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Thanks for the video. I have a 2017 Ford transit took it in yesterday because of engine light flashing and they told me that the PCM has water damage and it would cost $2000 to replace it. I asked if it was under warranty and they said no. So I did a little digging around and found out that it was indeed under warranty under the emissions performance warranty coverage. So I informed them and they still said it was my fault for having the water drains clogged up and that I should have cleaned out the leaves and the gunk out of the drain. This was the stupidest lamest excuse I've ever heard, so I called the manager and told him that if there is water damage on the PCM then the water draining systems are defective for not being able to drain properly, he agreed and I was able to cover it under warranty. Some dealerships are horrible!!!! They charge you an arm and a leg for their services and they try to scam you and make you pay for services that are under warranty
I have a 2015(first year) long wheel base high roof but not extended.. I actually like mine and am currently building out a camper. The 3.7 V6 non-turbo gas engine, got a permanent U-joint Fix under recall. I hear that they don't have the permanent fix for other engines. Yes, the ecolines were better constructed, no doubt, but they are aging. Also, if you need a high roof, all you got is Transit, nissan, pro master(fiat really), or sprinter. The promaster has at least as many issues at the transit, if not more but it's one option for sure. The nissan NV is very short but well built. Mine is 2.5 feet longer behind the front seats than NV. and the extended version transit w/ dual rear wheels (not mine) adds another 3 feet, making it 5.5' feet longer than the Nissan. It's very difficult to build a camper van in the short space behind the seats with Nissan. Also, Nissan has the poorest fuel economy by far, with their fuel hog V8, if that is a concern. However, I think the Nissan has the best towing out of the 4. Btw, if you plan on loading pallets in the transit, the width between the wheel wells won't be wide enough. The Sprinter can be a money pit because it's very expensive to buy and maintain those engines. You pretty much have to go to the dealership for work. Also, they rust really bad if you don't use rust preventative maintenance. You're correct, the gutter for transit is a mess. This is the worst engineering I've ever seen but can be fixed. Besides what you pointed out, the air filter will get wet and cause issues too. The air filter box was fixed for 2019, I believe. Also, you will get water on the engine through the holes in the gutter for the windshield wipers. The engine water can rust in the holes for the spark plugs and cause issues with the threading for the plugs. There are some solutions. It took me 5 hours of trial and error but I've fully fixed the gutter leaking on my electronics, engine, and air filter housing. Trash those plastic bags with grey foam, they just fill up with water and become moldy. The foam and plastic bag I'm talking about is directly to the right of the small plants growing in your gutter at 3:18 You're right, shame on Ford for this mess and not doing a recall and free fix. 2015-2019 Transits have the 6r80 transmission which will be changed for 2020+ to a 10 speed. The 3.7 liter is a good engine and 6r80 is a good transmission which can last a long time. The turbo(eco boost) has much, much, more power if you need it but the 3.7 is good for my needs. Even with the ecoboost, or the 3.7, you can get 17 mpg on the highway under 70 mph. With the high roof, you're better off going slower unless you have a tail wind, which helps fuel tremendously. Anyway, if you do have the 6r80, I can't stress enough to keep the tranny fluid reasonably clean if you want it to last 200+ miles. I wold change the fuild every 30k miles max. Ford says the fluid is good for the life of the vheicle unless under harsh conditions but that is terrible advise if you want your tranny to last.. for pro info on tranny search "6r80 fordtechmakuloco" Here on youtube. And if you want your rear end to last.. change that fluid at least every 50k miles.. more often if you tow or haul heavy loads or drive at higher speeds. I live in Houston, Tx.. so, no rust.. Yes, I would be upset if my vehicle was rusting but if you live in certain areas, you have to do preventative maintenance for rust. My main concern is engine, tranny.. then, I'm concerned with stuff like electronics, front end issues, ac/heat, comfort, etc.. fit and finish is not high on my list of priorities because I can usually fix those with a bit of labor. Anyway, my 2 cents from a reasonably happy Transit owner. If you really want to know what issues are with each vehicle, go to the chat groups that deal with those specific vehicles. lots of good advise on what to watch out for some things are an easy fix, others are very expensive.. but that is the best way to weigh out your options and make the best choice for your needs..
I have lab results from my 6R80 transmission at 80k miles highway transmission fluid is burned and beyond factory specifications. 30k miles change interval is a must with factory fluid. Lab results on my channel and the damage to the transmission is severe at 80k miles.
@@repairvehicle Yes, the fluid, Mercon LV, does not last more than 30k miles at 200F, which is normal operating temp. These transmissions have a cooler bypass valve located inside the transmission. The transmission fluid has to be 180°F for this cooler bypass valve to open. If the fluid temperature is too low, it will not flow through the transmission fluid cooler on the passenger side of the radiator. Even if you add a transmission cooler, stacked plate or Fin Cooler, the temps won't drop below 180 because of the bypass valve. but 180 - 200 is fine for 30k miles.. but climbing a mountain or driving 90+ mph on flat roads, with a load, in hot weather, can cause 250F without auxiliary tranny cooler to help. When that happens, change fluid right away. Monitor temps with app and bluetooth OBD2 scaner. Same issue with promaster.. monitor temps change fluid regularly. Don't listen to maintenance schedule from manufacturer. Source for bypass valve: 6r80 Ford Transmission service manual (found online for free)
@@Damian_mtn It takes a lot more time and effort than just removing the foam. It would take me a long time to explain the multiple processes and I'd need pictures too. Your best bet is to find Transit USA forum. There are many tutorials if you search "gutter" or "air box"
I was the sole driver of a then-new 2018 Transit 250 with the 3.7 liter engine where I worked. I was careful to break in the engine properly and the van performed well until the oil pump tore itself apart at just under 5,000 miles. All was good the day before when it was parked but the next morning within a few minutes of start up a loud grinding was heard coming from the engine and the oil pressure warning light was on. It took a month and a half for Ford to replace the engine and get it back to us. I've had zero confidence in it since that time.
Just watched this and went directly to Google and asked which cargo van is best. Ford transit is on top of the list. That's such a shame. Thank you so much.
I've driven about 30 different Ford Transits when I worked for Amazon and they were mostly FINE but seemed to always have little mechanical issues. Keep in mind they often had something like 10,000km to 50,000km It was often things like doors jamming and not closing, electrical issues like AC not working or wipers not working, one or a few burnt lights, grinding noises when accelerating or idling, I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch but yeah they weren't completely unusable but they had so many little problems for low milage newer vans
I fixed my drain, silicone on the trays , put a screen on the drain hole , and covered all the electronics with metal trays over computers with rubber shielding etc over parts no water on em now
I watched this video before I bought mine. It almost talked me out of it. But I went for it anyway. So far... Been a year. Not a single issue. It's not ecoboost. But it's a t350 midroof. Out of all those issues. I have issue with the sliding door not opening correctly. Basically I have to pull on the back side in order for it to fully open into sliding position. But other then that... It's a 2015. I don't have those issues. As for now anyway.
Your right....that's not acceptable engineering. Especially when someone is paying alot of money for a work vehicle and the "ford" quality reputation. These videos help hold these companies accountable for screwing consumers!
The rest is from a leak in the windshield and somehow the drain gets clogged and it backs up and goes into the footwell and I have to do is drill a couple holes in the footwell and it drains on its own. Yes Ford should have figured that out but it's a new van, they didn't just stick with the old stuff like Chevy. even with all these problems, I could never get over that rear axle of the ProMaster it looks like a toothpick that is the one reason I did not buy that van
Ford lost their reputation long ago when they had the powerstroke 6.0 in their trucks. They way they handled whole issues is enough for me to never buy a ford
This is an American spec and I dont think Ford give a toss as this van was built for the EU Market as the Transit is a very good van and is Number 1 best selling van in the uk
We have a 76 vehicle fleet with 20 or so Ford Transit 350 gas & 25 Ford Transit 350 diesels- all 2016-2019 The gas Transits have been great in regard to the engines, but the diesels, holy sh**, constantly in repair, namely emissions related issues- constant recalls, 4-6 weeks at the dealer (& we’re supposedly VIP customers)... both gas & diesel versions eat rear brake pads, rotors & calipers constantly due to poor engineering in the rear suspension, we upgraded the suspension to address the issue but it’s not cost effective, cheaper to change out brakes every 15k or so- tires also experience much shorter life’s due to the same issue... Overall my opinion is the gas Transits are good, but stay far away from the diesel, the Sprinters are a much better option-
WATCH OUT for the low clearance of the two rear struts, too. My son’s hit a rock....$5K in damage!!! ‘Still, the Transit is his favorite vehicle ever. I rented one and LOVED, just watch the clearance. Very good visibility via great side mirrors.
