2017 Ford Transit Safety Report

The 2017 Ford Transit presents a mixed safety picture, with a notable number of recalls and a concerning pattern of powertrain-related complaints, despite a decent frontal crash test rating. With 92 total complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 6 injuries reported to NHTSA, there are clear areas of concern. The vehicle received a 4-star rating for frontal crash tests, but side and rollover ratings are unavailable, leaving gaps in its overall crashworthiness assessment. The high number of recalls, 18 in total, indicates several manufacturing or design flaws identified post-production, many of which are critical safety issues. A significant portion of complaints, 23% (23 out of 92), are related to the POWER TRAIN, with additional complaints under 'POWER TRAIN,ENGINE' (10). These complaints frequently describe issues such as unexpected transmission downshifting at highway speeds, driveshaft failures, and torque converter problems. Several complaints explicitly mention the vehicle unexpectedly downshifting to a low gear, requiring the driver to shift to neutral to prevent engine damage, which is a severe safety hazard. The driveshaft flexible coupling failure is also a recurring theme, directly linked to NHTSA recall 17V-408, with some owners reporting issues even after recall repairs or difficulty obtaining parts. Recall history is extensive, with multiple recalls addressing critical components. Several recalls (e.g., 18E-076, 18E-077, 18E-078, 18E-079, 18E-080, 18E-081, 18E-082, 18E-083) pertain to aftermarket Freedman GO-ES Foldaway seats, where seat back movement in a crash increases injury risk. Other significant recalls include 'BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA' (19V767000) for rearview camera issues, 'PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE' (20V332000) for potential parking brake failure, and 'POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT' (17V408000) for driveshaft coupling failure. The fact that some owners report ongoing issues or difficulty with recall repairs, particularly for the driveshaft, is concerning. The single reported fire, while not directly linked to a specific recall in the provided data, could potentially be related to engine oil leaks onto the exhaust, as described in several complaints.

Our recommendation: Exercise extreme caution when considering a 2017 Ford Transit due to numerous critical recalls and persistent powertrain issues; ensure all recalls are addressed and conduct a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection, especially of the transmission and driveshaft.