2015 Ford Transit Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe driveline trouble: vibration, rumbling and abnormal noises at highway speed, often linked to the driveshaft flexible coupling and, in some cases, the torque converter or rear axle. The second recurring theme is water entering the engine compartment through the windshield cowl area, causing misfires, stalling and electrical faults, with some owners also reporting fuel-system and no-start complaints. Reports are spread from low mileage to well past 150,000 miles, and many describe symptoms that came on gradually and returned after repair.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Driveshaft vibration or fracture / coupling failure

   • 71 complaints (37%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (47 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,100 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe shaking, rumbling or vibration felt through the floorboard and rear of the van while driving, often at 40-70 mph, sometimes with a loud hum, clunk or banging from underneath. Several say the driveshaft flexible coupling cracked or separated, in some cases damaging the transmission, brake lines, fuel lines and undercarriage. Complaints frequently mention that a driveshaft-related recall was already performed and that the noise or vibration returned, with dealers sometimes recommending a rear driveshaft, carrier bearing or torque converter replacement. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 330,000 miles, most often between roughly 40,000 and 120,000 miles, usually at highway speeds.

   Recall 19V767000Recall 17V408000Recall 19V103000Recall 21V6310006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and listen for hum, rumble or vibration from the rear, and ask whether the driveshaft coupling recalls (17V408 / 19V767) have been completed. Have a mechanic inspect the coupling, carrier bearing and rear axle for play or noise before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was being driven down the highway, driver heard a loud pop and saw pieces of metal it the roadway. Pulled over and observed parts of metal hanging down. Vehicle towed to service station. Drive shaft, transmission, emission lines, brake lines and numerous other undercarriage damage observed. This vehicle had a recall on 'separation of the driveshaft from the transmission' in june 2017. This vehicle was taken to Ford dealership for recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354545, filed 2020-09, 150,000 miles

   “Van will make a vibrating noise that is not felt through the steering wheel or pedals at approximately 45mph. It will again at highway speeds 65+MPH when the vehicle is shifting in and out of overdrive make the same audible vibration. Local Ford dealer attributed this to a manufacturer recall of the drive shaft. Driveshaft has been replaced or worked on at three different points of time over the last several years. Problem has never been fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11416561, filed 2021-05, 38,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Water entering engine compartment (cowl / air intake leak)

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners report rainwater reaching the engine bay through a cracked or poorly sealed windshield cowl or wiper grommet area, sometimes leaving standing water in the air filter box. Complaints describe rough running, misfires, a check engine light, no-start conditions and stalls after heavy rain, and some note water soaking wiring and emissions components. Dealers in these reports diagnosed cowl sealing, air filter housing or wiring water intrusion; several owners mention a service bulletin or customer satisfaction program covering the sealing issue. Most often reported after driving in heavy rain, from roughly 13,000 to 200,000 miles, with several reports in the 70,000-115,000 mile range.

   Recall 18V275000Recall 17V668000Recall 14V4830001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the windshield cowl and wiper area for cracks or gaps and look for water stains or moisture in the air filter box and around the engine wiring. Ask whether any cowl-sealing repair or program work was done, and inspect for corrosion on engine-bay fasteners.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was driving to new orleans when I was caught in a very heavy rain storm. The van started to drive rough a day later. Took it into a Ford dealership for a driveshaft recall and oil change only to be told that water got into the housing for the air filter and soaked the filter. The water then made it's way throughout the engine. After, I then learned of Ford issuing a TSB that would have saved my van should it of been a recall or checked by my local Ford dealership when I had previous work completed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388875, filed 2021-01, 110,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit. The contact stated that water had leaked through the windshield and into the air filter compartment, onto several wires for different electrical systems in the vehicle, and onto emissions components, which affected the engine timing. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that there was approximately 2-inches of water in the air filter box. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11698144, filed 2025-11, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Stalling, rough running or no-start (fuel system)

   • 21 complaints (11%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the van stalling at low speed or at a stop, losing power, or failing to restart, sometimes with a fuel filter clogged or reduced power message and an illuminated check engine light. Owners report diagnoses of clogged or failed fuel pumps and modules, fuel rail and return line replacement, and debris in the fuel system; in some cases the repairs were done but the problem came back. Some owners connect the no-start to a fuel pump relay or fuse box issue. Reported from about 30,000 to 200,000 miles, with many cases in the 55,000-115,000 mile range and several in cold or wet weather.

   Recall 16V618000Recall 14V7080002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for fuel-system service records, including fuel filter changes and any fuel pump or module replacement, and note whether the van has a diesel engine and has had fuel-contamination repairs. Listen for hard starting and check that the check engine light behaves normally on a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle stalled upon backing out of a steep driveway & turning to the left. It would not restart. The van had been parked, at a customers' home all day. Heavy snow began falling a couple of hours before the van was started & warmed up to melt the snow from the windshield. When the van stalled, it was broadside to the street, blocking both opposing lanes of travel as the heavy snow increased in intensity. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11302511, filed 2020-01, 31,853 miles

   “2015 Ford Transit presents with no start condition lose of fuel and code p0230 on further diagnosis found engine compartment fuse box to have multiple fuse terminals loose from the board. To be clear these do not appear as fuses loose from the terminal they go in, this is the terminal seems loose from the circuit board. Either way the effect is the same, causing them to lose power intermittently including the fuel pump creating a no start and or die while driving condition potentially causing loss of steering. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11402602, filed 2021-03, 207,887 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, harsh or delayed shifting

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe shuddering or vibration when accelerating from a stop, harsh or delayed shifts, loud knocking while changing gears, and in one case shifting into the wrong gear. Complaints mention torque converter replacement as the dealer's diagnosis, with the shudder sometimes appearing after other driveline work. Some owners also report coolant mixing with transmission fluid on vehicles with the transmission cooler, requiring major repairs. Mostly reported between roughly 15,000 and 110,000 miles, often noticed during low-speed acceleration or when shifting from a stop.

   Recall 19V7670002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the van from a stop and at light throttle to feel for shudder or delayed engagement, and ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced or the torque converter replaced. Check transmission fluid condition for discoloration if the vehicle has a cooler circuit.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On or about 4/8/2020 my ambulette with a passenger completely stalled. It was towed to our nys DOT shop in westbury that regulates ambulettes. This vehicle , a 2015 Ford Transit 150 is supposed to circulate transmission fluid coming from transmission and coolant from the radiator at the same time. Coolant circulation is supposed to cool transmission fluid without being mixed. When the service is compromised and mixes together, it will contaminate both fluids-coolant in the transmission.transmission fluid,cooling system(radiator and thermostat). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11321816, filed 2020-04, 74,746 miles

   “Torque converter failed, requiring replacement at 75,942 miles. Due to a vehicle design that allows pooling of water & rusting in the control arm attachment bolts, both control arms had to be replaced during the torque converter repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415133, filed 2021-05, 75,942 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the driveshaft, transmission and rear axle is worthwhile on this model year, and it pays to verify that the driveshaft-related recalls were completed and whether any symptoms returned afterward. Also check for water intrusion around the cowl and air filter box, and ask for fuel-system and brake service records.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.