We had a E-150 years ago and it was a rock solid van. We now have a 2017 transit 250 with the 3.5 TT. I’ve had no issues with our transit, but it’s also driven a few times a year on long road trips, not an everyday workhorse.
I have a 2015 T250 cargo high roof transit with 100,000 miles. I had it treated with fluid film before it ever saw the salt here in N.H. I needed rear pads replaced at 40,000 fronts at 50. I had a bad fuel pump relay switch at 60,000 that left me side the road. The driver door wiring harness went bad at that same mileage leaving me unable to roll down either of my windows but it did make the directional bulb in my passenger mirror come on! At 95,000 miles the throttle body went bad on it and would randomly and often send the vehicle into limp mode usually while merging onto a highway. I’ve done all of the required maintenance to this vehicle and honestly in 100,000 miles I probably have $3000 tied up in repairs not including tires. For the most part it has been a good vehicle. I would likely buy another one because I’m used to the layout and function. All new vehicles suck sooner or later. They are jamming way to much sensors and computerized shit into these vehicles. If your really worried about all the hype buy it new and get the extended warranty which I would have broken even on. Do the preventative maintenance like fluid film and you’ll have far less things to bitch about after you get done paying off your investment. Sorry for the novel.
I don't know much about the Transit, but the E-Series line has been dependable for decades. My company has had three e350 boxvans and all of them have been reliable and proven for atleast 200k miles with almost no problems. The most consistent issue I've encountered is that a fan actuator fails around 170k which causes the climate control fans to blow intermittently. It's a $10 part that is easily repaired. We were recently in an accident with our new one which survived a frontend collision. The bumper had to be taken off, but it was able to finish all it's deliveries and drive 5k miles till we sent it in.
@@RSmith-xo7hu Yes, they are strong reliable workhorses cabable of high mileage if taken care of. Both inside and out. We do all the necessary maintenace and they always start in the morning and drive 300-1000miles a/day city+highway no breakdowns or abnormalities under the hood.
I got 2015 t250, it has been serving me for 3 years now, I only had that driveshaft issue which I got it fixed free of charge. I had GMC Savana before, it is not even comparable, the new ford is fun to drive especially 3.5 turbo model.
You’re correct with this review. The company I work for has these vans for delivery and they’re cheap. Poorly made, plastic parts break off every week, problems with bearings constantly, back doors break constantly, list goes on.... I wish we had a different contract with a truck/van company that makes a solid/reliable vehicle. Thank you for this review.
We just got two 2020 cargo vans for work and mine has already been back at the dealer because the passenger side door would hang when you went to open it, it wouldn’t even open without pulling the handle twice. It’s already got rust on the right rear door bottom. The transmission feels like it jerks when pulling a hill at low speeds and when it’s in reverse and you let off the throttle while coasting backwards it feels like something bogs it down. Lol. I love the comfort features over my old 2012 E Series van but honestly the E series felt like it pulled hills better, you didn’t have to mash the gas to get it going. I went from a 5.4L V8 to a 3.5L V6 and I can feel the torque difference badly.
Big issue with these is that they don’t have an engine cover. This allows water to collect in the holes for the intake bolts and the bolts rot making it very hard to remove the intake whenever service is needed. Also notorious for coolant leaks and the reservoir cracking.
I have a 2015 transit cargo 350 and I have to agree. Water runs onto my computer and the air filter on the other side. You forgot to mention the fuel door. Every time you get out of the drivers door the fuel door catches on your clothes and eventually breaks off. Stupid! And the emergency brake is in between the seats. A truly terrible location. This van is very roomy but it was not well designed at all! However I do have 250K miles on it and no rust. The driveshaft did explode at one time I can tell by the damage underneath. The carrier bearing is what holds the driveshaft in place. If it gives out the driveshaft will explode.
Thanks for the review. I have found many of the comments on your video useful as well. I was considering a Transit 250 High Roof LWB for a van conversion. I’m stepping back from that now. I will say I have a 2013 Ford C-Max that I had to replace the Hybrid Drive with a newer year model from salvage, but other than that I only do oil changes at 170K miles. My son’s F150 with the 3.5 turbo has 200K on it and it’s his daily driver. He bought it from his uncle, a real life rancher that beat the crap out of it for 155K miles, King Ranch, everything works great. So Ford must be having QC issues in some parts of their operations and not so much in others. I would buy another C-Max 2016 and later without hesistation, I know my son would buy another F150 with the 3.5 eco boost. Thanks for this video, it has been helpful. Ford being a global company I believe must be having QC problems in some of their products, but not all of them from my experience.
I also made the mistake of buying one of these. This guy is spot on. I purchased new and after 18 months and 40000 miles sold it as it was back to the dealer 7 times. One of those times for 8 weeks while they tried to figure out what was wrong. Will never buy Ford again
Wow. What a Detailed review about the Vans. Every time I turn my phone on, The Ford Transit Commercial Comes On. Nice Body Type. DECEPTIVE. Just from your Detailed Review, Makes me Want To Make Detailed Inspections When I Buy Another Used Vehicle. SOOO GRATEFUL. WE NEVER LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE nor INSPECT IT TO LOOK FOR RUST ECT. SCREAMING THANK YOU FOR THE VEDIO.
Had issues myself as a driver, engine failed at 9k, gearbox links comman, dpf issues going into limp mode alot. You can't even do blockchanges on gear change
I considered the Transit to replace both my 14'Tundra and my 17'Yukon for 1 versatile large van thanks for the info, so far my Yukon is king on repair bills, its actually at dealer on its 10th day, Toyota zero issues just wiper blades, tires and oil.
Tundras seem to be very reliable. Sadly that can't be said for their other products. Every car maker has good and bad cars. but I would like to see every automaker have no bad cars.
I just bought this yesterday (21 Jan 2021) and only just saw this video. Great! To be honest, I my previous vans have been ford transits too. I love the way they drive. The only problem (apart from the rust) was the alternator. Your video did make me think though. Thanks for sharing.
repairvehicle twin turbo 310 hp. 3:31 rear end p traction leather FUN to drive Easier to get in and out than my 911 20 plus miles Check Ford Transit Owners for more reviews 🚗
@@loop1800mickey , I have thousands of comments from Ford owners and how many problems they have with their transit. For me to believe you don't have problems with your transit and you drive 911, sounds very fishy.
My interest here is concerning the Transit for RV motorhomes. I thought about downsizing, currently using an A-class 2015 Jayco Precept 29UM built on a Ford F53 3-valve per cylinder 6.8L V10. It has been rock-solid reliable for 4.5 years and nearly 40,000 miles. This video cured me of the desire to "downsize" in quality.
The Sprinter and the Transit are light to medium duty vans. Good maybe for Expeditors, Fedes, Amazon, but not so much for RV'ing. These chassis are pushed to the breaking point on light duty drive trains. The Winnebago View is 11,000+ pounds, and many are pulling a tow car. The engine and transmissions are basically passenger car units. No surprise when they fail. Hard to beat a big V8 or V10 and a truck transmission for durability. Gas mileage savings for the diesels is a joke when you consider the massive maintenance bills on these Transits and Sprinters.
I've seen that type of surface rust on my 04 ram turn into a fairly aggressive cancer. The fact you show the wheel wells without any wheel tubs and the AC lines there is alarming too. Lack of those again in my 04 ram caused my bedsides to rot out and it only had 80k miles .
Right not the driveshaft carrier bearing has a recall that every 30,000 miles you have to bring it into the dealer to have it change. the rust, like he is saying is bad, the frame has some "access hole" to reach frame bolts, well those holes are placed just in the way that water collects in there. next, the transmission is not rated to work hard even if it is a 350 model, had to replace the trany at 120,000 miles and it cost $8000 to do so
Good review. Lot of problems with Promasters as well. I considered buying both. Went with a very low mileage 04 E350 instead. Way better build quality. I have zero intention of buying anything new ever.
Just seeing this for the first time, I was looking at a Transit yesterday, test drove a 50k transit, and a 39k transit, the driving was a huge difference but way out of my league... There was no way I was going to buy a 38k van and deal with the bad driving it did... It was doggy as hell. So I test drove a Promaster today 159 and WHAT A DIFFERENCE. The engine was incredible! That rust is a huge deal... Doing vanlife soon and I can't thank you enough for this video, you saved me a lot of money!
