Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Ford Transit owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that there was an abnormal banging sound underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the drive shaft flexible coupling had cracked and caused damages to the undercarriage, suspension, fuel line, and motor mounts of the vehicle. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The contact was informed by the dealer that the vehicle exceeded the 40,000-mile limit set by the manufacturer in the recall for driving the vehicle prior to having had a permanent repair completed. …
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V408000 (Power Train). Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The contact stated while the driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a loud stomping sound, and it seemed that a part had detached underneath the vehicle and was banging against the subframe. The driver depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. The driver was able to pull to the median and engaged the electric parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the driveshaft had detached, twisted, and damaged the brake lines. The mechanic replaced the brake lines, the driveshaft, the shaft seal, and couplings, and two fuel tubes. …
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle failed to stop upon depression of the brake pedal without warning. The contact was forced to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact initially had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective driveshaft which was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where they confirmed the failure but informed the contact that the recall repair had to wait for an approval from the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no additional assistance. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving 81 MPH, the vehicle loss motive power without warning and almost caused a collision. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the driveshaft had separated and damaged the transmission, emission system, the brakes and fuel lines. Upon investigating, the contact's wife related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train) which was associated with the VIN. The dealer was made aware of the failure and the dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure. The manufacturer informed the dealer to not perform the recall repair since the vehicle was over the 100,000 miles warranty. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the independent mechanic. The failure mileage was 243,839.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 20-40 MPH, the vehicle started shaking. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver began to depress the accelerator pedal and after exceeding 45 MPH, the vehicle stopped shaking. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing all four tires to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the torsional damper kit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH or at various speeds, the vehicle would make an abnormal sound from the rear axle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle would also vibrate. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear axle seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train), which the contact stated that the dealer had performed the recall repair on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle shuddered while shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while slowing down the transmission downshifted smoothly. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact used a hand scanner but was unable to retrieve a fault code. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to complete a recall related to NHTSA campaign number 19V767000 (Power Train). The vehicle began shaking when put in drive and when idling. A vibration was felt when beginning to drive, but when reaching 15 to 20 mph, the vehicle began shaking harder. The front driveshaft was replaced. The dealer stated that the rear driveshaft needed to be replaced but it is not part of the recall previously mentioned. The vehicle ultimately was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while his son was driving 65 MPH, he heard an abnormal noise and had to depress the brake pedal to the floor to stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed first to his son's employer and then to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 374,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving 20-40 MPH the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. The contact accelerated and as the vehicle stopped shaking. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the carrier bearing needed to be replaced and that the vehicle was not under recall. The contact was advised to contact the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Related recalls
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and as an interim repair, dealers will replace the flexible coupling every 40,000 miles until the final remedy is available.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
XL Hybrids, Inc (XL) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles modified to be equipped with XL's electric hybrid system. The cardan (universal) joint on the front driveshaft may fail, possibly causing the front driveshaft to detach.
Remedy: XL will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft with an updated one, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019. Owners may contact XL Hybrid's customer service at 1-833-953-5338.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling all 2015-2017 Transit vehicles except 156" and 178" wheelbase Chassis Cab and Cut-Away bodies. In the affected vehicles, the flexible coupling connecting the transmission to the driveshaft may prematurely fail.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and as an interim repair, dealers will replace the flexible coupling on any vehicle with more than 30,000 miles.
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Transit vehicles manufactured May 1, 2015, to June 26, 2015, and equipped with dual rear wheels. The affected vehicles have a left or right rear axle drive shafts that may fracture, resulting in loss of drive power.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right axle drive shafts, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA investigations
Zipcar Rental Concerns
NHTSA opened this audit query to determine whether Zipcar, Inc. (Zipcar) complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental car company not rent, lease, or sell a recalled vehicle until the safety defect or noncompliance is remedied. 49 U.S.C. 30120(i).
Transmission complaints in other Transit years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2015 Ford Transit?
NHTSA has 78 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2015 Ford Transit, 40% of the model year's 193 complaints. The component named most often is driveline › driveshaft (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Ford Transit transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-767 (driveshaft, Oct 25, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-103 (driveshaft, Feb 21, 2019); NHTSA recall 17V-408 (driveshaft, Jun 26, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Ford Transit transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.