2020 Ford Transit Owner Complaints

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.

NHTSA ID

11753468

Incident

Jun 10, 2026

Mileage

168,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11747513

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11745147

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11744442

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11736616

Incident

Apr 4, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11710770

Incident

Dec 13, 2025

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 very common issue. This is a huge safety risk for anyone operating or riding in a Ford with this transmission.

NHTSA ID

11689596

Incident

Mar 6, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11686639

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

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)

NHTSA ID

11671444

Incident

Dec 11, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11668587

Incident

Jun 22, 2025

Mileage

33,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11666994

Incident

Jun 12, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11661247

Incident

Mar 12, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11658009

Incident

Apr 23, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11656962

Incident

Jul 12, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11650915

Incident

Feb 5, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11650037

Incident

Jun 25, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11645542

Incident

Apr 30, 2024

Mileage

136,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11630379

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Mileage

68,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11628828

Incident

Dec 4, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11627191

Incident

Oct 29, 2024

Mileage

20,250 mi

My Balmar 2nd alternator on my Winnebago Ekko has just failed. This is a Winnebago installed electrical system component mounted in the Ford Transit chassis engine bay that provides electrical charging to the RV coach batteries. There was an initial NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-234 issued in 2023 after numerous Balmar units failed; in some cases the Balmar unit failure caused a fire in the engine bay. I had the Safety Recall work performed in July 2023 by authorized dealer Dennis Dillion RV in Boise Idaho per the attached invoice and the Balmar charging system had been working well until now. I am aware that there are ongoing reports by other Ekko owners of the Balmar alternator failures reoccurring after the Safety Recall work was performed, and in some cases even after Balmar 2nd alternators' were replaced, which suggests the initial solution provided by the Safety Recall was not sufficient to prevent a failure. Within minutes of starting to drive my RV today I noticed an unfamiliar whining sound from somewhere under the hood that I had not heard before and immediately checked my coach batteries while driving a short distance and went from the batteries discharging significantly to not charging at all. I opened the engine hood and had smoke visible and a strong burning smell coming from the passenger side of the engine bay where the Balmar unit is located. I was very concerned about the potential for an engine bay fire, but fortunately was very close to my home, so my RV is now parked in my driveway. See attached screenshots showing the initial voltage discharge while driving and then the batteries not getting any charge while under power. Also attached is the Recall 23V-234 repair instructions. I plan to unplug the Balmar alternator to prevent the potential for a fire while awaiting a response from Winnebago how to proceed. Despite the NHTSA Safety Recall having been performed, there are reports of alternator's failing and risk of vehicle fires remains.

NHTSA ID

11626480

Incident

Nov 20, 2024

In march 2024 my vehicle unexpectedly cutoff on [XXX] heading into wash. Dc. Called a tow to my mechanic and had the alternator and battery replaced. Mechanic noticed that the vehicles battery light remained and investigated further. After amonth in the shop we observed that components were utilizing battery power when the system should be off. We heard mechanical diagnostic sounds, and the battery would not maintain a charge after being driven. Upon getting it home and a day later upon jump starting again and when i began to turn the wheel, a violent jerking response came from the steering column. Cheched the dash and several popup windows had to be closed. AWD, BATTERY, and low fuel. There was also the wrench light on the dash itself. Went on the Ford forum and many others were describing the same issues, mainly battery drain. I thought i had disconnected the cargo area lights only to find out i did disconnect part but not them all only to further discover Ford engineered the vehicle where most of the features that were described in the forum not so accessible such as the fuse panel 'fuse 32' because theres no clear indication of where that is exactly on the diagrams. Ive have pretty much used the vehicle on occasions where im moving my equipment. As of september, i received a letter from fords "Customer Satisfaction Program" in which i responded only to be told from Bannister Ford that the Software Update that would fix High-Torque launches would not be installed because the battery light was on. Now to me, this sounds like a catch-22 because the issue is with their electrical design where if one problem occurs they have a fix but you wont get it until you fix the prom (ideally with them). all the while I'm setting up the appointment im being served ads for add-on services. Its october 2024 and i am just sick of this van. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11618474

Incident

Oct 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit. The contact stated that whenever it rained, the door seal towards the rear of the passenger’s side sliding door was leaking. The contact stated that the leak was allowing water to accumulate in the pillar located at the rear on the passenger’s side. The contact stated that the pillar was filling nearly to where the pillar joined the ceiling. The contact stated that water was forming puddles on the floorboards and was draining from the pillar. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer but had not had the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact had observed that the seam on the roof of the vehicle where the two roof panels were joined was also showing extreme deterioration of the caulking; however, there was no water leaking into the vehicle yet. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,100.

NHTSA ID

11616479

Incident

Jun 24, 2022

Mileage

3,100 mi

I have encountered an issue multiple times now on multiple Ford Transit vans. The "lug wrench" included with the vehicle as part of the spare tire tool kit does not allow me to remove the lug nuts. I am a Fleet customer and I own many Ford Transit AWD vans. When they are brand new, the spare tire lug wrench barely reaches the lug nut as it is not a very deep socket. After a couple of tire rotations I believe the lug studs possibly stretch slightly and the lug wrench tool no longer reaches the lug nut. This issue has caused my drivers to be stranded multiple times. I believe it is an oversight by Ford and it should be addressed. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11602836

Incident

Jul 15, 2024

We own a fleet of these vans and 5 out of the last 7 purchased from 2020-2023 have had total rear brake system failure. The calipers are not retracting and are overheating and freezing up the rear brake system. In some cases leaving our employee(s) stranded on the side of the road in the middle of winter storm waiting to get towed putting their safety at risk. The problem has been reproduced as it has happened on 5 of the last 7 vehicles we purchased. Our local Ford dealer has inspected these issues and we contacted the Ford Consumer phone today - spoke with Rena at Ford on 6/19/24 at approximately 2pm - 2:15pm PDT. No warning lamps or message alerts. Brakes are making a squeaky noise and hot smell prior to seizing. We have had to pay thousands of dollars for some of these repairs and towing. We wanted to alert Ford and you as we are noticing an alarming trend. In speaking with Ford Motor Company, they correlate this issue as a maintenance issue but if it was a maintenance issue, the front brakes would have failed before the rear. I will be completing this form for the additional VIN numbers. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11595458

Incident

Apr 5, 2024