2016 Ford TRANSIT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford TRANSIT has 206 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: dash warning lights came on vehicle stalled while driving on city street, vehicle restarted but was in "limp mode". throttle body failure.. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 8 crash reports 11 injuries

206

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

59 complaints

29%

• DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET, VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT WAS IN "LIMP MODE". THROTTLE BODY FAILURE.
• DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, VAN STALLED ON HIGHWAY, NO FORWARD MOTION. VAN RESTARTED BUT WAS IN "LIMP MODE". THROTTLE BODY ISSUE.
• FLEX COUPLING BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE SHAFT ROUTINELY FAILS BETWEEN 30,000 - 35,000 MILES. THIS CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE THE DRIVE SHAFT COULD BE FORCED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURE OF THE FLEX COUPLING COUL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET, VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT WAS IN "LIMP MODE". THROTTLE BODY FAILURE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

24 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE CONTACT'S BREATHING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS KEPT
• WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE DASH DINGED AND SAID ENGINE FAULT SERVICE NOW. THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WHILE VEHICLES WERE GOING AROUND HIM. FORD SAYS THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE WHEN A PART GOES BAD SO THE ENGINE DOESN'T GET DAMAGED. THE THROTTLE BODY HAD TO
• THE VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCEPTING ACCELERATOR COMMANDS RANDOMLY. IT WILL REFUSE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 OF THESE VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET DO THIS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DRIVERS EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE CONTACT'S BREATHING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS KEPT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

11%

• FORD TRANSIT IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED OFF WHILE IT'S IN ANY GEAR INCLUDING WHILE IT'S IN DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. TURNING THIS KEY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WILL CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER. MY VAN HAS TURNED ITSELF OFF WHILE I WA
• DESIGN OF THE INTERIOR CABINETS INSTALLED BY THE AMBULANCE MANUFACTURER (AEV), BLOCK THE SIDE DOOR HANDLE OF THE SLIDING DOOR, MAKING ESCAPE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE IN CASE OF A FIRE OR TRAFFIC CRASH, WHERE THE REAR DOOR IS BLOCKED. THE DOOR OPENING DEVICE IS SO SMALL
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“FORD TRANSIT IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED OFF WHILE IT'S IN ANY GEAR INCLUDING WHILE IT'S IN DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. TURNING THIS KEY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WILL CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER. MY VAN HAS TURNED ITSELF OFF WHILE I WA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

13 complaints

• THE VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCEPTING ACCELERATOR COMMANDS RANDOMLY. IT WILL REFUSE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 OF THESE VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET DO THIS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DRIVERS EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE CONCERNING THE FUEL FLAP THAT WAS TO REMAIN CLOSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FLAP WAS STICKING OUT AND, WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED AND CLOSED, THE FUEL FLAP FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED. THE DEALER (HORNE FREEDOM FO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCEPTING ACCELERATOR COMMANDS RANDOMLY. IT WILL REFUSE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 OF THESE VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET DO THIS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DRIVERS EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

12 complaints

• SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE. THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE SEAT BELT LATCH RECEIVER DETACHES FROM THE ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL USE. THIS RENDERS THE SEAT BELT UNABLE TO LATCH COMPLETELY, AND RENDERS THE SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. THE PASSENGER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE LATCH IS NOT SECURED. THIS WAS NOTED ON TW
• THE VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCEPTING ACCELERATOR COMMANDS RANDOMLY. IT WILL REFUSE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 OF THESE VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET DO THIS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DRIVERS EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO
• AFTER ARRIVING HOME IN OUR 2016 FORD TRANSIT VAN, WE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND PLACED THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PARK POSITION AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. OUR FAMILY OPENED THE DOORS AND PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. OUR FOUR YEAR OLD SON, HOWEVER, HAD UNBUCKLED AND TWISTED AROUND IN HIS SEAT SU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE. THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE SEAT BELT LATCH RECEIVER DETACHES FROM THE ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL USE. THIS RENDERS THE SEAT BELT UNABLE TO LATCH COMPLETELY, AND RENDERS THE SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. THE PASSENGER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE LATCH IS NOT SECURED. THIS WAS NOTED ON TW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 206 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET, VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT WAS IN "LIMP MODE". THROTTLE BODY FAILURE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE CONTACT'S BREATHING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS KEPT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: FORD TRANSIT IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED OFF WHILE IT'S IN ANY GEAR INCLUDING WHILE IT'S IN DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. TURNING THIS KEY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WILL CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER. MY VAN HAS TURNED ITSELF OFF WHILE I WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THE VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCEPTING ACCELERATOR COMMANDS RANDOMLY. IT WILL REFUSE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 OF THESE VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET DO THIS. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DRIVERS EVEN GOING SO FAR AS TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)