VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Ford Transit2015–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Ford Transit
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Ford Transit Years to Avoid
17 recalls · 124 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
17 recalls · 104 complaints
9 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
15 recalls · 56 complaints
7 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Ford Transit — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 | — | — | 55 | 31 | 47 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 55 | 46 | 52 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 8 | 13 | 1 | — | 55 | 59 | 56 | Good |
| 2023 | 14 | 32 | — | — | 45 | 69 | 53 | Caution |
| 2022 | 12 | 38 | — | — | 45 | 76 | 56 | Caution |
| 2021 | 3 | 23 | — | — | 55 | 79 | 63 | Good |
| 2020 | 8 | 46 | 4 | — | 44 | 78 | 56 | Caution |
| 2019 | 8 | 26 | — | — | 52 | 74 | 60 | Good |
| 2018 | 13 | 50 | 9 | — | 36 | 68 | 47 | Caution |
| 2017 | 15 | 56 | 7 | — | 34 | 61 | 43 | Caution |
| 2016 | 17 | 104 | 9 | — | 30 | 54 | 38 | Avoid |
| 2015 | 17 | 124 | 2 | — | 30 | 47 | 36 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Ford Transit Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Transit compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 63).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Transit to buy?+
The 2021 Ford Transit scores highest on our Buyer Score (63/100) — combining a reliability score of 55/100 with a value score of 79/100. It has 3 recalls and 23 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Transit years have the most problems?+
The 2015, 2016, 2017 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2015 Transit leads with 17 recalls and 124 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Transit problems?+
The most frequently reported Ford Transit issues involve: POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.