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2016 Ford Transit

Van
0 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
35 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical21
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA156
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Ford Transit is a van; vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR are not certified for fuel economy by the EPA, so this page is built from NHTSA's recall, complaint and investigation records. NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 156 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

No EPA fuel-economy record: the EPA does not certify vehicles over 8,500 lb GVWR. Recall, complaint and investigation data below come from NHTSA.

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The 2016 Ford Transit is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (21)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Back Over Prevention

25S89
1,456,417 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.RiskA rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 202
NHTSA campaign 25V572000reported Sep 3, 2025Ford Motor Company
▲high

Parking Brake

21S39
30 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Transit vehicles. An incorrect driveshaft torsional damper service kit may have been installed, which can allow the damper shield to contact the parking brake cable, possibly resulting in parking brake failure.RiskParking brake failure can result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the passenger side parking brake cable with a cable that provides sufficient clearance to the damper shield, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 24, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S39.
NHTSA campaign 21V631000reported Aug 11, 2021Ford Motor Company
▲high

Power Train

19S38
293,558 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Transit vehicles. This recall includes all full-size Transit vehicles previously recalled under 17V-408 except ones that received mechanical universal joint (u-joint) as a remedy and any 156" or 178" wheelbase Chassis Cab and Cut-Away bodies models. The flexible coupling connecting the transmission to the driveshaft may prematurely fail.RiskIf the coupling fails, the vehicle will not be able to move under its own power and the disconnected driveshaft may impact and damage the brake and fuel lines. Additionally, the separated driveshaft may allow the vehicle to roll if the vehicle is exited when the transmission is in 'Park' but the parking brake is not applied. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash or injury.FixFord will notify owners, and as an interim repair, dealers will replace the flexible coupling every 40,000 miles until the final remedy is available. The final remedy will consist of installation of a driveshaft front section equipped with a mechanical u-joint in place of the flexible coupling. These repairs will be made free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 1, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S38.
NHTSA campaign 19V767000reported Oct 25, 2019Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seats

18E-076
544 vehicles
ProblemNew England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ford Transit and 2014-2019 Ram Promaster 2500 and 3500 vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman Go-ES Foldaway seats. 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, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixNew England has notified owners, directing them to contact Freedman for repairs to the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall began May 27, 2019. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or New England at 1-800-886-9247.
NHTSA campaign 19V333000reported Apr 29, 2019New England Wheels
▲high

Seats

18E-076
360 vehicles
ProblemFenton Mobility Products, Inc. (Fenton Mobility) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. 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, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixFenton Mobility will notify owners, and a Fenton Mobility technician will repair the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2019. Owners may contact Fenton Mobility customer service at 1-716-484-7014.
NHTSA campaign 19V329000reported Apr 26, 2019Fenton Mobility Products, Inc.
▲high

Seats

2,080 vehicles
ProblemMobility Transportation Services (MobilityTrans) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ford Transit and Ram Promaster vehicles and 2014-2015 Ford Econoline vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. 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, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixMobilityTrans will notify owners and Freedman Seating dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began May 19, 2019. Owners may contact Mobility Transportation Services customer service at 1-734-453-6452.
NHTSA campaign 19V313000reported Apr 18, 2019Mobility Transportation Services
▲high

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

18E-044
4 vehicles
ProblemMobility Specialists, Inc. (Mobility Specialists) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Ford E-150 and Transit vans modified to be equipped with Ricon S-Series and K-Series wheel chair lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height.RiskIf the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards toward the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.FixMobility Specialists, working with Ricon, has notified the owners. Ricon will provide instructions and materials for replacing defective parts. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.
NHTSA campaign 19V271000reported Apr 3, 2019Mobility Specialists, Inc.
▲high

Seats

4 vehicles
ProblemCabot Coach Builders, Inc. DBA Royale Limousine (Royale) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit-based mini-coaches equipped with Freedman GO-ES foldaway seats recalled under 18E-076. 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, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixRoyale will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the seat. The recall began June 6, 2019. Owners may contact Royale customer service at 1-800-544-5587.
NHTSA campaign 19V247000reported Mar 28, 2019Cabot Coach Builders inc DBA Royale
▲high

