2016 Ford Transit Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Transit.

20152017
Complaints
203
Crashes
10
Fires
5
Injuries
13
Fatalities
3
Recalls
21

Worst 2016 Ford Transit Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#152 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:106,597 mi
Crash-related:2
#220 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:50,769 mi
#310 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:50,467 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Ford Transit.

Transmission / Drivetrain
52
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
106,597
Engine Problems
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,769
Electrical Faults
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,467
Fuel System
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,448
Seat Belt Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
56,037
Body Structure
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
47,991
Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
51,963
Steering Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,806
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
34,699
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
102,801
Wheel Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,756
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Diesel Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Camera System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Instrument Panel:Speedometer/Odometer:Sensor/Sending Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Transit. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 Ford Transit

21 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,307,056 vehicles.

25V572000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
~1,456,417 affected

Ford 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.

21V631000Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage And Cable
~30 affected

Ford 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.

19V767000Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
~293,558 affected

Ford 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.

19V333000Seats
~544 affected

New 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.

19V329000Seats
~360 affected

Fenton 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.

19V313000Seats
~2,080 affected

Mobility 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.

19V271000Equipment Adaptive/mobility
~4 affected

Mobility 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.

19V247000Seats
~4 affected

Cabot 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.

19V238000Seats
~12 affected

Vantage 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.

19V229000Seats
~776 affected

TransitWorks 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.

+ 11 more recalls

Other Ford Transit Years

2016 Ford Transit — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Ford Transit reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2016 Ford Transit has 203 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 21 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 52 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 Ford Transit?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (52 complaints, avg 106,597 mi); Engine Problems (20 complaints, avg 50,769 mi); Electrical Faults (10 complaints, avg 50,467 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Ford Transit?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 73,686 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2016 Ford Transit?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Ford Transit include 10 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 13 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 Ford Transit have any recalls?
Yes — 21 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,307,056 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 Ford Transit?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (transmission / drivetrain) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Transit reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2016 Ford Transit

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