2016 Ford Transit Steering Problems

Upon auto inspection, I was informed that the subframe of the van was rotted and needed to be addressed. As the vehicle was not put into service until 2017, the van had less than 7 years on it at the time yet this bolt in member which supports the front lower control arms as well as the steering rack was severly compromised. Due to financial constraints, the member wasn't replaced until recently at which point there were multiple locations that the decay was so severe that one could fit both hands through the voids created by the rust. I spoke numerous times with Ford customer care which quoted body, not frame, rust through warranties. The cost to replace this is well over $3k and most dealerships refuse to do them. As has been reported to you before, this item has such a history of rust through that there is an open class action suit. I was lucky. The issue was found and repaired, at great expense, before either my steering or suspension failed.

NHTSA ID

11768870

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle while turning to the left or the right. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the front driver's side seat belt failed to latch securely. The "Seat Belt" warning light was not illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA ID

11651163

Incident

Mar 26, 2020

Mileage

42,000 mi

•What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Unknown •How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Van completely shuts down, lights on dashboard shut off, can’t not accelerate or brake, and hazard lights do not turn on. •Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Problem could not be reproduce at Ford the second time. The first time this happened, the Van was serviced at Ford for over 2 months for the same issues. •Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been serviced by Penske & Ford. •Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights or messages, these issues comes up randomly and shuts the vehicle down completely.

NHTSA ID

11629699

Incident

Sep 17, 2024

Mileage

123,402 mi

I was notified for a **recall** on the DRIVE SHAFT sometime early this year ( Feb / March 2021)... I have about 24,000 miles on the van. I also reported humming noise after reaching 35 to 40 mph... and then more noise ( humming noise ) after reaching 65 mph on the expressway. I took my van to Northgate Ford, where I purchased new. They said they had the parts ordered etc. I left the van there for several days...Then I was notified that they put on the new replacement driveshaft,,,, assuming it was correct and BALANCED.... the service manager notified me that the replacement driveshaft installed was NOT BALANCED and was causing all kinds of vibration problems / issues... steering wheel, driving, etc.... upon taking the van back several times.... and getting a new corrected balance driveshaft, installed that. However,,, still more problems,,, humming and vibrations, etc. they looked at the DIFFERRENCIAL ,,,, and found that all the bearings were bad,,, had to wait 4 to 6 weeks to get replacements......I told them that anything that SPINS... and not balanced is causing more vibration problems through out the van,,, engine, transmission, exhaust system, brakes, name it,,, etc. I picked up the van on June 28, 2021.. note... they gave me an extended warranty until 2024 ( 3 years ) and milage of 75,000 miles... Looks like expecting more major problems, etc..... I still have the **humming noise over 35 mph... and getting louder... I have seen articles about possible exhaust / muffler baffles going bad, etc... now that they did the recall, etc.. my van is an accident waiting to happen... and with the humming noise... Now all I need to do is lose my hearing... bull ssssss... thanks

NHTSA ID

11424627

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

3/11/2021, TOOK TRANSIT TO DEALER ON MARCH 9, 2021,,, FOR HUMMING COMING FROM RADIO WHEN TURNED ON, FOR RECALL ON DRIVE SHAFT COUPLING. AND ADDITIONAL NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY OVER 60 MPH PLUS... GOES AWAY WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND EXITING EXPRESSWAY. DEALER HAD VEHICLE SINCE 3/9/2021. TOLD ME TODAY THEY FIXED THE DRIVE SHAFT COUPLING, THEN THEY CAME UP WITH ISSUE ON FRONT TIRES AND HAD TO ROTATE THEM.. ONLY 24K ON VEHICLE SINCE NEW... NOW NEW ISSUE ABOUT SOME SORT OF RATTLE WITH THE FRONT END... ETC..AND THAT CAR PULLS TO RIGHT? AND THAT THEY CANNOT FIX PROBLEM AS OF TODAY,,, WORKING WITH FORD,, LOOKS LIIKE THEY WANT TO KEEP VEHICLE....UNTIL ?? FIXED??? ACCORDING TO GOOGLE,,, LOOKING UP FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH 2016 / 250 FORD TRANSIT CARGO VAN... LOTS OF ISSUES THERE FROM OTHER TRANSIT OWNERS. SAME ISSUE.. POSSIBLE ISSUE RELATED TO SAME FRONT END PROBLEMS... WHEN FORD SHIPS THE TRANSIT TO DEALERS,,,ASSUME THAT VEHICLE IS BEING TIED DOWM TO DELIVERY CARRIER FLAT BED AUTO CARRIER,,, IN NOSE DOWN POSITION AND WITH EXTREAM TIE DOWNS... THAT WHEN THE CARRIER HIS THE HIGHWAY, AND THE VEHICLES START BOUNCING, AND ALL THE WEIGHT IS ON THE FRONT END... CAUSING ALL THIS DAMAGE... FRONT END ALIGNMENT CANNOT FIX IT... SOME ARE SAYING THAT THE ** SUBFRAME** IS BENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT.... LOOKS LIKE POSSIBLE LIMINE TIME??? TIME TO RECALL ALL TRANSIT'S AGAIN FOR THIS ISSUE. ALSO LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION ABOUT THE EXHAUST TAIL PIPE COMES OUT SHORT FROM THE END OF THE BUMPER ( SEVERAL FEET,,,) AND SHOULD COME ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE VEHICLE AND OR TO AREA BEHIND THE REAR WHEEL AND EVEN WITH THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO KEEP EXHAUST FUMES AWAY FROM GETTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE....