I think what you are talking about is a carrier bearing. Years back, long bed vehicles used these for the flexibility of the driveshaft. I guess now by deleting this saves $22.00 on the assembly line. And they want HOW MUCH? Your good friend Vinny in good old Fla.
😧 can’t believe and i was ready to trade in my 2016 Suburban with ZERO issues just cuz i was looking for more space to go out Camping/Overlanding, but after seeing this I’ll keep using my state wide gym membership, and my shower tent when I’m out in nature. Also my Suburban is 2 inches lifted with 35 inches tires has 4x4 not AWD. Thank you for pointing out those issues.
@Blind Squid Also, they have a 5yr/100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. They're kinda ugly, but with the truck front-end I suspect they'd be easier to work on. That is, if you can find a Nissan shop to work on it - I think it has to be a commercial dealer.
Ford Econoline vans were rock solid reliable workhorses (now discontinued) and then they went to these ridiculously expensive transit vans. They should be ashamed of themselves.This van in particular looks almost to be a prototype model. Fit and Finish and vehicle engineering should not exist in this day and age with how expensive these vehicles are. Makes me furious.
@@reneehudgins1964 those Econlines had their issues too. As far as the Transit, always wait before buying early on a new model. You're paying to be a test mule. Watch the forums to see if the 2020 refresh is any better, and resolved the issues.
The driveshaft part that was used in the recall fix.. has been recalled. Also, fuel pump recall. Just had those addressed last week. My 2015 transit has less than 65Kmiles on it..98% highway miles, and here's what's been fixed/not fixed: Slide door leak was an alignment issue, Ford had the van for 3.5 weeks (brought back twice because it was still leaking) until guy from the ford factory came down to fix it. Navigation/Radio/Entertainment head overheated after 1 hour of driving. Ford was never able to fix it, and it started 1,500mi before the warranty ran out, but I was on a 3K road trip. Never the less, they had the van for 4 weeks, and couldn't figure out how to fix it. During that same time, the passenger side dashboard rattles ridiculously loud at certain speeds. Had one of the service guys in the van on test drive to be sure he indeed heard it, and new it wasn't the glove box or anything else. NEVER FIGURED IT OUT. 4 weeks, handed me the keys as if they fixed the issues, and it wasn't until I was back on the road that I heard the dash rattle, and the radio overheat. I had a new stereo system installed thru a car audio specialist... but the dash still rattles over the music. Before going on a road trip in Sept, I called about the drive shaft coupler. They told me I was fine. 2 weeks after my return, after almost 4K miles of driving, the recall for the first couple recall and the fuel pump notice comes. Later in Sept, got on the highway, and the van started to sputter and cough, engine light comes flashing on.. turns out, ignition coil gone bad. I will never buy another Ford. I had issues with Ford Fairmont in the 80s. Ford Ranger in the 90s. And now the Transit. Hondas and Toyotas I owned... ran them into the ground with over 300K.. and 15 years worth of driving and less garage time than the Transit currently. Can't get a Ford too 120K. Junk. Should have gotten the Mercedes.
I have a 2015 ford transit 250 and I agree with all of these statements. Where the water drains on the passenger side, it falls right on top of the engine air filter. The filter got soaked and the engine started sucking water through the pipes, luckily it did not make it all the way to the engine, but the it lost power and did not accelerate. Since it was still under warranty, the dealership covered $800 worth of labor. It happened again a second time, this time I did not have a warranty but I fixed the issue myself by letting the air filter drain overnight and putting aluminum foil on top of the air filter case so water is redirected somewhere else. I wish I had other vans that I can compare to, I’m sure no vehicle is perfect, but so far i’ve put 50k miles on mine and that’s the only major issue i’ve had. Thanks for sharing
There are an awful lot of these being sold. I think if someone doesn't need 4x4, a Nissan NV hightop, or breadtruck w/ a Cummins diesel, or maybe a box truck, would make an ideal vehicle to live out of.
Okay, I'm going to respond to somebody with a good bit of knowledge in the area of cargo vans. I have been using cargo vans for expedited freight nationwide and for the past few years primarily in the southeast. The Ford Transit is widely considered to be the most cost-effective cargo van on the market. My current transit is a 2017 high top extended length van and it has 306K miles on it as we speak. 3.7 base engine, which is the one I recommend. The van was bought by a colleague of mine when it had only 80,000 miles on it and I bought it at 220k. Between 220k and 306k I have had one major failure - the transmission needed replacement at 250k, which honestly is all I expect out of a Ford transmission. I found a youth transmission with only 1200 miles on it, and between parts and labor it cost me roughly $2,500 to replace. I've also had I think a belt tensioner replaced at 240k, and the coolant reservoir at 230k. Other than that no repairs. In comparison, I retired my Mercedes Sprinter at 500K miles when it was rear-ended. That van was still on its original engine, transmission, and rear end. But - from the time I purchased it at 210k, almost every month I was spending between $1,000 -1500 on miscellaneous repairs. it cost a fortune to keep that thing on the road. I absolutely loved it, but it was not cost effective. My colleagues with ProMaster Vans have fared even worse. The Pro Masters have an issue with the camshaft and lifters failing costing big bucks to replace. Transmissions also. And a whole host of other issues that seem to keep them off the road. Of these three choices, the Transit is definitely the top pick. That being said, if you don't need such a large vehicle, the Chevy Express/ GMC Savana and Nissan NV are great choices as well. Those are virtually trouble-free but at the expense of fuel economy, And they are much smaller than the larger versions of the Transit, ProMaster, and Sprinter. If they're big enough to suit your needs though, go with one of those.
I am going to disagree with on camshaft failure lifters on promaster. It's same engine that it's being used in, every Chrysler, dodge, ram and jeep vehicles. None of them have this issue, I have looked at 300k miles promaster and they had zero engine repairs, except for water pump which normal maintenance item. Also, ford does not offer 3.7 anymore.
@@dawudgt That depends on your point of view. In some ways they are all viable options because you have to consider the amount of miles and work we're putting onto these things. The issue is you have to be able to make enough money in these vans to turn a profit that's acceptable considering the amount of work you put in plus the cost of buying and maintaining the vehicle. The clear front runner in That respect is the transit. The Sprinter is The most comfortable to drive and the easiest to live with but the challenges of keeping one in good running and driving order are the highest. Actually the best option if It's large enough to suit your purpose is the Nissan NV2500 or NV3500. They are as comfortable to drive as the sprinter and even better on maintenance and reliability than the Transit.
@@dawudgt for a mobile coffee shop you're probably going to want something much larger. That's something I'd actually recommend and extended Sprinter for. Since you won't be piling on the miles It would last you pretty much forever and you're really going to need the extra room. My two cents anyway.
Thanks for an awesome video! I am looking to buy one, but now I am not sure. The problem is that there are not many other options with medium or high roof.
Ford Transit vans have always been absolutely appalling rust traps that literally corrode everywhere, rapidly. One would have thought that their new flagship model would have been better designed and built using high quality anti-corrosion inhibitors! For the screen water to drain onto the main computer electrical connector is inexcusable! Ford dealers were telling potential buyers about this issue with the Fiat Ducato/Citroën/Peugeot series vans when this fault appeared in them, though I doubt they'll be so honest this time. The terrible door closing, paint scraping issue beggars belief too! The poor quality oil deterioration will prematurely wear out the engine. Thank you for this video.
Chevy Express and GMC equivalent vans have been around for a long time and not many changes but also not a lot of bells and whistles or styling changes. Most are commercial so they are proven.
In pick up trucks they stopped using long time ago. Based on the information available, it is good engine as long as it's maintained. If older 5.7 was capable reaching 1 million miles without any engine repairs, I don't see why this engine cannot reach same mileage with high quality synthetic oil.
Wow, wow, wow. So many people in the comments have had so many problems with the Ford Transit. I own 3 Toyotas - 2 Tacomas and an Echo. All 3 of them are older than twenty years. I bought them all used. They all run fine. Just a few minor repairs over the years. I just started looking at cargo vans for use as a camper van. Needless to say, all these problems are a BIG RED FLAG for the Ford Transit cargo van. Thank you to all the commenters and this video for WARNING all of us about the problems and defects. I'm sure many of us have been saved from making a BAD decision.
I drive a 2017 Transit daily at my job, it has been ok for the most part but it is quite obvious that it was built cheaply, as others have said if only Toyota manufactured these I would sell my step-son for one.
