2015 Ford Transit Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 12 Transit years
The 2015 Ford Transit has 193 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 100 (worst of the 12 model years covered), and ranks #1 worst. Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 40% of complaints, with 26 recalls filed against this model year.
- Complaints
- 193
- Recalls
- 26
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 9
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16
- 14 city / 19 hwy
Top 2015 Ford Transit problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain78 (40%)
- Engine45 (23%)
- Fuel System32 (17%)
- Other25 (13%)
- Brakes21 (11%)
- Electrical System20 (10%)
- Structure & Body13 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (7%)
- Steering8 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (3%)
What owners report
- Driveshaft flexible coupling failures reported at highway speeds, in one case fracturing the driveshaft and transmission and sending the vehicle airborne.
- Sudden loss of acceleration control while driving on the highway, forcing the driver to coast to the shoulder even though the engine kept running.
- Violent shaking and vibration at approximately 75 mph that dealers were sometimes unable to reproduce or repair.
- Vibration when steering left or right at 45-50 mph that recurred multiple times without diagnosis.
- Front and rear tire tread and sidewall separation reported on factory-fitted Hankook Dynapro tires.
- Persistent strong fuel odor inside the cabin at various speeds that dealers could not trace to a specific failure.
2015 Ford Transit recalls
26 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V631000Aug 11, 2021Brakes30 vehicles
Parking brake:conventional:mechanical:linkage and cable
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Transit vehicles. An incorrect driveshaft torsional damper service kit may have been installed, which can allow the damper shield to contact the parking brake cable, possibly resulting in parking brake failure.
Risk: Parking brake failure can result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger side parking brake cable with a cable that provides sufficient clearance to the damper shield, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 24, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S39.
- NHTSA 19V767000Oct 25, 2019Transmission & Powertrain293,558 vehicles
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. The flexible coupling connecting the transmission to the driveshaft may prematurely fail.
Risk: If the coupling fails, the vehicle will not be able to move under its own power and the disconnected driveshaft may impact and damage the brake and fuel lines. Additionally, the separated driveshaft may allow the vehicle to roll if the vehicle is exited when the transmission is in 'Park' but the parking brake is not applied. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash or injury.
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. The final remedy will consist of installation of a driveshaft front section equipped with a mechanical u-joint in place of the flexible coupling. These repairs will be made free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 1, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S38. Note: This recall supersedes recall number 17V-408.
- NHTSA 19V333000Apr 29, 2019Structure & Body544 vehicles
Seats
New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ford Transit and 2014-2019 Ram Promaster 2500 and 3500 vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman Go-ES Foldaway seats. When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion may not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: New England has notified owners, directing them to contact Freedman for repairs to the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall began May 27, 2019. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or New England at 1-800-886-9247.
2015 Ford Transit fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 19 MPG
- Combined
- 16 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,050
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other Transit years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Ford Transit reliable?
- Compared to other Transit model years, 2015 is the weakest, with a Complaint Index of 100 and rank #1 worst out of 12 model years covered. NHTSA logged 193 complaints and 26 recalls for this year.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Ford Transit?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues are the top problem area, making up 40% of complaints (78 of 193), with a median failure mileage of 102,052.5 miles.
- Does the 2015 Ford Transit have a driveshaft recall?
- Yes. Recall 19V767000 covers 2015-2017 Transit vans for a flexible coupling issue, with an interim repair requiring replacement every 40,000 miles.
- How does the 2015 Transit compare to later years?
- The 2015 Transit's Complaint Index of 100 is higher than every other year listed, including 2016 (91), 2023 (82), and 2020 (73); 2019 and 2021 score lowest at 9 and 18.