2016 Ford Transit Transmission Problems

Which parts fail

• Automatic transmission
  2
• Driveline › Driveshaft
  2
• Axle assembly
  1

Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  410%
• 25k–50k
  38%
• 50k–75k
  25%
• 75k–100k
  615%
• 100k–150k
  1743%
• 150k+
  820%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Ford Transit owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that there was a rubbing burning order coming from inside the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle also had a vibration sensation whenever the vehicle was being driven. There were no warning lights on the vehicle. The contact contacted the dealer who stated that the flex disc had failed. The contact stated that this was a known issue for the vehicle. There was a recall and lawsuit involving the vehicle's rubber cupper between the transmission and driveshaft was made of plastic was causing severe failures. The manufacturer was made aware of the matter and had since been looking into the matter and informed the contact that their research was being furthered along regarding parts before something was to be done. …

The contact is a lawyer whose client owned a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the drive shaft coupling detached from the transmission. The contact stated that the air bags deployed in his vehicle. The contact stated that he sustained head and back injuries. Medical attention was required. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The contact mentioned the seat belt retracking was unknown. The contact mentioned the vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related to the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the engine revved, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was turned off; however, while the contact's wife was attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred while his wife was driving with children inside the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure was associated with an unrepaired recall. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The VIN was associated with the recall. The dealer submitted the repair request to the manufacturer. …

The contact's son-in-law owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while her son-in-law was driving at highway speeds, an abnormal, popping sound began to emit from the vehicle. The contact also stated that white steam began to emit from the engine as her son-in-law pulled over and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic performed an inspection and determined that the driveshaft flexible coupling had cracked which lead to transmission damage. Upon investigation, the mechanic discovered NHTSA Campaign Number:19V767000(Power Train) which he linked to the failure. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a dealer where they acknowledged the recall; however, they informed the contact that the transmission was not covered under recall and the contact was given an estimate for the transmission repair. …

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact had received a recall notification and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the flexible coupling was replaced as an interim repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The contact stated while an employee was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the failure was related NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train). The contact stated that the mechanic attempted to order the part from the manufacturer, but the manufacturer informed the mechanic that only an authorized dealer could perform the repair. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the driveshaft assembly and other unknown parts had failed and needed to be replaced. …

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound coming from an unknown location prompting her to attempt to slow the vehicle after which she became aware that the brake was not functioning properly. The contact stated that with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard the vehicle failed to slow as intended; violently coming to a complete stop on the shoulder of the roadway where the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the driveshaft assembly had failed, damaging the brake lines, resulting in a loss of the hydraulic brake functionality. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train), and the VIN was included. …

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the rubber-flexible coupling between the transmission became shredded into pieces and the vehicle swerved off the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic, who confirmed that the rubber transmission coupler had failed and needed to be upgraded to the metal version by the manufacturer. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V408000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Winner Dover Auto Body Shop (591 S Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901), but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 197,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and accelerating, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was slowly driven to the local mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the driveshaft coupling had failed and needed to be replaced. The driveshaft coupling was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired; however, months later, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 100,000.

The involved individual was found with altered mental status on a highway on 8/13/2023. The vehicle he had been driving was found in the highway median a few hundred feet away. He was admitted to a local hospital, diagnosed with blunt force injuries of the head, and pronounced brain dead on 8/14/2023. Autopsy examination revealed fractures of the skull, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and cerebral cortical contusions. Mechanical vehicle inspection revealed that the driveshaft flexible joint failed while the vehicle was in motion, with resulting driveshaft uncoupling and severe damage to surrounding vehicle components including the brake and fuel lines. Investigation was consistent with the decedent exiting the moving motor vehicle.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V767000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was abnormal sound of a lose part underneath the vehicle near the front driver's side seat and front passenger's side seat. The dealer was contacted, and it was determined that the failure was related to a driveshaft failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 120,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Transmission complaints in other Transit years