25 of the
1,064 complaints filed about the Ford Transit
are about the seat belts —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2016.
I have a 2017 ford transit passenger van, and the seat belts slowly 1 by 1 are breaking at the release. I already replaced a couple but the other ones are doing the same thing. They will either not latch or they won't release and the individual will be trapped. I have not had it inspected by anyone but it also is apparent what the problem is. It started when I first purchased it a year ago and is still doing it now
NHTSA complaint #11755343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The passenger side seat belt locks up at unusual times. Passenger can’t reach anything because they are locked in their seat. The seatbelt has locked up numerous times however the mechanic can’t repeat the problem in the shop. Yes is has been reported and investigated by TASCA Ford, 1300 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI. No indications before the seatbelt locks up.
NHTSA complaint #11741881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Attempting to purchase a Midwest Automotive Designs, Patriot RV on Ford Transit chassis. The rear seat belts installed by the RV manufacturer for rear passenger seating have been removed but dealership refuses to replace them. The dealer is offering this vehicle for sale without required safety equipment. I believe this is a violation of DOT law ?
NHTSA complaint #11737077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This fall 2025, my kids started saying they couldn’t get out of this one particular seat. It would get stuck and they had to try to slide out from under the seat belt to get out. Shortly after that it wouldn’t even click anymore or lock into place. So we stopped using the seat. Then about a month ago we had a second seat belt that will not stay latched to keep the top part of the buckle into the bottom part of the buckle. So a second seat we cannot use. We contacted ford and they told us well that sucks you can just buy replacement seat belts. We asked them for a liability agreement if the seat belts malfunctioned they would be help liable and they denied that. We have had the seat belts release while driving. This makes me nervous because I have children and at this point can’t guarantee that they are going to be kept safe by the things that are supposed to keep them safe. Who knows when the next one will fail as the van is only 6 years old. Upon inspection they are both broken.
NHTSA complaint #11714556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle while turning to the left or the right. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the front driver's side seat belt failed to latch securely. The "Seat Belt" warning light was not illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #11651163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a modified 2019 Ford Transit. The contact stated that the seven rear passenger's side and driver's side seat belts were defective. The contact stated that the seat belt retractors had fractured. Additionally, the contact stated that the seat belt pre-tensioners were stuck in the Hold position and had fractured while the seat belt was buckled, causing his children to be trapped several times. The vehicle was taken to the vehicle modifier several times, and the seat belts were replaced; however, the failure persisted. An unknown Ford dealer was contacted and informed the contact that they could not assist because the vehicle was modified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11570050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a modified 2019 Ford Transit. The contact stated that the seven rear passenger's side and driver's side seat belts were defective. The contact stated that the seat belt retractors had fractured. Additionally, the contact stated that the seat belt pre-tensioners were stuck in the Hold position and had fractured while the seat belt was buckled, causing his children to be trapped several times. The vehicle was taken to the vehicle modifier several times, and the seat belts were replaced; however, the failure persisted. An unknown Ford dealer was contacted and informed the contact that they could not assist because the vehicle was modified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11570050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The setbel latches brake easily, the outer holding of the latch brakes down quickly and leaves only the small plastic latch and they brake. Also, the upholstery on the seats wears down and disintegrate, this happens with one of the double seats in the rear of the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11536316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
U-Haul rented me this vehicle and didn't notify me if the outstanding recall also tires. This was a replacement for a worse truck and now they are saying I stole both trucks.
NHTSA complaint #11460442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ONE OF THE REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT LATCH, RENDERING THAT SEAT UNUSABLE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE MADE AT THE SAME ASSEMBLY PLANT, ASSEMBLED DURING THE LISTED TIME PERIOD, YET MY VEHICLE DOES NOT SHOW THAT IT IS COVERED BY THIS RECALL. THE DESCRIPTION IN THAT RECALL MATCHES EXACTLY THE PROBLEM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY, MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS RESULTED IN BEING HUNG UP ON DESPITE THIS OCURRING DURING THEIR LISTED BUSINESS HOURS.
NHTSA complaint #11390790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD TRANSIT VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY MOUNTED TO THE SEAT AN NOT TO THE A-PILLAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DESIGN FAILED TO ALLOW THE PASSENGER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE QUICKLY IN THE LIKELIHOOD THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY. GAUDIN FORD (6625 ROY HORN WAY, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118, (888) 301-4776) CONTACTED THE DESIGNER OF THE CONVERSION VAN AND STATED THE CONTACT'S CONCERN. THE DESIGNER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. HE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500.
NHTSA complaint #11365124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO SEAT BELTS LOCATED IN THE LAST ROW OF THE TWELVE PASSENGER VAN FAILED TO LATCH. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO COUGHLIN FORD OF CIRCLEVILLE (24001 US-23, CIRCLEVILLE, OH 43113) TO BE SERVICED FOR ANOTHER RECALL. WHILE AT THE DEALER, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELTS AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO WHETHER THE SEAT BELTS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V111000 (SEAT BELTS) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED BACK THE SAME DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE TIMES TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BUT EACH TIME THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON AN EXTENDED HOLD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,200.