I think this must be a US problem I have bought 5or six transits since 2001 not had any of these issues. I suspect we pay slot more in Europe so get better build quality
Be careful with leaves clogging any windshield drainage system because on many vehicles if the leaves get down and clog, then the water may build up high in the system in a heavy rain and leak down the Heater blower vent right into under the foot wells causing mold in the jute padding under the carpet! This is a big problem if parking under a tree all the time and or if there was a factory foam weather stripping between windshield and windshield cowl piece but is gone now because of old age or windshield replacement discarded it... Because this allowed water but keeps large leaves from entering and clogging. it can be restored with home doors/windows foam self sticking weather stripping and some glue to make sure it stays in place.
STILL ENGINEERING TO FAIL. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME! I WAS VERY TEMPTED TO LOOK AT THE NEW 250 TRANSIT AWD. TEMPTED NO MORE!!!! AGAIN THANK YOU! IN 2002 MY FRIEND WAS A LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER FOR THEM. WE RODE HARLEYS TOGETHER. HE WHISPERED IN MY EAR. "YOUR EXPLODER HAS 116K MILES, GET RID OF IT, THE TRANS WILL FAIL AT THE 125-126K MILES, THEY ENGINEER TO FAIL!" I SHOULD HAVE TRUSTED HIS WORD, HE WAS SPOT ON. AT 125K TRANS FAILED.
Thank you for the excellent video. There are a ton of van-lifer people that are trying to determine between the Ford transit, the ram pro master, and the Mercedes sprinter. Your channel may benefit from a very comprehensive comparison between these vehicles. Keep in mind, the Mercedes sprinter can only be serviced at a Mercedes dealership. And additionally the ram pro master has a piece of crap Fiat engine apparently
@@TechGod7 - Nothing yet. The prices of vehicles, especially trucks, were ridiculous. I have decided to wait until the bottom drops out of the used truck market, then I will buy a Ford F250 Super Duty.
Sure that Transit has some surface rust. But you could buy a Sprinter for twice the money and in a couple of years you get rust everywhere. Even big chunks of rust down the bodysides. Sprinters also have bolts that hold the wheels on. You need 3 hands to change a flat tire. At 2X the cost of a Transit. Mercedes dealers aren't excited to see you come in for service probably because you did not buy it there. Service will take a while so you better have a spare van to use.
I recently ordered a new AWD Transit . I would be concerned about quality if it werent for the fact that every fifteenth vehicle you see on the highway is a white Ford Transit. Must be something good about them for so many people to be using them.
I think that most people who drive/use vehicles don't really know much about them. I once bought a used Ford Tempo. I did some basic observations of the engine soon after buying it. I noticed the throttle linkage had a chain that looked exactly like the stopper chain on my old bathroom sink. I practically died laughing!
Ford has designed an easily replaced driveshaft wafer connection. The computer is liquid cooled. Very advanced. The rust is really a weight saving process... LOL
When I bought y 2015 Transit I noticed the wind shield water drain doing exactly what you demonstrated and I fixed it by drilling out and opening the drain hole because it had a plastic type screen to keep out dirt and hooked up a hose to that plastic nipple downspout leading below past the engine and exiting to the ground - no longer having water problems. As far as the rusting . . . my 2015 doesn't have any, I guess because I live in NC where it snows once a year so there is no salt hitting the under body. I guess if you had your Van's under body cleaned at a car wash you would not have such a severe rust problem. At this point I am to do the 100K van maintenance . . not looking forward to doing that. Love my Transit . . . Peace!!
25 years ago the Ford Transit Van (when I used them). Was the van to have. Short or long wheel base, they were the best by a mile. So sad to see what they have become.
Unfortunately I know the feeling. My 2013 F-150 with only 68,000 miles spent 11 weeks at the dealership garage and took over $5000 in repairs (covered by an extended warranty I’d purchased with the truck when new). The first thing I did when I got it back was trade it for a Toyota Tacoma.
You are just smart man. I did same thing with my 2013 F-150 80k miles, sold it and bought 1/4 million miles tundra. It drives million times better than my f150 was.
We have 2 at our company and both have constant transmission problems. Mines been in 3 times, first time at 60K they had to replace the entire transmission, second time at 90k more errors and shifting problems. Just got it back and it’s doing it again, not even 100k kilometers on it
You forgot to add that most of the fuel doors will break and you will have to replace them called "Housing Fuel Tank Filler Pip part # CK42-5427936-J 1X. The traction is terrible on the 350 cargo van, will get stuck on level ground if the least bit wet!
I have a 2017 Transit 350HD and don't have these issues, although I'm in the dry Southwest. A couple of poor design and workmanship things I have noticed are the silicone caulking in between the various panels literally melted in the hot Palm Springs sun and the gooey residue dripped down the side of the van. Also the passenger area seat mount design is awful and removing them is way more difficult than it should be. Driving wise, the Transit is superior to the Mercedes Sprinter, especially if you get the Ecoboost engine. It has the torque and smooth power delivery of a diesel with the lower operating and repair costs of a gasoline engine.
I do have an 2016 transit 350 xlt 15 pass, and all what you said is happening to me,. I got it brand new and cost me 53k and i feel that is the worst invesment i ever made.. thank you for the video
My step dad has an issue with something killing his battery. He’s replace the battery and alternator and dash light went off, only to come back on once he touches the gas. Then the battery gets drained again. Any ideas ?
I am glad I found this before I almost purchased one. I won't be buying one now for a large investment to have crumble away in a few years? Planned obsolescence to sell more new vehicles to pay unions.
Ive already got a mk7 jumbo on a 56 plate. Great work van for past 4 years. Im looking at doing a camper conversion. Wanted a mk8 jumbo. But after a few reviews think ive made my mind up on a Mk7 camper conversion.
My supplier who delivers right to my door bought a Mercedes van and it’s been in the 32 times in 3 years .Garbage .What about Nissan vans ???? I have a econoline and will keep it
Wow. I was looking to buy an RV based on this platform, and thought I should just maybe look into the Transit’s reliability. I’m so thankful that you made this video. Just saved me a $125,000 headache. I’ll spend a little more money and stick with the Mercedes Benz chassis RV!
I had a Ford Taurus once and one day, all of a sudden was smoke everywhere. Like you said "they build their vehicles to fail". Sir, from my experience and your experience, I would never buy anything Ford forever and ever amen.
My friend just took his 2015 transit V6 turbo in for spark plugs $1400 he needed a new catalytic converter $3000 you can stick those new Ford transit up your Wazzu I’ll stick with my 86 Chevy G 10 if I need a set of spark plugs it cost me 20 bucks I put a new Exhaust on it with the flow master it cost me 300 bucks and yes the guy told me it needed a new catalytic converter it was an extra 30 bucks
I just finished reading every comment on here to date, all 685 of them, it was worth every minute. What a fiasco. I currently own a 2006 Chevy Express 3500. I made it into a camper, and I’ve been happily living in it for the last five years. Mechanically my Chevy has been a dream, but I really want to be able to stand up inside. During this time of not having to pay rent, my bank account has grown and by the end of 2020 I should have enough cash to buy another van. I thought I had settled on a tall 19.5 foot long Ford Transit, but your video and all these corroborating disaster stories are certainly giving me pause. Originally I was thinking of the Nissan NV, but moved on from it because it’s smaller than the American vans. It only comes in one length, which is 18 feet and it’s more narrow than its American counterparts. But from this comments section, it sounds like the Nissan is really the only choice for dependability. And I really like hearing about its chassis frame versus the Ford unibody construction. And I don’t care about gas mileage-I am WAY ahead in rent savings. Can you advise which features to look for? I’m thinking a V-8 gas engine and whatever their beefiest model is, 350? 3500? Not sure what they call it. I wonder if there are other considerations? Again I’m interested in only the TALL Nissan NV, and i’ll be converting it into another camper. EDIT: The Nissan NV is actually 20 feet long from bumper to bumper! But much of that length goes to the large engine compartment and passenger compartment so the cargo area is smaller.
That's an awesome comment! thank you so much for taking time and reading every comment. Nissan NV3500 is the their most HD and capable van in terms of payload and towing. Definitely go with V8, also make sure it has tow package if its not standard option.
repairvehicle Why do you recommend a tow package? Hey one other thing I should mention: my ultimate plan is to have the van converted to 4WD at a later date. Any thoughts on that topic? As an aside, my son works for Amazon, and at one point their entire fleet was Nissan NV’s, they had about 35 vans. The drivers were mostly young people who abused those vehicles, but my son was very impressed with how well they held up despite the abuse! What will you do with your Ford transit? Are you planning on selling it? Just curious! Thank you for posting this important video and your time in answering all of our questions!
