NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford Transit. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
seat collapse. Available to be inspected. Unable to see over wheel or reach the acceleration and break pedals. Airbag light comes on due to the collapsed seat either cutting the airbag electrical cable, or puncturing the airbag itself. Vehicle has only been inspected by our fleet manager, our in house mechanic, and the dealership. No prior warning(s) before the failures.
seat collapse. Available to be inspected. Unable to see over wheel or reach the acceleration and break pedals. Airbag light comes on due to the collapsed seat either cutting the airbag electrical cable, or puncturing the airbag itself. Vehicle has only been inspected by our fleet manager, our in house mechanic, and the dealership. No prior warning(s) before the failures.
seat collapse. Available to be inspected. Unable to see over wheel or reach the acceleration and break pedals. Airbag light comes on due to the collapsed seat either cutting the airbag electrical cable, or puncturing the airbag itself. Vehicle has only been inspected by our fleet manager, our in house mechanic, and the dealership. No prior warning(s) before the failures.
seat collapse. Available to be inspected. Unable to see over wheel or reach the acceleration and break pedals. Airbag light comes on due to the collapsed seat either cutting the airbag electrical cable, or puncturing the airbag itself. Vehicle has only been inspected by our fleet manager, our in house mechanic, and the dealership. No prior warning(s) before the failures.
seat collapse. Available to be inspected. Unable to see over wheel or reach the acceleration and break pedals. Airbag light comes on due to the collapsed seat either cutting the airbag electrical cable, or puncturing the airbag itself. Vehicle has only been inspected by our fleet manager, our in house mechanic, and the dealership. No prior warning(s) before the failures.
seat collapse. Available to be inspected. Unable to see over wheel or reach the acceleration and break pedals. Airbag light comes on due to the collapsed seat either cutting the airbag electrical cable, or puncturing the airbag itself. Vehicle has only been inspected by our fleet manager, our in house mechanic, and the dealership. No prior warning(s) before the failures.
Front drivers seat cushion sagging no good for almost 1 and a half years. I bought replacement cushions for over $200 each. This is due to a broken seat suspension mat and the only way to fix it is to buy the seat track for $600 plus dollars. I found this Manufacture communications number TSB 21-2353. I have a total of 6 2020 Transits and they all the same problem. 1FTBW3U8XLKA17017 1FTBW3U83LKA17022 1FTBW3U80LKB05414 1FTBW3U8XLKB05419 1FTBW3U80LKA65495
Driving 30 MPH engine starting revving up to 4000rpm and very loud! Stalled out and wouldn't start, 3 times during a 5 minute drive.
While riding through a Walmart parking lot the power steering went out. I managed to manuever to a nearby Ford service station. While there awaiting service I read online that this make and model looses power steering. The Blog suggested turning off the vehicle and restarting it. I went back to my vehicle and started it and the power steering had returned. I was 5.5 hours away from home but when I got home I parked it until I could get it to the dealership. It has been at the dealership for 10 days and just last night the dealership told me that the vehicle has water and sand in it and that that is what is causing the problems with the vehicle. I have never been in water or sand in this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear camera unavailable message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer several times because of the persistent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was informed about an unknown recall however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The contact was advised to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
1. 10 SPEED ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION - When traveling at a lower speed when approaching a turn (10, 15, 20, 25mph); when you release the accelerator to make the turn, and then begin to apply pressure to the accelerator to move forward, the transmission has not selected a gear and no acceleration occurs. This leaves the transmission between gears (neutral momentarily) and the vehicle has no power to move forward. It has happened on several occasions and I believe it places the driver in a dangerous position to not maintain power to the drive train. 2. FRONT SEAT ADJUSTMENT RAILS - The two rails on each seat are irregular shaped heavy metal rails which the seat assembly slides back and forth on. When getting into the truck (stepping up and moving your legs around the outside corner of the seat), the sharp metal end (painted) scrapes, scratches, or lacerates your calf, as you get in. This has happened on several occasions to me as the driver, and more than several occasions to my wife; who has the seat adjusted further back, thus exposing more of the metal rail to contact with her leg. In my owner's manual, diagrams show an plastic end cap on the front portion of the rails. They are not installed on the 2020 (actually 2021) model. I spoke to the Ford parts department. They are available for earlier model vans (2017, 2018 as an example) but, they are not available for the 2020 model. The price for me to purchase the "plastic" injection molded end caps to prevent future injury are $96.00 FOR EACH END CAP! Plus tax, over $414. If they were installed on previous models, why not the 2020 model? Injuries are minor but, they are injuries because of a part deletion/omission by Ford Motor Company.
DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, ABOUT AN HOUR LATER IT STARTED MAKING WHINING NOISE, THEN GEAR SHIFTED AND VEHICLE SKID. STARTED MAKING LIGHT GRINDING NOISE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. AFTER COOLING, VAN WOULD SHIFT GEARS BUT NOT MOVE, INCLUDING REVERSE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID VAN HAD A TRANSMISSION LEAK. VAN DID NOT HAVE ANY EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE, FROM PUDDLES UNDER VEHICLE TO ANY TRAIL OF FLUID OR MESS WHEN INSPECTING UNDER VEHICLE. HAD THE VAN FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS AND THEY SAY 10 QUARTS OF OIL LEAKED! THERE IS NO TRANSMISSION FLUID ON MY DRIVEWAY AT ALL!
VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER, BOTH WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR WHILE STOPPED. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CEASES TO DISPLAY VEHICLE SPEED, ENGINE RPM, ENGINE TEMP, AND FUEL LEVEL, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER INFO THAT IS TYPICALLY DISPLAYED. THIS CONDITION CAN LAST SECONDS OR SEVERAL MINUTES AT A TIME. IF CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVE WHILE THE ISSUE OCCURS, CRUISE CONTROL CEASES TO FUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REGAINS POWER, IT SOMETIMES FLASHES VARIOUS WARNINGS, SUCH AS "BLIND SPOT ASSIST ERROR," "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK," "PRE-COLLISION ASSIST ERROR," "ADAPTIVE CRUISE NOT AVAILABLE," AND "PARK ASSIST ERROR." THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT HAS OCCURRED COUNTLESS TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY OF 2021.
PURCHASED NEW AWD AND NOTICED VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE WHEEL WELL COVERS, I PURCHASED THE AWD BECAUSE I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD AND WANT TO TAKE OUT ON UNPAVED ROADS, I'VE NOTICED THE AREA HAS COLLECTED LARGE AMOUNTS OF DIRT AND ROCKS. IF I'M DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY A BIG CHUCK COULD FLY OUT AND POSSIBLY DAMAGE CARS BEHIND ME, AND ALSO CASE CONTAINING SEVERAL WIRES IS LOCATED IN THIS SPOT. I'VE CLEANED THIS AREA AND DIRT AND ROCKS CONSTANTLY COLLECTS IN THIS SPOT, I SPENT WELL OVER $50,000 ON THIS VEHICLE, FEEL VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE
WHEN STARTING THE CAR, I HEAR POPPING NOISES SOUNDING LIKE A SPARK PLUG AND OR A TAP/POP NOISE. I HEAR THE NOISE EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS DURING STARTUP, DRIVING, AND AT IDLE.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH IN NO TRAFFIC, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE CRASH BREAKING NOT AVAILABLE. APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED. WE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART IT THERE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A BUG ON THE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO US AND NOW IT IS DEAD AGAIN AND WON'T START. THE VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW AND THE STALL OCCURRED ON OUR FIRST OUTING. IT WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER.
