2020 Ford Transit

Routine

Owners filed 83 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seats. It has been recalled 9 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
5,000 milesMedian miles at failure

25 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seats25
002
Power Train10
000
Electrical System10
030
Unknown or Other6
000
Steering5
000
Service Brakes5
000
Wheels4
000
Tires3
000
Engine3
000
Visibility/Wiper2
100

9 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility › Wheelchair Restraints/Securement › Latch/Anchor25V876000
Filed Dec 17, 202586 vehiclesRollx Vans

Defect. Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

Risk. An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.

Back Over Prevention › Software25V442000
Filed Jun 27, 2025200,237 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Risk. A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings23V499000
Filed Jul 19, 202310 vehiclesQuality Vans

Defect. Quality Vans (Quality Vans) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ford Transit vans equipped with Onan QG 2800i EVAP generators, part number 2.8HGLAA-8303A. The fuel hose between the inline fuel filter and the Injection Pump Module (IPM) may not be properly secured, which can cause a gas leak.

Risk. A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel hose and clamps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2023. Owners may contact Quality Vans customer service at 1-480-464-7007.

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft21V978000
Filed Dec 16, 20214,548 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Transit vehicles equipped with All Wheel Drive (AWD). The bolts that attach the rear driveshaft to the transfer case may become loose or damaged, which can result in separation of the driveshaft from the transfer case.

Risk. Driveshaft separation can result in a loss of drive power, or unintended movement while parked if the parking brake is not engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the driveshaft bolts. If any loose bolts are found, the driveshaft, attachment hardware, transfer case flange kit, and seal will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S54.

Parking Brake › Conventional › Mechanical › Linkage and Cable21V631000
Filed Aug 11, 202130 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera20V575000
Filed Sep 23, 2020620,246 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk. Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.

Air Bags › Side/Window20V415000
Filed Jul 17, 202068 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and Transit vehicles. The affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser in the side curtain air bags which may result in the diffuser detaching from the inflator in the event of an air bag deployment.

Risk. In the event of a crash, if the diffuser detaches from the inflator during air bag deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bag modules, free of charge. An interim letter notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed August 3, 2020. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S35.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor20V250000
Filed May 5, 20205 vehiclesNational Van Builders, Inc.

Defect. National Van Builders, Inc. (National Van Builders) is recalling certain vehicles based on 2019-2020 Ford Transit and 2019 Ram Promaster vans equipped with Freedman GO-ES foldaway seats. The seat belt retractor block out zone may have not been set correctly, potentially resulting in a seat belt that may not properly secure the occupant. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Risk. An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy. National Van Builders will notify owners, and dealers will replace the retractors, free of charge. The recall began May 19, 2020. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or National Van Builders customer service at 1-800-527-7477.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor20V222000
Filed Apr 20, 2020205 vehiclesTransitworks

Defect. TransitWorks is recalling certain Driverge vehicles based on 2019-2020 Ford Transit vans equipped with Freedman Seating Company (FSC) PT Foldaway and GO-ES 3-point Foldaway seats. The seat belt retractor block out zone may have not been set correctly, potentially resulting in a seat belt that may not properly secure the occupant. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Risk. An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy. TransitWorks will notify owners, and dealers will replace the retractors, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2020. Dealers can contact Freedman Seating Company for parts and reimbursement information at 1-800-443-4540.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer
Filed Jul 29, 2026168,000 milesNJ

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2020 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 69,000, which was confirmed by a fraudulent Carfax report the seller provided to the contact. However, upon searching the VIN on a Ford mobile app, it was discovered that the mileage was 168,000.

Wheels
Filed Jun 30, 2026PA

My Tire pressure Monitor give me alert while driving I select to view tire pressures for display show 3 tires fail send reading One of the three back sending reading two stay off For few days same then all tires reading went off just 1 tire send reading on /off every few miles This is first time happened

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 18, 2026IN

Rear brake issues. Upon taking off the brake pads on the driver's back the caliper piston would not turn in as it should. So I ordered a new one. Then I started on the passenger rear. When I tried to press and turn the piston back in it did the same thing as the other one. The piston came out of the passenger rear caliper. Upon further inspection I noticed the interior housing for the piston has a portion of it missing.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 16, 2026MO

The bolts holding the axle together to the driveshaft failed on the rear right wheel, nearly causing an accident but fortunately it was 6am with little traffic on the interstate. The axle came out and destroyed our driveshaft, requiring a full replacement. We have had the vehicle serviced regularly since our purchase.

Power Train
Filed May 8, 2026NJ

Transmission intermittently struggling to reach 3rd, 4th, 5th gears. Performed IDS diag at shop, found hitorical code P0734 for "Incorrect gear 4 ratio" TSB 26-2046 to overhaul transmission.

Power Train
Filed Jan 13, 2026CA

Vehicle shakes violently on or about 65 to 70 mph. Upon slowing to approximately 60 mph the shaking stops. Also at slower speeds the vehicle pulls to the right. Contacted Ford Fairfield, California dealer two days ago; left voicemail no reply at this writing.