@@spleerfloof , with tow package you get additional or bigger transmission cooler. Also, there might be engine oil cooler if doesn't come standard. Any van can be converted to 4x4 if they half ton truck 4x4. Nissan vans uses same engine and transmission as titan. Ford vans uses f150 engine and transmission. Chevy van uses silverados engines and transmissions. No plans to sell while its still under warranty.
@@spleerfloof , with extra weight added to the van, tow package will help keeping temperatures lower for engine oil and transmission and it will last longer if you drive a lot with the van.
Coil pack bolts gets rusted at the bottom in the engine valve cover and will not come out to replace the coil pack, unless you ruined the insert. Also intermittent stalling with no DTC, changed fuel computer module twice and relays, worked for 3 days and it's not starting.
My 2016 Ford transit connect has just blown the transmission for the third time since I bought it. The first time was covered by the warranty but the second time and now this time is coming out of my pocket.
I bought a 2015 transit 250 medium roof 130 inch wheelbase and mine is awesome. I haven’t had one problem. Maybe what i consider general maintenance others may consider to be a hassle. The first month that I bought the truck I sprayed the entire bottom, inside doors and anywhere water could go, with fluid film. When I crawl under it now there is rust but it’s nothing like this? Yes the water dripping on the ECU is stupid but they designed a tray to route the water away. I have to say that judging by the dirt and shit inside of your wiper tray you look like you take the thing off road. There were two pieces of foam inside of a plastic bag that is stuffed in the space there that I removed as prevention. I believe it was there for sound but I didn’t notice a difference. I do have a TINY spot of rust along the door but nothing like yours. Back door hinges have a tiny bit of rust but almost unnoticeable. I change my oil every 4 to 5000 miles on the motor is rocksolid and 50,000 miles. I just changed my brakes at 50,000 but it only needed pads in the rear which I thought was weird. The fronts are fine still. Yes the driveshaft coupling is a problem but you’re supposed to change it like every 25,000 or something. I had it done once and I took a day. I didn’t really care either way. The only thing that I’m disappointed with and really pissed off about is how shitty my local dealer is. I’m not gonna get into the whole story here because it’s way to long but the basic outline is that I bought the truck without a radio(big mistake) and I wanted to add a radio later on. I need to buy the wiring harness and it turns out they make about 30 different versions. My dealer had no fucking clue how to figure out what I needed so they basically told me to screw. I called up Ford to get their help and find out what harness I needed and they told me they can’t help and I have to go through the dealer. So far I went to three different dealers and none of them could help me. I ended up taking apart my whole dash and figuring it out myself but it was a fucking nightmare. So anyway don’t try and save $500 on no radio because you plan on putting an aftermarket radio in later😂. I had to run speaker wire is everywhere to which was horrible
Do not use fluid film, it will cause your rubber components to swell up. Use hinder rust or NH oil, both are great products and I use on everything including f150 except for transit.
my ford transit 350 transmission went out at 49k mile and no dealership in the entire city of LOS ANGELES can service it. THEY ARE TOO BUSY AND SOME SERVICE DEPTS WONT EVEN MAKE AN APPT FOR FORD TRANSMISSON. Dont buy one, save yourself.
I am looking a vans right now and was considering Ford Transit , but not after this !! Thank you so much for your vlog , hopefully you will trade to a better engineered van soon !!
I’ve been on the forums quite a bit... These things seem to last several hundred thousand miles without much issue. If you clean your vehicle weekly you won’t have rust issues. If you keep the drainage tray along the bottom edge of the window cleaned out occasionally it won’t plug up like that. This van has been poorly cared for... My last ecoboost engine had 150k miles on it, I changed the oil every 10-15k miles, I used Amsoil 5W30 in it. When I sold the vehicle it still ran like new! If things are adjusted, cleaned and serviced properly they last longer... If this thing is diluting oil his crank case ventilation system could be plugged... Looking at the condition of the van I would assume that’s exactly the issue. He is also using the motorcraft oil, Ford will put their synthetic blend in a vehicle unless you specify full synthetic. The volatility of synthetic blend and conventional oils is terrible, they will evaporate quickly and clog your pcv. Bottom line is, this vehicle has not been well cared for, changing the oil frequently is only part of the preventative maintenance required to ensure long vehicle life.
I have an 2019 Ford Transit 350. I'm under 14,000 miles. I don't have any problems yet. Thanks for that eye opener. I'll keep an eye on those things you mentioned.
Mine is “better” than yours, man! It’s a 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4. Bought it new in September 2019, only have 2k+ miles in it now. After a week of ownership, I discovered rusty components on the seat hardwares, the steering metal components under the dash, and several suspension components (not sure how to upload photos for exhibit). Brought it to dealer’s attention and was told it’s fine. So I can exactly feel your pain!
@@jules4soni I both bought a Ram 2500 brand new in 2016 for my Landscaping business. My brother bought 2 new Ram 2500's and a 1500 for his Landscaping business. My transmission failed at 40K miles and was fixed under the factory warranty. It failed again at 60,023. 23 miles out of warranty. They did fixed it under warranty anyway. Less than a month later, I traded it for a 2020 GMC Sierra. One of his 2500 failed at 29k miles. His was fixed under the factory warranty and he got rid of both 2500's for two Tundras. The Tundra burns more gas and has a smaller bed but, it starts and go every single time. Ram is a no go.
You guys in these snowy cold climates are just out-of-luck when it comes to rust. The salt on the roads attacks EVERY vehicle in those areas regardless of manufacturer.
Ram promaster van with over 500k miles, original engine no repairs. Quality van! ua-cam.com/video/yBFPE6vupX8/v-deo.html
Look at this 350k miles reliable FORD www.amsoil.com/newsstand/testimonials/articles/pristine-ford-flex-tops-350-000-miles/?zo=5257753
Every car, truck and EV needs this ua-cam.com/video/H_bSDqnSh90/v-deo.html
Maintenance mistake made by diesel owners ua-cam.com/video/WBOBzA56jvw/v-deo.html
Why trucks don't come with this? ua-cam.com/video/hBbzJmCHtCo/v-deo.html
How to improve lights without cutting or drilling ua-cam.com/video/K4WbM97pkmE/v-deo.html
How to protect paint on the vehicle without wax ua-cam.com/video/I1fu9TsiYBc/v-deo.html
Learned something new? Want to know what best van for you? Please support my channel. www.buymeacoffee.com/Repairvehicle
These are two top diesel fuel additives to use:
Everyday diesel bit.ly/2ItAWl2
Diesel All bit.ly/3eX55oT
Which one is the best one, both are good and work as formulated.However, cetane and lubricity numbers different between two products, final research results will be covered in another video.
Promaster Transmision is junk
@hangngoaigiare they are not, people don’t maintain that’s a problem
Thanks for the video. I have a 2017 Ford transit took it in yesterday because of engine light flashing and they told me that the PCM has water damage and it would cost $2000 to replace it. I asked if it was under warranty and they said no. So I did a little digging around and found out that it was indeed under warranty under the emissions performance warranty coverage. So I informed them and they still said it was my fault for having the water drains clogged up and that I should have cleaned out the leaves and the gunk out of the drain. This was the stupidest lamest excuse I've ever heard, so I called the manager and told him that if there is water damage on the PCM then the water draining systems are defective for not being able to drain properly, he agreed and I was able to cover it under warranty. Some dealerships are horrible!!!! They charge you an arm and a leg for their services and they try to scam you and make you pay for services that are under warranty
I have a 2015(first year) long wheel base high roof but not extended.. I actually like mine and am currently building out a camper. The 3.7 V6 non-turbo gas engine, got a permanent U-joint Fix under recall. I hear that they don't have the permanent fix for other engines. Yes, the ecolines were better constructed, no doubt, but they are aging. Also, if you need a high roof, all you got is Transit, nissan, pro master(fiat really), or sprinter. The promaster has at least as many issues at the transit, if not more but it's one option for sure. The nissan NV is very short but well built. Mine is 2.5 feet longer behind the front seats than NV. and the extended version transit w/ dual rear wheels (not mine) adds another 3 feet, making it 5.5' feet longer than the Nissan. It's very difficult to build a camper van in the short space behind the seats with Nissan. Also, Nissan has the poorest fuel economy by far, with their fuel hog V8, if that is a concern. However, I think the Nissan has the best towing out of the 4. Btw, if you plan on loading pallets in the transit, the width between the wheel wells won't be wide enough. The Sprinter can be a money pit because it's very expensive to buy and maintain those engines. You pretty much have to go to the dealership for work. Also, they rust really bad if you don't use rust preventative maintenance.
