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Ford Transit VIN Number Check

Decode a Ford Transit VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See the NHTSA recalls for that model year, then read what owners have reported.

VIN prefix1FT1FB1FD1FM

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Ford Transit

About the Ford Transit

Ford sold the Transit in the US for model years 2015–2022. Across those years NHTSA lists 52 vehicle recall campaigns and 686 owner complaints. The 2015 has the most complaints of any model year (193). EPA rates it at 15–17 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2015–2022
EPA classVans, Passenger Type
NHTSA recall campaigns52
Owner complaints686 at NHTSA
Ford Transit photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Ford Transit at a glance

One generation in the data, 2015–2022: 52 NHTSA recall campaigns and 686 owner complaints.

1 / 1
Transit
2015–2022Vans, Passenger Type
Ford Transit (2015–2022)

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20152020
2015–2022

Ford Transit

EPA classVans, Passenger Type
EPA combined mpg15–17
NHTSA recalls52

Engines (EPA)

  • 3.5 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2015–2019
  • 3.7 L 6-cyl · 2015–2019
  • 3.5 L 6-cyl · 2020–2022

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • automatic (2015–2022)

Known issues to check

Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (222)Engine and cooling (106)Electrical system (86)3 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 686 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Transit1FBZX2ZM?GK······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2016 Ford Transit SRW Low Roof Van, built in Kansas City, Missouri
Check a Transit VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Transit model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 52 campaigns on file for Transit model years 2015–2022, and the 2015 shows up in more of them than any other year (26), ahead of the 2016 (21). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2015
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Ford Transit owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2015 and 2016 hold 349 of the 686 complaints, or 51%. Tap any bar or generation.

686NHTSA complaints, 2015–2022
23mention a crash
11mention a fire
41injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearTransit: 686 complaints · most for the 2015 (193)

Top complaint areas · Transit

Mentions in 686 complaints, 2015–2022.

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)222
Engine and cooling106
Electrical system86
Fuel system48
Brakes46
Structure and body42
Crashes 23Fires 11Injuries 41

2015–2022

NHTSA data summary

The 2015 is the outlier. On its own it has 193 of the ’s 686 complaints (28%), more than any other Transit model year, and owners across the generation name powertrain most often (222 mentions), then engine and cooling (106).

What Transit owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2015–present (1st generation)

The 2015 and 2016 draw the most complaints, and totals drop after 2017. NHTSA owners of the early vans often describe driveshaft vibration, transmission trouble and stalling. CarComplaints lists weak A/C, high pressure fuel pump failure and wheel bearing wear for 2015, and loss of power, premature brake wear and throttle body failure for 2016. Recalls cover the flexible coupling between the transmission and driveshaft on 2015–2017 vans, which may fail early, and rear camera connections on some 2020 models. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the driveshaft coupling recalls on 2015 to 2017 vans.
  • Ask for service records, since many of these vans worked in fleets.
  • On the drive, feel for vibration when pulling away, listen for wheel bearing noise and check that the A/C cools well.
Sources (4) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2015 Ford Transit
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2015 Ford Transit problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2016 Ford Transit
  4. CarComplaints.com, 2016 Ford Transit problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Transit complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Transit version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

686complaints, 2015–2022
23mention a crash
11mention a fire
41injuries reported
2complaints report a death
Most complaints: 2015 (193), 2016 (156), 2017 (98)
193’15156’1698’17’20

2015 · 193 complaints

Crashes 4 · fires 1 · injuries 11 · complaints reporting a death 1

Power train78
Engine35
Fuel/propulsion system26
Unknown or other24
Electrical system19

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Transit CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 18 Transit versions for model years 2015–2022. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 537 g/mi (2020). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Transit2015–2022

15–17 mpg · CO₂ 537–572 g/mi

2022
17combined MPG
538CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,950EPA yearly fuel cost
1/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
3/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III LEV160 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 160Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2022: Wagon 2WD FFV · Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L — 17 MPG · 538 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
450500550600650201520202015 · Gas: 5542016 · Gas: 5482017 · Gas: 5522018 · Gas: 5552019 · Gas: 5522020 · Gas: 5372021 · Gas: 5402022 · Gas: 538
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Alternative fuels · DOE

Transit alternative-fuel versions

DOE data

5 heavy-duty alternative-fuel Ford Transit listings in the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.

  • E-Transit Cargo Van · Electric · Van · 159 mi
  • E-Transit Cutaway/Chassis Cab · Electric · Vocational/Cab Chassis · 159 mi
  • Transit Cargo Van · CNG - Compressed Natural Gas, Propane, Ethanol (E85) · Van
  • Transit Cutaway/Chassis Cab · Ethanol (E85) · Vocational/Cab Chassis
  • Transit Passenger Van XL/XLT · Biodiesel (B20), CNG/Hybrid Electric, Propane, Ethanol (E85) · Passenger Van/Shuttle Bus

Source: DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center (heavy-duty vehicle search).

Ford Transit VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Transit

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Dark grey Ford Transit (2015+ generation) van, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The VIN plate is at the base of the driver's side windshield. A firewall stamp inside the engine compartment is a secondary location; check it against the door jamb sticker.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Ford Transit VIN questions

Which Ford Transit model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2015 leads with 193, ahead of the 2016 (156) and 2017 (98). Those first two alone make up 51% of the 686 Transit complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Ford Transit had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 52 vehicle campaigns for model years 2015–2022, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Ford Transit recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 17V-668, 18V-275 and 23V-499. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Ford Transit get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2015–2022 Transit at 15–17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

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