2016 Ford Transit problems
NHTSA has received 216 complaints about the 2016 Ford Transit, and 27% of them involve drivetrain & axles. After that come engine (11%) and fuel system (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 216 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 5
- Injuries and deaths
- 13 and 3
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 133 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 30 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 16 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 15 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 13 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 17 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 7 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 8 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 133 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 106,000 miles (38 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 11 complaints mention a crash; 5 complaints mention a fire; 13 injuries reported; 3 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2016 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Ford Transit with enough data (131 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 21 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The involved individual was found with altered mental status on a highway on 8/13/2023. The vehicle he had been driving was found in the highway median a few hundred feet away. He was admitted to a local hospital, diagnosed with blunt force injuries of the head, and pronounced brain dead on 8/14/2023. Autopsy examination revealed fractures of the skull, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and cerebral cortical contusions.
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 on the inside of the patient compartment that in low or no light conditions, it might not be able to be activated
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