You're correct, the gutter for transit is a mess. This is the worst engineering I've ever seen but can be fixed. Besides what you pointed out, the air filter will get wet and cause issues too. The air filter box was fixed for 2019, I believe. Also, you will get water on the engine through the holes in the gutter for the windshield wipers. The engine water can rust in the holes for the spark plugs and cause issues with the threading for the plugs. There are some solutions. It took me 5 hours of trial and error but I've fully fixed the gutter leaking on my electronics, engine, and air filter housing. Trash those plastic bags with grey foam, they just fill up with water and become moldy. The foam and plastic bag I'm talking about is directly to the right of the small plants growing in your gutter at 3:18 You're right, shame on Ford for this mess and not doing a recall and free fix.
2015-2019 Transits have the 6r80 transmission which will be changed for 2020+ to a 10 speed. The 3.7 liter is a good engine and 6r80 is a good transmission which can last a long time. The turbo(eco boost) has much, much, more power if you need it but the 3.7 is good for my needs. Even with the ecoboost, or the 3.7, you can get 17 mpg on the highway under 70 mph. With the high roof, you're better off going slower unless you have a tail wind, which helps fuel tremendously. Anyway, if you do have the 6r80, I can't stress enough to keep the tranny fluid reasonably clean if you want it to last 200+ miles. I wold change the fuild every 30k miles max. Ford says the fluid is good for the life of the vheicle unless under harsh conditions but that is terrible advise if you want your tranny to last.. for pro info on tranny search "6r80 fordtechmakuloco" Here on youtube. And if you want your rear end to last.. change that fluid at least every 50k miles.. more often if you tow or haul heavy loads or drive at higher speeds.
I live in Houston, Tx.. so, no rust.. Yes, I would be upset if my vehicle was rusting but if you live in certain areas, you have to do preventative maintenance for rust. My main concern is engine, tranny.. then, I'm concerned with stuff like electronics, front end issues, ac/heat, comfort, etc.. fit and finish is not high on my list of priorities because I can usually fix those with a bit of labor.
Anyway, my 2 cents from a reasonably happy Transit owner. If you really want to know what issues are with each vehicle, go to the chat groups that deal with those specific vehicles. lots of good advise on what to watch out for some things are an easy fix, others are very expensive.. but that is the best way to weigh out your options and make the best choice for your needs..
I have lab results from my 6R80 transmission at 80k miles highway transmission fluid is burned and beyond factory specifications. 30k miles change interval is a must with factory fluid. Lab results on my channel and the damage to the transmission is severe at 80k miles.
@@repairvehicle Yes, the fluid, Mercon LV, does not last more than 30k miles at 200F, which is normal operating temp. These transmissions have a cooler bypass valve located inside the transmission. The transmission fluid has to be 180°F for this cooler bypass valve to open. If the fluid temperature is too low, it will not flow through the transmission fluid cooler on the passenger side of the radiator. Even if you add a transmission cooler, stacked plate or Fin Cooler, the temps won't drop below 180 because of the bypass valve. but 180 - 200 is fine for 30k miles.. but climbing a mountain or driving 90+ mph on flat roads, with a load, in hot weather, can cause 250F without auxiliary tranny cooler to help. When that happens, change fluid right away. Monitor temps with app and bluetooth OBD2 scaner. Same issue with promaster.. monitor temps change fluid regularly. Don't listen to maintenance schedule from manufacturer.
Source for bypass valve: 6r80 Ford Transmission service manual (found online for free)
tex959 so you’re saying you fixed the draining issue by removing that insulating foam stuff??
@@Damian_mtn It takes a lot more time and effort than just removing the foam. It would take me a long time to explain the multiple processes and I'd need pictures too. Your best bet is to find Transit USA forum. There are many tutorials if you search "gutter" or "air box"
tex959 thanks 🙏
If only Toyota made a transit sized van...
@JOE Geo "with diesel". Transit is sold only with diesel outside the USA.
They do but don't let them export it here. They know they will crush american cars.
My dream - to have a Transit-sized, diesel, manual shifting Toyota in North America. I would kill for that!
Hino trucks is Toyota trucks, but they are not exactly transit size, but diesel.
They have a the Toyota hiace but it’s not in Northern America
I was the sole driver of a then-new 2018 Transit 250 with the 3.7 liter engine where I worked. I was careful to break in the engine properly and the van performed well until the oil pump tore itself apart at just under 5,000 miles. All was good the day before when it was parked but the next morning within a few minutes of start up a loud grinding was heard coming from the engine and the oil pressure warning light was on. It took a month and a half for Ford to replace the engine and get it back to us. I've had zero confidence in it since that time.
Just watched this and went directly to Google and asked which cargo van is best. Ford transit is on top of the list. That's such a shame. Thank you so much.
I've driven about 30 different Ford Transits when I worked for Amazon and they were mostly FINE but seemed to always have little mechanical issues. Keep in mind they often had something like 10,000km to 50,000km It was often things like doors jamming and not closing, electrical issues like AC not working or wipers not working, one or a few burnt lights, grinding noises when accelerating or idling, I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch but yeah they weren't completely unusable but they had so many little problems for low milage newer vans
With the way employees treat them nothing lasts
The water draining on the electronics was a real eye opener.
oh yes that looked nasty .i would never buy this van ,,going to be rust bucket in no time
That was insane.
remove the foam bags in the fenders and readjust the drain tubes to exit thru the fender.
I fixed my drain, silicone on the trays , put a screen on the drain hole , and covered all the electronics with metal trays over computers with rubber shielding etc over parts no water on em now
wtf lol
I watched this video before I bought mine. It almost talked me out of it. But I went for it anyway. So far... Been a year. Not a single issue. It's not ecoboost. But it's a t350 midroof. Out of all those issues. I have issue with the sliding door not opening correctly. Basically I have to pull on the back side in order for it to fully open into sliding position. But other then that... It's a 2015. I don't have those issues. As for now anyway.
Your right....that's not acceptable engineering. Especially when someone is paying alot of money for a work vehicle and the "ford" quality reputation.
These videos help hold these companies accountable for screwing consumers!
The rest is from a leak in the windshield and somehow the drain gets clogged and it backs up and goes into the footwell and I have to do is drill a couple holes in the footwell and it drains on its own. Yes Ford should have figured that out but it's a new van, they didn't just stick with the old stuff like Chevy. even with all these problems, I could never get over that rear axle of the ProMaster it looks like a toothpick that is the one reason I did not buy that van
GABE Athouse Rules! L
Ford lost their reputation long ago when they had the powerstroke 6.0 in their trucks. They way they handled whole issues is enough for me to never buy a ford
This is an American spec and I dont think Ford give a toss as this van was built for the EU Market as the Transit is a very good van and is Number 1 best selling van in the uk
We have a 76 vehicle fleet with 20 or so Ford Transit 350 gas & 25 Ford Transit 350 diesels- all 2016-2019
The gas Transits have been great in regard to the engines, but the diesels, holy sh**, constantly in repair, namely emissions related issues- constant recalls, 4-6 weeks at the dealer (& we’re supposedly VIP customers)...
both gas & diesel versions eat rear brake pads, rotors & calipers constantly due to poor engineering in the rear suspension, we upgraded the suspension to address the issue but it’s not cost effective, cheaper to change out brakes every 15k or so- tires also experience much shorter life’s due to the same issue...
Overall my opinion is the gas Transits are good, but stay far away from the diesel, the Sprinters are a much better option-
Thanks for sharing this information
WATCH OUT for the low clearance of the two rear struts, too. My son’s hit a rock....$5K in damage!!! ‘Still, the Transit is his favorite vehicle ever. I rented one and LOVED, just watch the clearance. Very good visibility via great side mirrors.
We had a E-150 years ago and it was a rock solid van. We now have a 2017 transit 250 with the 3.5 TT. I’ve had no issues with our transit, but it’s also driven a few times a year on long road trips, not an everyday workhorse.
It's unfortunate that Mercedes and Ram don't offer the under-the-hood potted plant option
Good point. Lol
Whats that?
lol!😂
I have a 2015 T250 cargo high roof transit with 100,000 miles. I had it treated with fluid film before it ever saw the salt here in N.H. I needed rear pads replaced at 40,000 fronts at 50. I had a bad fuel pump relay switch at 60,000 that left me side the road. The driver door wiring harness went bad at that same mileage leaving me unable to roll down either of my windows but it did make the directional bulb in my passenger mirror come on! At 95,000 miles the throttle body went bad on it and would randomly and often send the vehicle into limp mode usually while merging onto a highway. I’ve done all of the required maintenance to this vehicle and honestly in 100,000 miles I probably have $3000 tied up in repairs not including tires. For the most part it has been a good vehicle. I would likely buy another one because I’m used to the layout and function. All new vehicles suck sooner or later. They are jamming way to much sensors and computerized shit into these vehicles. If your really worried about all the hype buy it new and get the extended warranty which I would have broken even on. Do the preventative maintenance like fluid film and you’ll have far less things to bitch about after you get done paying off your investment. Sorry for the novel.
