Selling a Ford Transit van that's done working

Ford has built the US Transit in Kansas City since 2014. Its NHTSA file is short on complaints and long on recalls, and nearly a third of those recalls come from companies that converted the vans.

Recalls from Ford, and from the converters

NHTSA lists 65 recall campaigns that name the Transit. Ford filed 45. Body builders and upfitters filed the other 20, for wheelchair lifts, seating, hybrid conversion kits and roof hatches. Ford says more than 1.5 million Transits have been assembled in the US since 2014, and NHTSA holds 786 complaints against them.

So a converted van can carry two sets of campaigns. Look up the VIN, and if yours was upfitted, ask the converter about its own recalls too.

2015-2019: the first Kansas City vans

Production started in April 2014 for the 2015 model year. The Transit took over from the E-Series van and wagon, while the E-Series stayed on as a cutaway and chassis cab. The standard engine was a 275 hp 3.7 V6, which Ford could convert to run on natural gas or propane. A 310 hp 3.5 EcoBoost and a 185 hp 3.2 diesel five were the options, all with a six-speed automatic.

The driveshaft coupling. Recall 17V408 is the big one, at 372,991 vans. The flexible coupling between the transmission and the driveshaft wears and cracks with miles. Until a permanent fix existed, Ford's report to NHTSA said the interim repair "will consist of replacing the driveshaft flexible coupling every 30,000 miles until the final repair is available and completed." Recall 19V767 later reopened the campaign for every van still without the u-joint fix. Of 138 power-train complaints on 2015-2016 vans, 70 mention the driveshaft, coupling or flex part.

Water in the tow module. On 2015-2017 vans with a trailer tow module, water can get in and corrode the wiring. The recall lists fast-flashing turn signals, a dead instrument panel display, electrical shorts and possibly a seat belt pretensioner firing (17V668, then 18V275).

First-year faults. Brake fluid could leak at the rear hose and caliper junctions on vans built April to May 2014 (14V482). Windowless sliding doors on some cargo vans were missing their epoxy reinforcement (14V483). Rear axle shafts could fracture on dual-rear-wheel vans built May to June 2015 (15V865). On 2015-2016 vans, side curtain air bags were folded wrong (16V188) and rear belt buckles could be damaged by a heavy object so they wouldn't latch (16V111).

On 2019 vans with aluminum wheels, a warped axle flange could break the wheel studs and let a wheel come off (21V324).

2020 and later: new V6, ten speeds, all-wheel drive

For 2020 a 275 hp 3.5 V6 with port and direct injection replaced the 3.7, the EcoBoost stayed, a 10-speed automatic took over, and all-wheel drive came back as an option. The battery-electric E-Transit went into production at the same plant in November 2021.

The 2020 is the odd year in the complaint file: seats lead, with 25 of its 84. Its recalls include loose rear driveshaft bolts at the transfer case on all-wheel-drive vans (21V978).

Most of the newer campaigns cluster on 2022-2024 vans:

• 2022: an instrument cluster that might not light its warning lights, gauges or needles (22V415), and climate controls, defrost included, that could stop working; dealers update the software (22V791).
• 2023: a fuel tank vent valve that might not be welded properly and could leak (23V071).
• 2023-2024: too little rear axle oil, which can seize the tail bearing and lock a wheel or drop the driveshaft (24V102, 113,320 vans, redone as 24V805). Also a wrong bolt on the steering intermediate shaft (24V591), an engine crossmember that may not be secured (26V061), and Transit Trail tires that can rub the wheel arch (24V226).

The 2025 has the only do-not-drive notice in the Transit's file. NHTSA's summary of recall 26V090 says "Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been completed," because the brake pedal can separate from the booster pushrod. A separate 2025 recall, 25V344, covers 156 Transits, F-150s and Explorers whose connecting rods may have defects that can lead to engine failure.

Transit complaints and recalls by model year

Ford and body-builder campaigns are counted separately; a single campaign often spans more than one model year. The last column ignores complaints NHTSA files as unknown or other. NHTSA also files 3 complaints and 3 body-builder campaigns under a 2014 model year, before the first US Transit; they are in the totals above.

Repair the van, or sell it?

1. Look up the VIN at NHTSA. Several Transit recalls cover failures that strand a van: the coupling, the rear axle and the 2025 brake pedal.
2. 2015-2017 van that won't move under its own power? That matches the coupling recall. Have a dealer check the campaign status before paying for anything.
3. Engine failure on a 2025? Ask about recall 25V344 first.
4. Everything else: put the written estimate next to the going price for a working Transit with the same body, year and mileage. When the estimate gets near that figure, selling it as is is the simpler call. The blown engine guide covers that call.

Selling the Transit as it stands

1. List the basics: VIN, mileage, engine, cargo or passenger body, roof height and wheelbase.
2. Ask for an offer here, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Tell us where it sits: a yard, a fleet lot, a curb or a shop. Say whether it rolls and whether anything blocks it in.
4. Mention any conversion, such as a wheelchair lift, a box body or extra seating, and anything already taken off.
5. On pickup day, have the title signed and the keys on hand.

Wrecked rather than worn out? See wrecked car. Other Ford vans: the E-Series, the Transit Connect, or every Ford we cover.