2017 Ford Transit Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 Ford Transit most often describe driveline and transmission problems: vibration, humming or banging from underneath, shuddering under light acceleration, and occasional automatic downshifts at highway speed. Driveshaft flexible coupling failures and torque converter wear dominate the reports, and many complaints note that recalls covering similar parts were already applied or that the vehicle was not included. Older, higher-mileage vans also show engine oil leaks and electrical glitches.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Driveshaft coupling failure / underbody vibration

   • 21 complaints (21%)
   • median 113,500 mi at 5.2 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe a rattle, hum, boom or banging from underneath the van, often along with vibration felt through the floor and sometimes a burning smell. Several owners say the flexible coupling between the transmission and driveshaft had failed, and a few report the driveshaft separating from the transmission while driving. Some say the vehicle had already had a recall repair performed on part of the driveshaft and the symptom returned or appeared at the other section; dealers diagnosed a worn coupling or driveshaft and in some cases parts were unavailable. Reported from roughly 10,000 to 180,000 miles, most often between about 40,000 and 115,000 miles, and frequently at 40-60 mph.

   Recall 19V767000Recall 17V408000Recall 19V1030003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 19V767000 (and the earlier 17V408000) was performed and on which driveshaft section, and have a mechanic inspect the flexible coupling and u-joints. Road test at 40-60 mph listening for a rhythmic hum or boom.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transit van experiences a resonating vibration in the driveshaft or u-joints just as described in existing recall for Transit vans however, my van was not listed as affected - I contest and would consider it to be affected. Tries and brakes have been changed and nothing changed the vibrations noticed at 40-50 miles per hour. They seem to dissipate above 60 MPH. The vibrations or frequency seems to be reoccuring in short cycles and mostly audible throughout the interior of the van. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11377407, filed 2020-12, 49,000 miles

   “Driveshaft problems that are under recall.Tried setting up an appointment said they couldn't look at it for 10 weeks couldn't be without vehicle for 10 weeks + how long took to get parts.Scheduled it at another shop went to get parts and they said I could only get price or parts with a service agreement.So I can imagine how much money the recall is going to cost me”

   NHTSA complaint #11484935, filed 2022-09
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder and unexpected downshifts

   • 14 complaints (14%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the van shuddering under light acceleration, as if driving over rumble strips, and some were told the torque converter needed replacement. Others report the transmission dropping into a very low gear on its own at highway speed, sending engine rpm high and slowing the van abruptly; a few say shifting to neutral was the only way to stop it. Complaints also mention harsh or skipped shifts and a transmission sensor repair. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 150,000 miles, though a few complaints come in under 100,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at steady light throttle and on a downhill grade, watching for shudder or a sudden downshift. Ask whether the transmission fluid was serviced and whether any torque converter work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had many issues with this vehicle. The engine leaks oil onto the exhaust causing the engine to smoke, the engine uses antifreeze, the transmission will downshift at highway speeds to such a low gear that I need to put the van into neutral so that the engine doesn't blow up. It uses brakes quickly, (New brakes every 10,000 miles or so). Gas milage is less then 12MPG as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #11721118, filed 2026-02

   “Transmission will downshift on its own when vehicle is decelerating making engine RPMs over rev. Only way I have found to prevent this is to shift to neutral and then back to drive. I don't like doing this because it could accidently get shifted into reverse while driving at highway speeds! Valve cover leaks dripping oil onto the exhaust manifold causing the vehicle to smoke very badly and could possibly cause a fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #11623831, filed 2024-11
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: blank dash, warning chimes, battery drain

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 32,000 mi at 1.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners report the instrument cluster going blank or all gauges dropping to zero, sometimes following a chime or a false low-brake-fluid warning, and one traced it to an unsecured wiring harness inside the rear pillar after a cluster replacement did not help. Others describe interior lights and the radio not turning off, water getting into a tail light and disrupting multiple systems, and sudden loss of power while driving traced to a burned fuse and related codes. Complaints also mention 12-volt battery drain. Reported from about 10,000 to 60,000 miles, with several complaints in the 30,000-52,000 mile range.

   Recall 18V275000Recall 17V6680003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that recalls 17V668000/18V275000 (trailer tow module wiring) were completed if the van has a tow module, and watch for moisture in the tail light housings. Have the battery drain-checked if the van sits for long periods.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The dash display would go completely blank intermittently, beginning with a chime and low brake fluid warning. All gauges would go to zero and there was no information displayed after a couple of seconds. This would occur while turning or accelerating. We took it to a Ford dealer who found multiple communication faults and recommended replacing the instrument cluster. This was done with no change. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11129957, filed 2018-09, 52,000 miles

   “The right tail light seal isn't working, allowing moister in the light. This is corrupting the whole system. The radio, AC, running boards, field monitoring sensors, airbag system, all turn off and on while driving. My vehicle only has 38,000 miles on it. There a multiple complaints on youtube and other Ford websites about this issue.the housing for the taillight is terrible and not sealed for the long haul. The dealership has even had to deal with this multiple times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11343923, filed 2020-08, 37,600 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Brittle plastic accelerator pedal

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 60,150 mi at 3.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2025

   Complaints describe the accelerator pedal snapping or breaking off while accelerating or taking off from a stop, with owners noting the pedal arm is made of plastic. One owner reported it happening twice on the same van along with hesitation and delayed engagement when pulling into traffic. Separate complaints describe the van losing motive power and shuddering at highway speed. Reported at low mileage, roughly 9,800 to 31,000 miles.

   What to check: Press the pedal firmly and inspect the plastic pedal arm for cracks or flex at the pivot; ask whether the pedal assembly has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our fleet of Ford transits are all having similar issues. This is the 2nd time this particular vehicle has lost power while driving causing extremely dangerous safety concerns. We were instructed by Ford to replace the throttle body which was done in 2021 and now the same issue is occurring. Ford needs to remedy this issue long-term. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11556071, filed 2023-11, 175,000 miles

   “This is the second time our gas pedal has snapped and broke off when taking off/ accelerating. It has also seemed to develop some sort of stutter/bog/hesitation that seems to be linked with the communication from the gas pedal to the computer. Sometimes we will go ahead and pull on out into traffic and accelerate to get up to speed and the van will basically feel like it's stuttering/ hesitating and we give it further throttle with the gas peddle, then it will finally engage and seems to drop down several gears and slam/thrust forward. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11155637, filed 2018-12, 9,865 miles

Buying note. Give any 2017 Transit a thorough highway test drive and confirm that the outstanding driveline recalls were completed and on which driveshaft section, since owners report recurring vibration and coupling problems. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the driveshaft, transmission behavior and wiring is worth the cost on a high-mileage van.

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.