Have you tried NH Oil? It's a lot better than fluid film, it will not swell up rubber, like fluid film does.
repairvehicle I haven’t tried that before, there’s a place near me called “N.H. oil undercoatings” I’m not sure if that’s what your referencing.
@@justloggit22 , you can take it to them or you can purchase the stuff and do it yourself.
I don't know much about the Transit, but the E-Series line has been dependable for decades. My company has had three e350 boxvans and all of them have been reliable and proven for atleast 200k miles with almost no problems. The most consistent issue I've encountered is that a fan actuator fails around 170k which causes the climate control fans to blow intermittently. It's a $10 part that is easily repaired.
We were recently in an accident with our new one which survived a frontend collision. The bumper had to be taken off, but it was able to finish all it's deliveries and drive 5k miles till we sent it in.
Sounds Good But Have You Inspected like This Guy
@@RSmith-xo7hu Yes, they are strong reliable workhorses cabable of high mileage if taken care of. Both inside and out. We do all the necessary maintenace and they always start in the morning and drive 300-1000miles a/day city+highway no breakdowns or abnormalities under the hood.
@Just Doit I think so
I got 2015 t250, it has been serving me for 3 years now, I only had that driveshaft issue which I got it fixed free of charge. I had GMC Savana before, it is not even comparable, the new ford is fun to drive especially 3.5 turbo model.
You’re correct with this review. The company I work for has these vans for delivery and they’re cheap. Poorly made, plastic parts break off every week, problems with bearings constantly, back doors break constantly, list goes on.... I wish we had a different contract with a truck/van company that makes a solid/reliable vehicle. Thank you for this review.
Thank you for sharing your experience
What year transit are they?
We just got two 2020 cargo vans for work and mine has already been back at the dealer because the passenger side door would hang when you went to open it, it wouldn’t even open without pulling the handle twice. It’s already got rust on the right rear door bottom. The transmission feels like it jerks when pulling a hill at low speeds and when it’s in reverse and you let off the throttle while coasting backwards it feels like something bogs it down. Lol. I love the comfort features over my old 2012 E Series van but honestly the E series felt like it pulled hills better, you didn’t have to mash the gas to get it going. I went from a 5.4L V8 to a 3.5L V6 and I can feel the torque difference badly.
Wish Chevy made a tall van , been very happy with all the express vans I’ve had over the years.
If only they made a reliable transmission
Reliable transmission is when you change your atf every 30k miles or 3 years which comes first
@@repairvehicle if it was reliable they wouldn’t have a class action lawsuit
@@roge954 at what mileage they are failing? Class action lawsuits always happen, people looking for easy money. Did gm lose this lawsuit?
I was really about to sell yukon gmc truck for one of these but never mind, thanks for the review
Big issue with these is that they don’t have an engine cover. This allows water to collect in the holes for the intake bolts and the bolts rot making it very hard to remove the intake whenever service is needed. Also notorious for coolant leaks and the reservoir cracking.
I have a 2015 transit cargo 350 and I have to agree. Water runs onto my computer and the air filter on the other side. You forgot to mention the fuel door. Every time you get out of the drivers door the fuel door catches on your clothes and eventually breaks off. Stupid! And the emergency brake is in between the seats. A truly terrible location. This van is very roomy but it was not well designed at all! However I do have 250K miles on it and no rust. The driveshaft did explode at one time I can tell by the damage underneath. The carrier bearing is what holds the driveshaft in place. If it gives out the driveshaft will explode.
Thanks for the review. I have found many of the comments on your video useful as well. I was considering a Transit 250 High Roof LWB for a van conversion. I’m stepping back from that now. I will say I have a 2013 Ford C-Max that I had to replace the Hybrid Drive with a newer year model from salvage, but other than that I only do oil changes at 170K miles. My son’s F150 with the 3.5 turbo has 200K on it and it’s his daily driver. He bought it from his uncle, a real life rancher that beat the crap out of it for 155K miles, King Ranch, everything works great. So Ford must be having QC issues in some parts of their operations and not so much in others. I would buy another C-Max 2016 and later without hesistation, I know my son would buy another F150 with the 3.5 eco boost. Thanks for this video, it has been helpful. Ford being a global company I believe must be having QC problems in some of their products, but not all of them from my experience.
I also made the mistake of buying one of these. This guy is spot on. I purchased new and after 18 months and 40000 miles sold it as it was back to the dealer 7 times. One of those times for 8 weeks while they tried to figure out what was wrong. Will never buy Ford again
I don't know what state you live in, but why didn't you use the lemon law?
Wow. What a Detailed review about the Vans. Every time I turn my phone on, The Ford Transit Commercial Comes On. Nice Body Type. DECEPTIVE. Just from your Detailed Review, Makes me Want To Make Detailed Inspections When I Buy Another Used Vehicle. SOOO GRATEFUL. WE NEVER LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE nor INSPECT IT TO LOOK FOR RUST ECT. SCREAMING THANK YOU FOR THE VEDIO.
Here's prime example of my video vs other video on the UA-cam. Thank you for commenting.
I got burned by Ford commercial big time and will never again believe Ford commercial.
Speaking of the van’s body, it’s almost entirely constructed of aluminum whcih made me laugh my ass off when he said the drivers door was rusting.
Had issues myself as a driver, engine failed at 9k, gearbox links comman, dpf issues going into limp mode alot. You can't even do blockchanges on gear change
Common problem with Diesel engines. Thank you so much for sharing this with me.
I considered the Transit to replace both my 14'Tundra and my 17'Yukon for 1 versatile large van thanks for the info, so far my Yukon is king on repair bills, its actually at dealer on its 10th day, Toyota zero issues just wiper blades, tires and oil.
I don't get why GMC has worse luck then Chevys when it comes to quality or reliability, a lot of their vehicles ride on the same platforms.
Tundras seem to be very reliable. Sadly that can't be said for their other products. Every car maker has good and bad cars. but I would like to see every automaker have no bad cars.
I just bought this yesterday (21 Jan 2021) and only just saw this video. Great! To be honest, I my previous vans have been ford transits too. I love the way they drive. The only problem (apart from the rust) was the alternator. Your video did make me think though. Thanks for sharing.
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I ordered a new 2015 Transit Ford Transit Wagon we USE it . It’s been a very dependable and no problem buying another Transit .
4 cylinder?
repairvehicle twin turbo 310 hp. 3:31 rear end p traction leather FUN to drive Easier to get in and out than my 911 20 plus miles Check Ford Transit Owners for more reviews 🚗
@@loop1800mickey , I have thousands of comments from Ford owners and how many problems they have with their transit. For me to believe you don't have problems with your transit and you drive 911, sounds very fishy.
repairvehicle I am very happy with my Transit maybe good luck 🍀 or who knows . Just shared my experience . Wish You and yours the very Best 😃
My interest here is concerning the Transit for RV motorhomes. I thought about downsizing, currently using an A-class 2015 Jayco Precept 29UM built on a Ford F53 3-valve per cylinder 6.8L V10. It has been rock-solid reliable for 4.5 years and nearly 40,000 miles. This video cured me of the desire to "downsize" in quality.
The Sprinter and the Transit are light to medium duty vans. Good maybe for Expeditors, Fedes, Amazon, but not so much for RV'ing. These chassis are pushed to the breaking point on light duty drive trains. The Winnebago View is 11,000+ pounds, and many are pulling a tow car. The engine and transmissions are basically passenger car units. No surprise when they fail. Hard to beat a big V8 or V10 and a truck transmission for durability. Gas mileage savings for the diesels is a joke when you consider the massive maintenance bills on these Transits and Sprinters.
dont do it
I've seen that type of surface rust on my 04 ram turn into a fairly aggressive cancer. The fact you show the wheel wells without any wheel tubs and the AC lines there is alarming too. Lack of those again in my 04 ram caused my bedsides to rot out and it only had 80k miles .
Right not the driveshaft carrier bearing has a recall that every 30,000 miles you have to bring it into the dealer to have it change. the rust, like he is saying is bad, the frame has some "access hole" to reach frame bolts, well those holes are placed just in the way that water collects in there.
next, the transmission is not rated to work hard even if it is a 350 model, had to replace the trany at 120,000 miles and it cost $8000 to do so
Good review. Lot of problems with Promasters as well. I considered buying both. Went with a very low mileage 04 E350 instead. Way better build quality. I have zero intention of buying anything new ever.
