2016 Ford Transit Transmission & Powertrain Problems
Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 60 of 155 complaints (39%) on the 2016 Ford Transit, mostly tied to flexible coupling/driveshaft failures at a median 104,500 miles. Three related recalls (19V767000, 19V103000, 17V408000) address this exact failure mode.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 60
- 39% of 155
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 104,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Flexible coupling connecting the transmission to the driveshaft fractures, sometimes letting the driveshaft detach or contact the road.
- Owners report a rubbing or burning smell along with vibration coming from the front end, later diagnosed as a failed flex disc.
- Drive line coupler is found fractured during dealer inspection, in some cases even after the recall remedy was performed.
- Sudden loss of drive power or stalling occurs while accelerating, with the vehicle entering 'limp mode' and dash warning lights illuminating.
- Throttle body failures are reported alongside stalling and speed sensor problems, occurring on vans used for commercial transport.
- Detachment of the drive shaft coupling from the transmission while driving has been linked to crashes, including one at 30 mph with air bag deployment.
When 2016 Ford Transit transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 27, 2016, latest Aug 4, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Ford Transit
- 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 19V103000Feb 21, 2019Transmission & Powertrain174 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle, drive power will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash. The detached driveshaft may also create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash for following traffic.
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.
- NHTSA 17V408000Jun 26, 2017Transmission & Powertrain372,991 vehicles
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.
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.
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. A final remedy repair of a redesigned flexible coupling or a revised driveshaft equipped with a universal joint is being developed and is expected in early 2018. These repairs will be made free of charge. Interim notifications informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S15.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Transit model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Are transmission and powertrain problems common on the 2016 Ford Transit?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 60 complaints in this category out of 155 total complaints for the 2016 Transit, or 39% of all complaints for the year.
- Is there a recall for the 2016 Ford Transit transmission?
- Yes, three related recalls exist: 17V408000, 19V103000, and 19V767000, all covering the flexible coupling/driveshaft connection between the transmission and driveshaft.
- At what mileage do these transmission problems usually show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 104,500 miles for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2016 Transit.
- How does the 2016 Transit compare to other model years for this issue?
- The 2016 Transit's 39% share of complaints in this area is similar to 2015 (40%) and 2017 (41%), but higher than 2018 (21%) and later years like 2019 (8%).
- Did these transmission failures cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA records 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries among the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Transit.