Seats

12 vehicles
ProblemVantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit Van, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2007 Ford F-250-based shuttle vehicles equipped with Freedman GO-3S foldaway seats. 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, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixVantage has notified owners, instructing them to contact Freedman for a repair kit, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540.
NHTSA campaign 19V238000reported Mar 26, 2019Vantage Mobility International, LLC
▲high

Seats

776 vehicles
ProblemTransitWorks is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit, 2018 Ford Transit Connect, and 2016 Dodge Ram ProMaster vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman Seating GO-ES seats. 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, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixTransitWorks has notified owners and instructed them to contact Freedman seats for a repair kit. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact Freedman Seating customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or TransitWorks customer service at 1-855-337-9543.
NHTSA campaign 19V229000reported Mar 22, 2019TransitWorks
▲high

Seats

471 vehicles
ProblemQuality Van Sales, Inc. (Quality Van) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit and E-350 vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat back cushions. The seat cushion may not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixQuality Van will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Quality Van customer service at 1-800-408-8550.
NHTSA campaign 19V205000reported Mar 18, 2019Quality Van Sales, Inc.
▲high

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

RICON RECALL RI61396
137 vehicles
ProblemFenton Mobility Products, Inc. (Fenton) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford Transit passenger vans modified to be equipped with Ricon S & K Titanium Wheelchair Lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 403, "Platform Lift Systems."RiskIf the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards toward the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.FixFenton will notify owners, and a service technician will install Ricon Recall Parts Kit RI61396, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2019. Owners may contact Fenton Mobility customer service at 1-716-484-7014. Fenton's number for this recall is RI61396.
NHTSA campaign 19V183000reported Mar 6, 2019Fenton Mobility Products, Inc.
▲high

Seats

90 vehicles
ProblemPrime-Time Specialty Vehicles (Prime-Time) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Ram ProMaster and Ford Transit vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats. When the seat back cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion may not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixPrime-Time Specialty Vehicles has notified owners, and Freedman dealers have inspected and repaired the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or Prime-Time Specialty Vehicles at 1-574-293-9191.
NHTSA campaign 19V332000reported Mar 1, 2019Prime-Time Specialty Vehicles
▲high

Power Train

174 vehicles
ProblemXL Hybrids, Inc (XL) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles modified to be equipped with XL's electric hybrid system. The cardan (universal) joint on the front driveshaft may fail, possibly causing the front driveshaft to detach.RiskIf the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle, drive power will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash. The detached driveshaft may also create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash for following traffic.FixXL will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft with an updated one, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact XL Hybrid's customer service at 1-833-953-5338.
NHTSA campaign 19V103000reported Feb 21, 2019XL Hybrids INC
▲high

Seats

475 vehicles
ProblemNational Van Builders, Inc. (National Van) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. 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, such as in a crash or a sudden stop. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."RiskIn the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.FixNational Van will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began November 26, 2018. Owners may contact National Van customer service at 1-508-222-2272.
NHTSA campaign 18V782000reported Nov 6, 2018National Van Builders, Inc.
!critical

Electrical System

17S34-S1
25,658 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford Transit vehicles, equipped with a trailer tow module. Water can enter the tow modules and corrode the wiring causing issues such as rapidly flashing turn signals, loss of instrument panel display, an electrical short and possibly the deployment of seatbelt pretensioner.RiskAn electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. Turn signal, instrument cluster or seatbelt pretensioner problems can increase the risk of a crash.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will add a drainage hole in the driver's door stepwell and incorporate a fuse into the vehicle's wiring harness, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Note: This is an expansion of recall 17V-668 (Ford recall 17S34). Ford's number for this recall expansion is 17S34-S1.
NHTSA campaign 18V275000reported Apr 30, 2018Ford Motor Company
!critical

Electrical System

17S34
65,206 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford Transit vehicles, equipped with a trailer tow module. Water can enter the tow modules and corrode the wiring causing issues such as rapidly flashing turn signals, loss of instrument panel display, an electrical short and possibly the deployment of seatbelt pretensioner.RiskAn electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. Turn signal, instrument cluster or seatbelt pretensioner problems can increase the risk of a crash.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will add a drainage hole in the driver's door stepwell and incorporate a fuse into the vehicle's wiring harness, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S34.
NHTSA campaign 17V668000reported Oct 23, 2017Ford Motor Company
▲high