NHTSA complaint #11350078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. RAIN SENSING WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY BARELY WHEN DRIVING. TOLD BY SALES MANAGER THAT "THEY WORK BUT IT ISN'T A PERFECT SYSTEM" 2. A.M. LIMITED RECEPTION IN WIDE OPEN AREAS IN MULTIPLE LARGE POPULATION AREAS. SITTING OR DRIVING BOTH. TRIED TO USE FOR 530 A.M. ROAD INFORMATION & WOULDN'T WORK. 3. BODY ROOF SEAL CAME LOOSE FROM ROOF DRIVING HOME IN COLD WEATHER. 4. TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT GOES OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. 5. SEAT BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT TAB ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FELL OFF. NOT COVERED BY FORD BECAUSE IT IS PLASTIC. 6. CUSTOMER CONNECTION POWER POINT ON DRIVERS SEAT PEDESTAL MISSING A MOUNTING NUT FROM FACTORY. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE POWER POINT IS NOT FACTORY BECAUSE WE CONNECTED INTO THE PORT AS IT WAS DESIGNED FOR. STUD THREADS ARE STILL UNMARKED (NEW). THIS ALLOWS THE LOWER SECTION OF CCP TO BE SLIGHTLY LOOSE. 7. AC VENTS ON MAX BLOWING OUT 65-70 DEGREE AIR AT IDLE IN 80 DEGREE OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMP. (KNOWN ISSUE) 8. OVERHEAD A/C LOUVERED VENTS ARE BREAKING INTERNALLY WHEN ADJUSTED. ONE ENTIRE VENT FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONTO MY CHILD'S HEAD WHO COULDN'T TOUCH IT. NOT COVERED BECAUSE THEY BROKE BUT THEY AREN'T A MECHANICAL FAILURE. DAUGHTER HAD SCRATCH ON HER FOREHEAD WHERE IT HIT HER. 10. OPENED UP HEADLAMP LENS TO UPGRADE THE LIGHTS AND THE LOW BEAM PIG TAIL ON BOTH LIGHTS ARE ALREADY DETERIORATING FROM THE LENS HEAT. LIGHTLY TOUCHED EACH OF THE LOCKING CLIPS AND WITHOUT LIFTING EITHER ONE AND THEY FELL OFF. HIGH BEAM WHICH ARE USED MUCH LESS HAVE PERFECT LOCKING TABS STILL. REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY TO THESE LIGHTS. 11. LAST WEEK A PLUG IN THE DRIVERS DOOR THRESHOLD OVER FRAME BOLT TRIPPED ME WHEN IT CAME UP AS I WAS STEPPING OUT. SECOND TO FALL OUT. ALL THIS TOLD TO US UNDER THE 36K BUMPER TO BUMPER YET DEALER IS WILLING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #11208107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED A CAR COLLISION DRIVING THE FORD TRANSIT 2017 MODEL WORK VAN. AS I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY A TRUCK WHICH FAILED TO YIELD TO TRAFFICK JUMPED OUT AHEAD CAUSING ME TO TBONE HIS DRIVER DOOR. I SLOWED DOWN AS MUCH AS I COULD BUT HIT AT LEAST AT 40MPH IN WHICH MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY..THE TRUCK I HIT HAD BOTH BAGS DEPLOY BUT MINES DID NOT CAUSING ME TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY KNEES ARM AND TORSO..MY SEATBELTS DID NOT SECURE ME FROM HITTING THESE OBJECTS IN THE CAR AS WELL..I HAVE SUSTAINED FULL BODY INJURIES AND CURRENTLY RECOVERING
NHTSA complaint #11204470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS CONSTANTLY BINDING UP AND BECOMING TOTALLY UNUSABLE THESE VANS ARE USED FOR SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS- THESE ARE INSTALLED STATIONARY PRIOR THE VEHICLE MOVING OR AFTER UNIT IS PARKED
NHTSA complaint #11184944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I COLLIDED WITH A FORD TRUCK ALL MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS THEY SHOULD, I COULD NOT MOVE WITHOUT INTENSE PAIN IN MY LOWER BACK SO I SAT IN PLACE UNTIL REMOVED BY EMS. AFTER PARTIAL RECOVERY I EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLT OVER MY SHOULDER HAD BULLED OUT OF THE PILLAR BEHIND MY SEAT (NOT THE FLOOR). I WAS ON A CITY STREET MOVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH. A TRUCK TURNED IN FRONT OF ME AND WE COLLIDED HEAD TO HEAD. DAMAGE ON MY VEHICLE WAS PRIMARILY ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #11171603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE ARE A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY . AND HAVE BOUGHT 4 OF THESE VEHICLES REGRETFULLY WE ARE SO OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE ISSUES THEY HAVE HAD , A NUMBER OF MAJOR ISSUES LIKE SPEED SENSORS GOING BAD THROTTLE BODY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WITH ONLY 60,000 DRIVEN... LOSS OF POWER WHILE ON THE ROAD YOU NAME IT. CURRENTLY HAVE 2 OF THE VEHICLES AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON TRANSMISSIONS WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD FOR SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE , WE ARE LOSING MONEY BY HAVING OUR VEHICLES SIT AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING TO GET SERVICED ALL THE TIME, IS ONE ISSUE AFTER ANOTHER ITS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT WE CROSS OUR FINGERS EVERYDAY HOPING FOR OUR DRIVERS TO MAKE IT BACK WITH NO ISSUES AND ALWAYS THINKING WHERE IS THE NEXT VAN GOING TO BREAK DOWN AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT. VERY FRUSTRATING HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERYDAY HEADACHE.
NHTSA complaint #11150035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK WHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED. BOLT HOLDING THE SEAT BELT HARNESS CAME OUT OF PILLAR AND WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS A RESULT. INSURANCE IS REQUESTING THE VEHICLE BE RELEASED TO SCRAP BUT WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE EVIDENCE WILL NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA complaint #11118953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE ARE 2 RECALLS16S06 AND 16S13 BACK FROM MAY 2016 AND THE FORD GARAGE CANT GET PARTS AFTER A YEAR. ONE OF THE RECALLS IS A SEAT BELT ISSUE AND WE NEED THEM FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HERT.
NHTSA complaint #11004778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.