NHTSA ID

11402505

Incident

Mar 9, 2021

Mileage

24,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD A TEMPORARY FIX FOR A RECALL REPAIR FOR A DRIVE SHAFT FLEXIBLE COUPLING DONE BACK ON 11/2017. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT THE DEALER WYATT JOHNSON FORD 646 THOMPSON LN, NASHVILLE, TN 37204 (615) 244-3615. THE ISSUE RECURRED AGAIN IN 09/2018 WHEN THE PART WAS DISCOVERED TO BE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER TO DO ANOTHER TEMPORARY REPAIR SINCE THE PERMANENT RECALL REPAIR PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE YET. THE TEMPORARY REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY 12/07/20 AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE SHOWN TO BE COMPLETED AND THEY WOULD NOT COMPLETE THE REPAIRS AT NO COST. THE PERMANENT REPAIR SOLUTION CAME OUT IN 10/2019 BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONTACT'S CASE WAS CLOSED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THE PERMANENT REPAIR FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNREPAIRED AS A RESULT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,412.

NHTSA ID

11378466

Incident

Oct 2, 2017

Mileage

40,412 mi

FORD TRANSIT IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE TURNED OFF WHILE IT'S IN ANY GEAR INCLUDING WHILE IT'S IN DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. TURNING THIS KEY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WILL CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER. MY VAN HAS TURNED ITSELF OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MILES AN HOUR FOUR TIMES BECAUSE MY KNEE TOUCHED THE KEY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE STEERING COLUMN IS ADJUSTABLE BUT IT ADJUST ITSELF WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE LEEVER CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THE IGNITION KEY TO CONSTANTLY COME CLOSER TO MY KNEES. TWO FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT'S WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE DESIGN NEEDS TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE IT'S UNSAFE. *TT *DT CONSUMER STATED DESIGN FLAW WITH NOT HAVING AN INTERLOCK INSTALLED. UPDATED 11/7/18*JB*BF VIN NUMBER INVALID UPDATED 11/20/18*JB UPDATED 11/20/18 *DT *JB *DT *DT*JB *DT VIN INVALID *JB

NHTSA ID

11021524

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

8,000 mi

2016 FORD TRANSIT 350HD 144"WHEELBASE WITH THE EXTENDED LENGTH, HIGH ROOF, DUAL REAR WHEELS. TOOK POSSESSION OF VAN ON 05-25-17 WITH 350 MILES. HAD A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH STARTED AROUND 40 MPH AND GOT MORE INTENSE THE FASTER YOU DROVE. TOOK IT TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL BALANCE CHECKED AND EACH WHEEL HAS +2 OZ (06-08-17 1025 MILES) THE WHEEL BALANCE FIXED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION PROBLEM. THEN I NOTICED UNSAFE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS, UNSAFE SWAYING AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN AFFECTED BY THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF WIND, PASSING LARGER VEHICLES AND ROAD CONDITIONS. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE OVER 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO EXCESSIVE SWAYING THAT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. HAD FORD DEALER CONFIRM THAT THERE IS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM. IT IS NOT A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT RATHER A PROBLEM THAT OCCURS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN IN THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT BECAME EVIDENT RIGHT AFTER TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AND FIXING THE WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11010675

Incident

May 25, 2017

Mileage

1,025 mi