2018 Ford Transit Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Ford Transit most often describe transmission problems, including shudder, hard downshifts, overheating and limp mode, often after highway driving. Rear view camera images that go blank, distorted or dark are also frequently reported, and some owners describe a sudden loss of power while driving. Engine failure reports, some with coolant intrusion, mostly cite mileage between about 78,000 and 156,000 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, hard downshifts, and limp mode

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 44,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2025

   Owners describe shuddering, slipping, and gears that seem to change abruptly, including a report of the transmission staying in first gear and then jumping to sixth. Some describe hard downshifts when slowing from highway speed, and others describe overheating on the highway that leads to limp mode until the transmission cools. A few complaints say the transmission or its cooler was replaced, and a report says an authorized service department confirmed a speed sensor fault. Mileage is cited in only a few reports, from about 12,000 to over 200,000 miles, and several describe symptoms after highway driving or when slowing to a stop.

   What to check: Ask for records of any transmission repairs and check for stored transmission fault codes before buying. A test drive at highway speed followed by slowing to a stop can show whether hard downshifts or shudder occur.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “With this vehicle when driving on highway or interstate once you go past about 40 miles the transmission begins to overheat and when it reaches a temperature of approximately 245° it will kick down into limp mode causing the vehicle to suddenly slow down in front of other traffic. You have to get over to the side of the road and let the transmission cool down before you can continue at a safe pace. This vehicle has been taken multiple times the transmission has been replaced twice. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11579477, filed 2024-03, 200,593 miles

   “This is an update on the same problem I reported a year ago...January 2022, it started to shudder during acceleration but it was intermittent. February 2022, it started to occur more. March 2022, it started to do it while cruising at a higher speed on the freeway. Then going up a steep hill one day, it started to shudder and could not exceed more than 30 mph up a very steep hill. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11504348, filed 2023-01
2. 2
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rear view camera blank, distorted, or not working

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 26,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the rear view image going blank, inverted, distorted, dark, or blue while reversing, and a screen message says the rear view camera is not available. Some owners say the VIN was not covered by a camera recall, so the repair was not done under it, and others say the dealer could not reproduce the fault. A display that flashes in hot or humid weather has also been described as making the backup camera unusable. A few reports give mileage, about 26,000 miles and about 68,000 miles at purchase, and the faults are described as both intermittent and constant, with heat, humidity, or reversing mentioned in some reports.

   Recall 25V5720003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check the VIN against camera recalls and rear view camera customer satisfaction programs before buying, since owners report that coverage depended on the VIN. During a test drive, check the rear view image in reverse and whether the center display stays stable.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rearview camera is not working. On a vehicle of this size, a functioning rearview camera is especially important for helping to prevent backing incidents. The issue occurs every time the vehicle is driven, and the display shows, “Rear View Camera not available.” Dealers have advised that they will not inspect the vehicle unless we pay a diagnostic fee. In June 2026, we purchased a used 2018 Ford Transit 150 van with 68,000 miles from a Ford dealership. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11769897, filed 2026-10

   “Hi, I bought this Ford 150 transit brand new back in 2018. About 6 months ago my rear camera is not working properly, sometimes the screen is dark or the view is real fuzzy hard to see cars when backing up. I called Ford corporation to see if this has a recall , but no such luck. They did file a complaint form of the issue. Will let me know when there is a recall. I'm worried that someday i'm going to back up and hit a car or a person, Also i do use this van for work to transport people. Its hard to see with a large full size transit van. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11551722, filed 2023-10
3. 3
   Engine

   Major engine failure, sometimes with coolant intrusion

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe misfires, a check engine light, stalling, or a sudden loss of power that progressed to engine failure, and some report coolant getting into the engine and leading it to seize. Other reports describe a blown piston and a failed turbo on a diesel engine, or a timing chain failure, and a cam phaser problem with stalling, misfires and a loud rattle at startup. According to a complaint, the issue was described as normal while the vehicle was under warranty, and the parts were not replaced once it had expired. Reports mostly cite mileage between about 78,000 and 156,000 miles, though a complaint describes first symptoms at about 47,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for service records of any coolant or engine repairs and check the coolant level and for any stored misfire codes before buying. Ask whether any crankshaft or timing service described in the related service bulletin has been carried out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The cam phasers started giving us issues at 47,000 miles. At the time, Ford told us this was a normal thing with these vehicles and there was no concern. Now that I am at 103,000 miles, the phasers have gotten a lot worse where the vehicle stalls and misfires, along with a loud rattle at startup. Ford will not replace them under warranty now that I am out of warranty, even though I brought the vehicle in while it was in warranty and was told it was normal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11529720, filed 2023-06

   “Diesel engine fails catastrophically on highway in motion--first a blown piston at 78k miles, turbo failed within 5k miles of engine. Prior to these failures, both this truck and it's twin(bought identically together) developed leaks in the radiators...same location. The sister truck is now at a Ford dealer with a blown engine”

   NHTSA complaint #11385232, filed 2020-12, 78,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Sudden loss of power or limp mode while driving

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 123,103 mi at 5.9 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2025

   Owners describe the vehicle suddenly losing power while driving, sometimes at about 35 to 60 mph, with limp mode and an inability to accelerate above about 20 mph in some reports. In a fleet report, the throttle body was replaced, and the owner says the same symptom occurs on other vehicles of the same type. Some reports say the power loss nearly led to a collision, and some vehicles were towed to a dealer. Mileage is cited in a few reports, from about 37,000 to about 156,000 miles, and several describe the failure as sudden or without warning.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or related sensors have been replaced and whether any fault codes were stored. On a test drive, check for hesitation or limp mode when accelerating at moderate speeds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle goes into limp mode at random and without warning. The driver loses the ability to accelerate even though the engine remains on. This poses a serious safety risk to the driver, passenger and all other drivers on the highway when the driver has lost mechanical control and has to coast to the side of the road out of traffic. This began happening only after 37,000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11555253, filed 2023-11

   “This is the second time this has occurred. The van lost sudden power causing me to almost be hit from behind a second time now. This is only 3 months after the initial occurrence. The Ford manufacturer is aware.”

   NHTSA complaint #11449526, filed 2022-01

Buying note. Someone considering a 2018 Transit should ask for service records covering transmission, engine and throttle work, and confirm that the rear view camera works in reverse, since owners report that recall coverage depended on the VIN. A test drive that includes highway speeds and slowing to a stop can show whether the transmission shifts smoothly.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 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.