Power Train

17S15
372,991 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling all 2015-2017 Transit vehicles except 156" and 178" wheelbase Chassis Cab and Cut-Away bodies. In the affected vehicles, the flexible coupling connecting the transmission to the driveshaft may prematurely fail.RiskIf the coupling fails, the vehicle will not be able to move under its own power and the disconnected driveshaft may impact and damage the brake and fuel lines. Additionally, the separated driveshaft may allow the vehicle to roll if the vehicle is exited when the transmission is in 'Park' but the parking brake is not applied. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.FixFord will notify owners, and as an interim repair, dealers will replace the flexible coupling on any vehicle with more than 30,000 miles. A final remedy repair of a redesigned flexible coupling or a revised driveshaft equipped with a universal joint is being developed and is expected in early 2018. These repairs will be made free of charge. Interim notifications informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become availab
NHTSA campaign 17V408000reported Jun 26, 2017Ford Motor Company
▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

16S32
2,013 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Transit vehicles manufactured July 15, 2015, to April 14, 2016 and equipped with a 3.2L diesel engine. A fuel injector or the fuel volume control valve may clog due to metallic debris within the fuel system.RiskIf debris clogs the fuel system, the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel injection pump and associated parts and, if necessary, will replace the fuel filter and flush the fuel system, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S32.
NHTSA campaign 16V618000reported Aug 24, 2016Ford Motor Company
▲high

Air Bags

16S13
37,066 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Transit vehicles manufactured March 12, 2014, to March 18, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the side curtain air bag may not deploy with the proper trajectory due to being folded and packaged incorrectly.RiskA side curtain air bag that does not deploy as intended may increase the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and re-orient the side curtain air bag assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S13.
NHTSA campaign 16V188000reported Apr 4, 2016Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seat Belts

16S06
48,990 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Transit vehicles manufactured February 13, 2014, to January 13, 2016 and equipped with rear passenger seats. The rear seat belt buckles may be damaged if a heavy object is placed on, or impacts, the top of the buckle. The damage may prevent the buckle from latching or from remaining latched.RiskAn unlatched seat belt increases the risk of injury to the occupant in the event of a crash.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will modify or replace the seat belt buckles, depending on their location in the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S06.
NHTSA campaign 16V111000reported Feb 25, 2016Ford Motor Company

NHTSA defect investigations

Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft — Zipcar Rental Concerns closed

NHTSA opened this audit query to determine whether Zipcar, Inc. (Zipcar) complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental car company not rent, lease, or sell a recalled vehicle until the safety defect or noncompliance is remedied. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i). Based on NHTSA’s inquiry, including information provided by Zipcar, NHTSA asserted that, during 2017 and 2018, Zipcar rented certain unremedied recalled vehicles in violation of the Safety Act. In October 2023, NHTSA and Zipcar entered into a Consent Order in which Zipcar agreed to pay a total civil penalty of $300,000. The total civ

Opened Apr 2, 2018 · closed Sep 25, 2024 · action AQ18001

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
156complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 4 a fire · 7 injuries · 1 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 8 · 2017: 14 · 2018: 13 · 2019: 22 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 18

Most-cited components

Power Train60
Unspecified24
Engine20
Electrical System12
Structure12
Seat Belts11

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side shoulder. The low engine mode message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the high…”Jan 23, 2023 · Fuel System, Diesel · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An unknown dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall rep…”Jan 17, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact had to wait for the shaking to stop independently. The contact had taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the drive shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle…”Nov 10, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
WAGON RWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆27%
WAGON RWD★★★☆☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★☆☆☆38%
VAN RWDnot rated★★★★☆not ratednot rated—
WAGON RWDnot rated★★★★☆★★★★★not rated38%
WAGON RWDnot rated★★★★☆★★★★★not rated—
WAGON RWDnot rated★★★★☆★★★★★not rated38%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Transit model years

A

2026 Ford Transit

0 recalls · 5 complaints

D

2025 Ford Transit

4 recalls · 2 complaints

F

2024 Ford Transit

10 recalls · 28 complaints

F

2023 Ford Transit

18 recalls · 56 complaints

F

2022 Ford Transit

16 recalls · 37 complaints

D

2021 Ford Transit

4 recalls · 23 complaints

F

2020 Ford Transit

9 recalls · 83 complaints

F

2019 Ford Transit

9 recalls · 37 complaints

F

2018 Ford Transit

14 recalls · 57 complaints

F

2017 Ford Transit

18 recalls · 98 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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