Power Train
Filed Sep 25, 2025CA

We started experiencing slight transmission shifting issues in early-mid 2024. More issues in December 2024/January 2025 - this time it was really hard and jerky shifting. It was sporadic at this time, but it was often. My wife and I have 7 children. This vehicle is usually driven by my wife to pick up kids from school, run errands, etc. At the beginning of March 2025, my wife was merging onto the highway, but it didn't want to shift. She stated that a big rig was coming behind her and the van was not shifting and picking up speed. She said the engine was revving but just was not shifting up. She said the big rig honked and had to change lanes or else he would have hit her and my kids. Several seconds after the big rig passed was when the transmission hard shifted and jerked and it began to pick up more speed, but from that point on, the transmission was not operating properly. We have not driven it since March 2025. I have been saving up to fix the transmission, but I read so many other Ford owners have the same issue with this particular transmission. The Ford dealer confirmed it had a TSB on this exact issue and that many other 10r80 transmissions were doing the same. The issue was reproduced by the Ford dealer. It states the CDF issue in the invoice. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the experience merging on to the highway. I reached out to a local independent mechanic and he upgrades the parts in these Ford transmissions all the time - proving it is a ver

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 11, 2025TX

Back up camera image is reversed, distorted and goes black/blue from time to time.

Back Over Prevention › Rearview System Braking
Filed Jul 6, 2025CO

The rear back up camera stopped working completely I took it to Faricy boys Ford in Canon City Co Waited 45 days for them to get the part and then they told me they weren’t comfortable changing the camera out so I have been with out back up camera on this 22 foot van needing assistance for almost every single move Please help me get this vin on the recall Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 23, 202533,000 milesNJ

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was started, the contact stated that several unknown warning lights and the ABS warning light were illuminated. The contact stated that the right front wheel activated, and the ABS activated while making a hard right turn. The contact was not depressing the brake pedal during the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that the brake lights remained activated. The contact stated that several functions were deactivated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 15, 2025PA

Only I have 88,000 k on 2020 transit the transmission have problems with shifting while driving on highway start with delay on 2nd gear now fault code for gear 10

Power Train
Filed May 15, 2025NY

Driveshaft both front and rear failed as pieces broke off while driving at different times requiring tow and repair

Power Train
Filed Apr 30, 2025MA

Loss of power while driving with no warning. Almost crashed. Shifting violently. After a few months it wasn't safe for anyone and was happening all the time . It's at the dealer getting the transmission rebuilt with re engineered parts . That's what the dealer told me . He said this will resolve the problem for good . 8000$$ 67k miles ford is not helping with cost. Ford had to re engineer the parts that are going in my van , isn't that them admitting they have a transmission that was no good from the start

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 26, 2025FL

Mid 2023 the backup camera would sporadically stop working and produce a blue screen and a message "camera is unavailable contact your dealership". I would check for an update and then it would start working. This has happened 8 times since 2023- 2024, in August 2024 it has quit working completely.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 26, 2025PA

While I driving my 4-year-old Ford Transit Connect with 65,000 miles, I noticed a transmission issue. At low speeds, the vehicle struggled to accelerate, which caused me significant stress and felt very unsafe. However, once on the highway, the transmission gradually returned to normal. In March, I took it to a Ford dealership, where it was diagnosed with a faulty transmission. After discussing this issue with others, I found that many people have also complained about serious safety concerns with Ford’s transmissions.

Power Train
Filed Mar 23, 2025FL

A few months ago, my 2020 Ford Transit had a transmission issue, and the dealer replaced the torque converter. Now, at 101,300 miles, I’m experiencing loss of power, jerking, and rough shifting, and I have to replace the entire transmission. After researching online, I’ve found that many others have experienced the same issue.

Power Train
Filed Feb 28, 2025136,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle briefly hesitated before suddenly jolting forward, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 12, 202468,000 milesCT

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit. The contact stated that the AWD and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the actuator and sensor needed to be replaced, and a software update needed to be performed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer determined that the transfer switch, new air bag, and seat repair kit were needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 4, 2024TN

The van will not start on a regular basis. Usually within a week the battery voltage has depleted to the point the van will not start. Have to put a charger on it often. This is a commonly reported problem on many forums.

Tires
Filed Nov 25, 202420,250 milesFL

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit equipped with Hankook Tires, Tire Line: Dynapro HT, Tire size: 205/75/16, DOT Number: (NA). The contact stated that while pulling into a gas station there was a thumping noise coming from the trailer. The contact inspected the trailer and observed that the front driver’s tire was flat. A mobile mechanic was called to the location and replaced the flat tire with the spare tire. The vehicle was then taken to a tire shop where it was determined that the front driver’s tire was worn down to the metal and experience a blowout. The tire was replaced. The contact stated that on the same day while driving 62 MPH, the tire pressure warning light illuminated, indicating that the tire was deflating quickly. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and the contact became aware that the front passenger’s tire was flat. The vehicle was taken to tire shop and the front tires were replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle and tire failure mileages were approximately 20,250.

20 of 83 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2015
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20270100Routine
20265100Routine
20253400Do not drive
2024281020Routine
2023561800Routine
2022381600Routine
202123400Routine
2020 — this page83930Routine
201937900Routine
2018571410Routine
2017981820Routine
20161552141Fatalities reported
20151922619Fatalities reported
20143300Routine
20011000Routine

Compare every Transit year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 17, 2025. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.