Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2016 Ford Transit
NHTSA data on file today
The 2016 Ford Transit has 21 NHTSA recall campaigns and 156 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Newest 20 recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V572000 Blank or Distorted Rearview Camera Image NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V631000 Parking Brake Cable May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V767000 Driveshaft Coupling May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V333000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V329000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V313000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V271000 Wheelchair Lift may Raise too High NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V247000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V238000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V229000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V205000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright/FMVSS 207 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V183000 Wheelchair Lift may Raise too High/FMVSS 403 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V332000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V103000 U-Joint May Fail and Front Driveshaft may Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V782000 Seat Back may not Stay Upright/FMVSS 207 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V275000 Water may Enter the Trailer Tow Module NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V668000 Water may Enter the Trailer Tow Module NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V408000 Driveshaft Coupling may Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V618000 Engine may Stall Due to Fuel Pump Contamination NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V188000 Side Curtain Air Bag Assembly Improperly Installed NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 60 complaints
- Unknown or Other 23 complaints
- Engine 20 complaints
- Structure 13 complaints
- Electrical System 12 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 11 complaints
Of the 156 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 156 complaints, owners report 7 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,500–$9,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2016 Ford Transit has numerous recalls related to its powertrain and seats, with frequent issues reported in power train and electrical systems. The cost of maintenance can be high, and common problems may result in costly repairs, contributing to a below-average rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driveshaft coupling | 50,000–70,000 miles | $600–$1,200 | very common |
| Electrical wiring | 40,000–60,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| Fuel system | 70,000–90,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | occasional |
| Seats locking mechanism | 80,000–100,000 miles | $150–$300 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000–7,500 miles
- Brake pad and rotor inspection annually
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 30,000 miles
- Spark plug replacement every 100,000 miles
- Tire rotation and balance every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual vibrations from the driveshaft
- Erratic electrical issues
- Fuel system warnings on the dashboard
- Difficulty locking seats into position
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2016 Ford Transit at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.