Reliable Auto DB

2021 Ford Transit reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Transit over 6 years — 3 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 10 Transit years on this site. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Latch or anchor, Back-over prevention, software, and Hoses and fittings.

2020 Ford Transit 350 XLT passenger van
Photo by Elise240SX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

23

Per year

3

Recalls

4

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (5 of 23), then Wheels (4) and Suspension (3). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 79,469 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Transit has 84 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2022 has 38 complaints, 7 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Ford Transit. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall adaptive equipment, wheelchair restraints, latch or anchor 2025-12-17 · NHTSA campaign 25V876000
Summary Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
Remedy Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.
Vehicles affected 86
Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Remedy Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Vehicles affected 200,237
Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2023-07-19 · NHTSA campaign 23V499000
Summary Quality Vans (Quality Vans) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ford Transit vans equipped with Onan QG 2800i EVAP generators, part number 2.8HGLAA-8303A. The fuel hose between the inline fuel filter and the Injection Pump Module (IPM) may not be properly secured, which can cause a gas leak.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel hose and clamps as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2023. Owners may contact Quality Vans customer service at 1-480-464-7007.
Vehicles affected 10
Recall seat belts, front, retractor 2021-07-30 · NHTSA campaign 21V592000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Transit and 2021 Transit Connect vehicles. The front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt assembly, and replace the assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 30, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C18.
Vehicles affected 42,493

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (23 total)

Powertrain
5
Wheels
4
Suspension
3
Electrical system
2
Seat belts
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Air bags
1
Axle assembly
1
Hub
1
Latch
1
Service brakes
1
Speedometer and odometer
1
Structure
1
Tires
1
Tread
1
Windshield
1
Show 8 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Of the 7 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 79,469 miles.

Complaints filed per year

220213202232023520247202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Seat belts · filed 2026-06-03
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while parked and having an oil change sticker applied to the top of the driver's side windshield, the glass detached half an inch and water had since entered…"
    visibility, windshield · filed 2026-04-13
  • "Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Ford Transit. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 33,000; and at the time…"
    electrical system, instrument panel, speedometer and odometer · filed 2026-01-14
  • "The contact owned a 2021 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving the 2021 Thor Gemini at 65 MPH in the wind, the wind veered the vehicle off the road. The vehicle rolled over and down an embankment when it…"
    Air bags · filed 2025-12-04
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ford Transit 250 equipped with Sentury Lionheart Tires, Tire Line: Lionclaw, Tire Size: 235/65/R16, DOT Number: [XXX] . The tires were replacement tires. The contact stated while driving…"
    Tires · filed 2025-11-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Ford Transit Medium Roof (8,10,12) Pass WAGON AWD Not rated 3 stars 5 stars Not rated
2021 Ford Transit Medium Roof (8,10,12) Pass WAGON RWD 3 stars 3 stars 5 stars 2 stars
2021 Ford Transit High Roof (8,10,12) Pass WAGON AWD 3 stars 3 stars 5 stars 1 star
2021 Ford Transit High Roof (8,10,12) Pass WAGON RWD 2 stars 3 stars 5 stars 1 star
2021 Ford Transit High Roof 15 Pass WAGON AWD 3 stars 3 stars 5 stars 2 stars
2021 Ford Transit High Roof 15 Pass WAGON RWD 3 stars 3 stars 5 stars 1 star
2021 Ford Transit Low Roof (8,10,12) Pass WAGON AWD Not rated 3 stars 5 stars Not rated
2021 Ford Transit Low Roof (8,10,12) Pass WAGON RWD 4 stars 3 stars 5 stars 3 stars
2021 Ford Transit Low Roof 15 Pass WAGON AWD Not rated 3 stars 5 stars Not rated
2021 Ford Transit Low Roof 15 Pass WAGON RWD 3 stars 3 stars 5 stars 2 stars
2021 Ford Transit Medium Roof 15 Pass WAGON AWD Not rated 3 stars 5 stars Not rated
2021 Ford Transit Medium Roof 15 Pass WAGON RWD 3 stars 3 stars 5 stars 2 stars
2021 Ford Transit Van VAN AWD Not rated 3 stars Not rated Not rated
2021 Ford Transit Van VAN RWD Not rated 3 stars Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Transit T150 Wagon two-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 15 19 16 MPG $4050
Transit T150 Wagon four-wheel drive flex-fuel 3.5L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) All-wheel drive 14 18 16 MPG $4050

Specs and fitment

2020 facelift (US market), 2020–present
Body styles Cargo van, Passenger van, Crew van
Oil 3.5L V6 (PFDI), 5W-30 , 6 qt capacity
Tire size 235/65R16C (varies with vehicle options)
Towing capacity 6,900 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA recall 21V-978 (Ford 21S54) covers certain 2020 model-year Transit vans equipped with all-wheel drive, on which the bolts attaching the rear driveshaft to the transfer case may become loose or damaged and let the driveshaft separate, causing a loss of drive power or unintended movement while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Ford's dealers inspect and replace the driveshaft bolts free of charge, and if any loose bolts are found they also replace the driveshaft, attachment hardware, transfer case flange kit and seal. Owner notification letters were mailed February 4, 2022.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Ford Transit Next year 2022 Ford Transit See every Ford Transit model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford Transit reliable?

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Transit over 6 years — 3 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 10 Transit years on this site. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Latch or anchor, Back-over prevention, software, and Hoses and fittings.

What are common problems with a 2021 Ford Transit?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (5 of 23), then Wheels (4) and Suspension (3). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 79,469 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2021 Ford Transit more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Transit has 84 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2022 has 38 complaints, 7 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Ford Transit been recalled?

The 2021 Ford Transit has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Ford Transit?

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2021 Ford Transit with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Ford Transit get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Ford Transit is 16 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What did the Ford Transit replace in the US lineup?

The Transit replaced the Ford E-Series (Econoline) full-size van starting with the 2015 model year.

Was the 2020 Ford Transit a full redesign?

No, it was a mid-cycle facelift with a new front fascia, dashboard, base engine, and available all-wheel drive, not a new platform.