 miles another rear end. 70000 mot crankcase sensors. Note at 90000 still have check engine faults for crankcase that dealer cannot explain and Sync/GPS module not working so touchscreen inoperable. $55000 van used for electrical business for 2 years and is worth $0.
accountCircle Yuriy on December 12, 2021
Ford Transit: Worse Car Ever Owned
Within 1 month I owned it, it broke. It was at the dealership for 2 weeks because they had to wait for the part to come in. So finally got it back and after 2 months check engine light came on, took it to the dealer and it was the EGR sensor that went bad, had to wait for that for 1 week. After another month, the fuel line broke off and they couldn’t get the part in for 2 months.
accountCircle Bob F on August 26, 2021
It Has A Recall And Electrical Codes With The Ford Transit
It has had water leakage around the sliding door track into van pockets inside, the dealer said it was a wet area. A recall for water intrusion around driver's door affecting tow module. Another recall for the driveline disk replacement. Now it has set several electrical trouble codes. They are for P0500, U0073, U0140, and U0101.
accountCircle Raymond M on January 5, 2022
The Ford Transit Wears Down Brakes
I have 38,000 miles on my 2019 van and took in for service and required rear brakes-really. Was told by a mechanic this is very common with the transit 2500 vans. I would love to hear from Ford about this possible problem. Was informed I would need to have rear brakes every 30,000 miles.
accountCircle Wayne on December 28, 2021
Ford Transit: Leaking Issues
I just paid $1,500 to replace the cracked intake manifold 2 years ago and now just a few weeks after the 2-year warranty is up it is cracked and leaking again. Ford refused to honor the warrant and wants me to pay another $1,100. There should be a recall on this defective part.
accountCircle K Gordon on July 12, 2021
My Ford Transit Drains My Battery
I’m an electrician and at times have to be in and out of the van several times for various parts etc. The lights stay on for 10 minutes or somewhere there about each time you open or close a door and have left me with a dead battery far too many times.
accountCircle Nathan on November 6, 2021
My Ford Transit Had Transmission Problems That Led To Other Problems
14 months on the road list of breaks down Transmission Leaking (as a new vehicle) 110000km Transmission exploded other issues: DEF Heater replacement didn't work on Winter DEF Warning started as a problem with check Engine warning.
accountCircle Zach on September 14, 2021
Electrical Issues Too Early With The Ford Transit
640 miles and electrical issues. The truck is in the shop already. Steering system Control failure. The 10-speed transmission; not really sure how it will handle the long term.
avatar Cameron Aubernon
Former fashion blogger Cameron Aubernon’s path to automotive journalism began in the early-’10s, when she began contributing to several auto publications, including Ford Authority, Hagerty, Ride Apart, and Street Trucks. She also served as the editor-in-chief of a short-lived online society publication in Louisville, Kentucky; interned at the city’s NPR affiliate, WFPL-FM; and was the de facto publicist-in-residence for a communal art space near the University of Louisville. Aubernon is a member of the International Motor Press Association, and the Washington Automotive Press Association.
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