Which Years Of Used Ford Transit Vans Are Most Reliable?
Ford Transit Van by Vauxford - CC-BY-SA-4.0
The Ford Transit van has been around Europe since the 1960s but wasn’t available in the U.S. until 2014 (for the 2015 model year). Taking over for the ubiquitous Ford E-Series van, the Transit quickly became America’s most popular commercial van, reaching one million sales in June 2021. With so many on the road, it’s logical to ask about the most reliable Ford Transit van year if you’re looking for a second-hand work vehicle.
We’ll answer this question by doing a year-by-year deep dive into the dependability of the Ford Transit. Chiefly, this involves examining reliability data for the engine and transmission. These are vital components that are the most expensive to repair. Although other systems, like electrical, can impact whether a particular Transit model year is worthwhile. Importantly, we’re only discussing reliability. You’ll want to research other key factors, like safety and fuel economy.
THE FORD TRANSIT VAN YEARS TO AVOID
In this article, we’ll dig into the Ford Transit Van years to avoid, along with other essential aspects of this well-known van.
Because the Ford Transit van has many configurations, we’ve included a brief summary of these details to guide you. In addition, this article covers only the gas-powered full-sized Ford Transit van. The smaller Ford Transit Connect and all-electric E-Transit are not part of this review.
Most Reliable Ford Transit Van Years
Our search for the most reliable Ford Transit van years starts with data analysis from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This federal agency catalogs owner trouble reports for all vehicles and oversees the recall process. We’ve also reviewed the owner feedback captured by carcomplaints.com.
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The Ford Transit is used primarily as a work vehicle, mostly for hauling equipment, materials, or people. As a result, traditional review groups like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power don’t offer much insight into the Transit’s reliability.
Nonetheless, here’s a glance at the most reliable Ford Transit van years. You’ll find more details below.
- 2018 Ford Transit Van
- 2019 Ford Transit Van
- 2020 Ford Transit Van
- 2021 Ford Transit Van
2015 Ford Transit Van
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Down
Buying the first year of an all-new vehicle is ripe for disappointment. First-year gremlins sometimes never go away (and are often resolved in later years). The 2015 Transit proves this point. Most significantly, this comes from an astounding 26 recalls for this Ford. While recalls are normal for modern vehicles, this level of trouble is mostly unheard of. Research firm iSeeCars reports that the average new car has four recalls. To make matters worse, more owner reports are on file with NHTSA for the 2015 Transit than any other model year. If reliability is a concern, then skip this edition of the Ford Transit.
2016 Ford Transit Van
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Down
Reliability doesn’t get much better with the 2016 Transit. In fact, carcomplaints.com rates this version as the worst among all Transit model years. Recalls are down to “only” 20, a still remarkable number, and not in a good way. Admittedly, a good portion of the recalls are for seat problems, which don’t affect reliability. However, numerous notices involve the engine, driveshaft, or electrical system. Nothing here inspires confidence.
2017 Ford Transit Van
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Down
We’re still not convinced that the 2017 Transit is free of the problems that plagued its predecessors. There are numerous complaints about failed driveshafts (covered by a recall). Even more concerning are several reports of a problematic electrical system, which can be challenging to diagnose and correct. Recalls have declined to 17 (including nine for seat issues), but not enough to give the 2017 Transit a thumbs up for reliability.
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2018 Ford Transit Van
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
At last, Ford has resolved most of the production “kinks” with the 2018 Transit. Take away seat-related troubles, and there are three recalls for this model year. As with any car purchase, it’s always wise to investigate if a car under consideration is subject to recall. Visit the NHTSA website to learn the details. Complaints for the 2018 Transit are down as well. That’s not to say this Ford is perfect; no vehicle is. Rather, the number of owner reports (30) submitted to NHTSA is quite modest compared to the number of vans sold. According to carsalesbase.com, Ford sold over 137,000 Transits in 2018.
2019 Ford Transit Van
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
Building from a successful 2018, the Ford Transit continues its stride with the 2019 model year. Owner reports are negligible and, more importantly, don’t point to a pattern of trouble within one system. There’s an uptick in recalls, but most don’t involve areas that might affect reliability (just a faulty driveshaft U-joint that’s been an ongoing issue).
2020 Ford Transit Van
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
Curiously, the number of complaints increased for the 2020 Ford Transit. A review of NHTSA data reveals the majority of issues come from continued problems with the seats. This leads to another head-scratcher; no recall for seat troubles for the 2020 Transit. Regardless, problematic seats may be safety and comfort issues, but they don’t involve reliability. Meanwhile, seven recalls are chiefly consistent with problems from earlier years.
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2021 Ford Transit Van
Reliability Ruling: Thumbs Up
While the 2021 Transit isn’t without its faults for some owners, this Ford van stands out among all the model years we’ve covered. NHTSA has just eight complaints on file, an impressively low number. Equally as noteworthy is that there are two recalls for the 2021 Transit, including one for a faulty seatbelt retractor. Yes, we live in a time where two vehicle recalls are considered a victory.
Ford Transit Configurations
Ford offers two versions of the Transit: a work-focused Cargo Van and a transportation-friendly Passenger Van. There are various heights and lengths for both editions:
Roof Height
Low—83.6 inches
Medium—100.8 inches
High—110.1 inches
Body/Wheelbase Length
Regular—130-inch wheelbase
Long—148-inch wheelbase
Extended—148-inch wheelbase with a longer body
Cargo Volume (Transit Cargo Van: behind the first row)
Low Roof up to 277.7 cubic feet
Medium Roof up to 357.1 cubic feet
High Roof up to 487.3 cubic feet
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