2020 FORD TRANSIT HIGH ROOF.UPON STARTING VAN 'STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED'MESSAGE CAME UP.STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT.WAITING ABOUT 5 MINUTES MESSAGE WAS GONE.VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V575000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WAYNE AKERS FORD (2000 10TH AVE N, LAKE WORTH, FL 33461) FOR THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR SINCE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE REAR VIEW CAMERA DISPLAYED A DISTORTED IMAGE, WHICH RESULTED IN HER REVERSING INTO AN ELECTRICAL POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
SINCE PURCHASING THE VAN, THE STEERING WHEEL HAS OCCASIONALLY FELT SLUGGISH AND HEAVIER TO TURN AT CERTAIN TIMES THAN OTHERS. THE FINAL TIME IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN AND FELT ALMOST LOCKED, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE AT RANDOM TIMES AND IMPEDES DRIVING AND OVERALL SAFETY AS IT SEEMS TO COME AND GO AS AN ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED BOTH WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE IN MOTION.
THE PAINT AND BODY PANELS ARE DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE.
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY A STEERING ASSIST WARNING SHOWED IN THE VEHICLE INFORMATION AREA. IT WAS STATIONARY. THE POWER STEERING DID NOT FUNCTION AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. NEXT DAY STARTED VEHICLE WITHOUT STEERING ASSIST WARNING APPEARING AND THE POWER STEERING WAS APPARENTLY WORKING AGAIN. MOVED VEHICLE TO THE STREET SO IT CAN MORE EASILY BE DRIVEN TO THE MECHANIC IF PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. THE VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE WITH THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND HAS TO SIT IDLE AND UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS RECTIFIED.
VAN WAS STATIONARY ON STREET AND FAILED TO START TWO TIMES, BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED.
KEYS ARE BREAKING OFF FROM THE ACTUAL REMOTE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE STUCK WITHOUT A WAY TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST 5 OTHER VANS AS WELL AND OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS THAT DELIVER AMAZON PACKAGES. THERE ARE WELL OVER 20 TO 30 VANS THAT THIS IS ALSO HAPPENING TO.
I bought this vehicle in Sept 2020 and have had this issue since day one. The drivers seat creates a bulge about half-way up the seat back when the seat warms up either with the heated seat feature or sunlight and pushes me forward out of the safety of the side seat bolsters. The passenger seat does not have this issue and has a slight concave shape to it for proper support. The Ford dealer has replaced the lumbar support system and "wrapped" the lever inside the seat back to reduce any protrusions. I now can feel that padding which adds to the bulge that pushes me forward. The Ford rep says they have not been able to duplicate the concern. I have asked for someone to drive the vehicle for a period of time so they too can notice how the bulge gets bigger as the seat heats up. The rep says there is nothing more they can do since the problem can't be duplicated. So, I am asking for your help since I feel very unsafe when I have to drive this due to the bulge. This is from the Ford Rep- "[XXX], Good morning. I do apologize for not getting back with you as I said I would. Ford Pro has been experiencing unexpected high call volume for several weeks now. We are actively working to address that issue. I did speak with S/A [XXX] at Monaco & Sons Motor Sales just a few minutes ago. He advised the wheel repair shop has not yet returned the wheel as they said may be done as early as last Friday or Monday at the latest. I asked [XXX] about the driver seat, and he states they have not been able to reproduce the concern you reported, they have also compared it to other Transits at their dealership and find your seat to be similar. Until or unless they are able to verify a concern that is due to a factory defect in the seat or components, they will not be able to address this further. I will schedule my next follow up for Monday, 12/13/21. Barring any unforeseen issues, the wheel should be repaired and your vehicle should be back with you before then." INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2020 FORD TRANSIT CARGO VAN EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES, TIRE LINE: VANCONTACT A/S N/A, TIRE SIZE: 235/65/R16 N/A, DOT NUMBER: 16Y04DR83. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD BEFORE THE VAN BECAME UNSTABLE AND BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE HAD SUSTAINED SEVERE SIDE WALL DAMAGE AND TREAD SEPARATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. ENTERPRISE TRUCK RENTAL LOCATED AT 249 FOREST PKWY, FOREST PARK, GA 30297 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AT 565 MILES I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ONE OF MY VALVE STEMS STARTED RAPIDLY LEAKING AIR. AT 11,400 MILES, ANOTHER VALVE STEM STARTED LEAKING RAPIDLY AFTER STOPPING FOR GAS ON A TRIP. ALUMINUM WHEELS, NEVER TOUCHED ANYTHING WITH THEM. WHEN WILL THE REMAINING ONES FAIL?
UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NO 11302124 DATED 2/26/2020 SPOKE WITH FORD CUST SERVICE REP REGARDING THE ISSUES AND WAS TOLD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE SEAT AND ELECTRIC SYSTEM. THE SERVICE DEPT CHECKED THE ISSUES ON 2/12/2020. THE SERVICE TECH VERIFIED THAT THE WIRE BUNDLE IS BEING DAMAGED BY THE SEAT BEING MOVED. THE SERVICE TECH WRAPPED THE BUNDLE WITH TAPE AND RE-ROUTED THE BUNDLE. THE SEAT WAS TESTED FORWARD AND BACK BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE SWIVEL WAS TESTED. IT APPEARS THAT THE WIRE BUNDLE AND DRIVER'S SWIVEL SEAT NEEDS FURTHER TESTING AND REPAIRS TO ASSURE THAT THE SWIVEL SEAT IS NOT DAMAGING THE WIRE BUNDLE. DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT WIRE BUNDLE MIGHT AFFECT SEAT AIR BAG OPERATION CAUSING EITHER FAILURE TO DEPLOY OR DEPLOYING WHEN NOT NEEDED. DAMAGE ALSO MIGHT AFFECT SEAT BELT AND SEAT WEIGHT/ORIENTATION SENSORS. FOLLOWING ARE THE FORD SERVICE TECH NOTES FROM THE SERVICE WORK ORDER: CUSTOMER STATES WIRING BUNDLE UNDER DRIVER SEAT THAT IS BEING DAMAGE FROM THE SEAT MOVING BACK AND FORTH PLEASE CHECK AND ADVISE CAUSE 612 DRIVERS SEAT HARNESS IS CHAFFING ON SEAT RIVETS VERIFIED DRIVERS SEAT HARNESS IS CHAFFING ON SEAT RIVETS. HAD SERVICE WRITER TAKE PICTURES OF DAMAGE. CHECKED OASIS NO TSB'S, SSM'S, OR GSB'S RELATED. WRAPPED HARNESS WITH HIGH TEMP CLOTH ELECTRICAL TAPE AND RE-ROUTED HARNESS TO CLEAR SEAT RIVETS. TESTED SEAT FORWARD AND BACK TO VERIFIED CHAFFING CONCERN IS NO LONGER PRESENT. THE SERVICE WRITER ALSO CHECKED WITH FORD REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP AND ENGINE SYSTEMS ACTIVATING WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED AND WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE 2020 TRANSIT AND CANNOT BE CHANGED. THIS SHOULD BE CONFIRMED SINCE THIS BEHAVIOR ADDS ADDITIONAL WEAR/TEAR TO THE ENGINE SYSTEMS AND COULD BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
NOTICED THAT A PUMP (FUEL???) WAS CYCLING ON WHEN DRIVER DOOR WAS OPENED AND WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED IN IGNITION. PARKING LIGHTS ALSO TURN ON WHEN DOOR IS OPENED. THE PUMP HAS ALSO CYCLED ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. CHECKED BATTERY WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER DRIVER SEAT AND FOUND THAT ELECTRICAL CABLES THAT LEAD TO SEAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY RIVETS HOLDING SWIVEL SEAT WHEN THE SEAT IS MOVED FORWARD AND BACK. CAREFULLY MOVED THE SEAT BACK GUIDING THE CABLE BUNDLE UNDER THE RIVETS. THE PUMP NOW DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED BUT STILL CYCLES WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS INSERTED. HAVE MOVED THE TRANSIT OUT OF THE GARAGE DUE TO POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. PHOTOS OF WIRE CABLE ARE INCLUDED. TRANSIT WAS JUST PURCHASED ON 1/20/2020 AND THE SWIVEL SEATS ARE NEW FOR THE 2020 MODEL.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026