Just seeing this for the first time, I was looking at a Transit yesterday, test drove a 50k transit, and a 39k transit, the driving was a huge difference but way out of my league... There was no way I was going to buy a 38k van and deal with the bad driving it did... It was doggy as hell.
So I test drove a Promaster today 159 and WHAT A DIFFERENCE. The engine was incredible! That rust is a huge deal... Doing vanlife soon and I can't thank you enough for this video, you saved me a lot of money!
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@Blind Squid all brands have major issues, they've worse than motorhomes HR, jayco effect
Even the DEF systems on sprinters fail at 120k
My friend bought a 2018 Ford transit diesel Benimar motor home only done 4500 kilometres and now it looks like he will need new injectors
The Dodge & Mercedes vans seem to be just as bad...we're running out of options:(
VW crafter mate... new one is awesome
Blind Squid
Make sure you change that CVT fluid every 30/40k miles. That’s the weakest part of those Nissan vans
It has regular automatic transmission, not CVT. No one use CVT transmission on heavy vehicles.
Had 3 Mercedes vans and all were reliable,economical and well made -you do have to pay the premium though....
I wish Toyota would make a cargo van based off the tundra.
Thank you!! I was considering purchasing a Ford Transit. I'm no longer considering buying one. Thanks for saving me time, money, and trouble.
No wonder the comuter messed up so fast!! Couldn't figure out why so manny problems
Thank you for this 👊
I think what you are talking about is a carrier bearing. Years back, long bed vehicles used these for the flexibility of the driveshaft. I guess now by deleting this saves $22.00 on the assembly line. And they want HOW MUCH? Your good friend Vinny in good old Fla.
This carrier bearing you speak of. Is that the bearing or universal that joins the two halves of a two piece drive shaft?
😧 can’t believe and i was ready to trade in my 2016 Suburban with ZERO issues just cuz i was looking for more space to go out Camping/Overlanding, but after seeing this I’ll keep using my state wide gym membership, and my shower tent when I’m out in nature. Also my Suburban is 2 inches lifted with 35 inches tires has 4x4 not AWD.
Thank you for pointing out those issues.
Thanks for the info. Ford van is off my list for a high top van. I wish Toyota would make a high top van.
Look into Nissan nv
Toyota got a nice full size van with a hi top in Australia.
@Blind Squid Why?
@Blind Squid Also, they have a 5yr/100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
They're kinda ugly, but with the truck front-end I suspect they'd be easier to work on. That is, if you can find a Nissan shop to work on it - I think it has to be a commercial dealer.
They do but not marketed in North America....a youtuber called Vandimonium(i think thats how its spelled made a camper van out of 1
Ford Econoline vans were rock solid reliable workhorses (now discontinued) and then they went to these ridiculously expensive transit vans. They should be ashamed of themselves.This van in particular looks almost to be a prototype model. Fit and Finish and vehicle engineering should not exist in this day and age with how expensive these vehicles are. Makes me furious.
Exactly! I really miss the 7.3.
you can still buy cutaway chassis with 7.3 gas
Ford still makes econolines but they're only for businesses.
I've got three Econolines two E350 with 6.0 diesel one with 231300 miles and another E150 with a 4.6 gas 27800 miles still runs like a champ
@@reneehudgins1964 those Econlines had their issues too. As far as the Transit, always wait before buying early on a new model. You're paying to be a test mule. Watch the forums to see if the 2020 refresh is any better, and resolved the issues.
The driveshaft part that was used in the recall fix.. has been recalled. Also, fuel pump recall. Just had those addressed last week. My 2015 transit has less than 65Kmiles on it..98% highway miles, and here's what's been fixed/not fixed: Slide door leak was an alignment issue, Ford had the van for 3.5 weeks (brought back twice because it was still leaking) until guy from the ford factory came down to fix it. Navigation/Radio/Entertainment head overheated after 1 hour of driving. Ford was never able to fix it, and it started 1,500mi before the warranty ran out, but I was on a 3K road trip. Never the less, they had the van for 4 weeks, and couldn't figure out how to fix it. During that same time, the passenger side dashboard rattles ridiculously loud at certain speeds. Had one of the service guys in the van on test drive to be sure he indeed heard it, and new it wasn't the glove box or anything else. NEVER FIGURED IT OUT. 4 weeks, handed me the keys as if they fixed the issues, and it wasn't until I was back on the road that I heard the dash rattle, and the radio overheat. I had a new stereo system installed thru a car audio specialist... but the dash still rattles over the music.
Before going on a road trip in Sept, I called about the drive shaft coupler. They told me I was fine. 2 weeks after my return, after almost 4K miles of driving, the recall for the first couple recall and the fuel pump notice comes.
Later in Sept, got on the highway, and the van started to sputter and cough, engine light comes flashing on.. turns out, ignition coil gone bad.
I will never buy another Ford. I had issues with Ford Fairmont in the 80s. Ford Ranger in the 90s. And now the Transit. Hondas and Toyotas I owned... ran them into the ground with over 300K.. and 15 years worth of driving and less garage time than the Transit currently. Can't get a Ford too 120K. Junk. Should have gotten the Mercedes.
Thank you for taking time and commenting about your experience
That sucks man, my father has one at 119k miles and the only issues were the fuel pump and driveshaft.
@@lethargicstove2024 good afternoon what was the issue with driveshaft you experienced was it a vibration noise at times??
@@vicguti843 yeah, at around 25 mph
I have a 2015 ford transit 250 and I agree with all of these statements. Where the water drains on the passenger side, it falls right on top of the engine air filter. The filter got soaked and the engine started sucking water through the pipes, luckily it did not make it all the way to the engine, but the it lost power and did not accelerate. Since it was still under warranty, the dealership covered $800 worth of labor. It happened again a second time, this time I did not have a warranty but I fixed the issue myself by letting the air filter drain overnight and putting aluminum foil on top of the air filter case so water is redirected somewhere else. I wish I had other vans that I can compare to, I’m sure no vehicle is perfect, but so far i’ve put 50k miles on mine and that’s the only major issue i’ve had. Thanks for sharing
Looks like 90% of what you showed us could be corrected with routine maintenance.
Looks like you didn't watch video without skipping
Wow, I was considering purchasing a Ford Transit. Thank you for sharing this.
I was considering buying one of these for Expediting, thank you for the info Sir
@Blind Squid so, if not sprinter, if not transit, what do you recommend for expediting?
Body on frame
@@kemalettingarip616a horse!!!!!
There are an awful lot of these being sold.
I think if someone doesn't need 4x4, a Nissan NV hightop, or breadtruck w/ a Cummins diesel, or maybe a box truck, would make an ideal vehicle to live out of.
Okay, I'm going to respond to somebody with a good bit of knowledge in the area of cargo vans. I have been using cargo vans for expedited freight nationwide and for the past few years primarily in the southeast.
The Ford Transit is widely considered to be the most cost-effective cargo van on the market. My current transit is a 2017 high top extended length van and it has 306K miles on it as we speak. 3.7 base engine, which is the one I recommend. The van was bought by a colleague of mine when it had only 80,000 miles on it and I bought it at 220k. Between 220k and 306k I have had one major failure - the transmission needed replacement at 250k, which honestly is all I expect out of a Ford transmission. I found a youth transmission with only 1200 miles on it, and between parts and labor it cost me roughly $2,500 to replace. I've also had I think a belt tensioner replaced at 240k, and the coolant reservoir at 230k. Other than that no repairs.
In comparison, I retired my Mercedes Sprinter at 500K miles when it was rear-ended. That van was still on its original engine, transmission, and rear end. But - from the time I purchased it at 210k, almost every month I was spending between $1,000 -1500 on miscellaneous repairs. it cost a fortune to keep that thing on the road. I absolutely loved it, but it was not cost effective. My colleagues with ProMaster Vans have fared even worse. The Pro Masters have an issue with the camshaft and lifters failing costing big bucks to replace. Transmissions also. And a whole host of other issues that seem to keep them off the road. Of these three choices, the Transit is definitely the top pick.
That being said, if you don't need such a large vehicle, the Chevy Express/ GMC Savana and Nissan NV are great choices as well. Those are virtually trouble-free but at the expense of fuel economy, And they are much smaller than the larger versions of the Transit, ProMaster, and Sprinter. If they're big enough to suit your needs though, go with one of those.
I am going to disagree with on camshaft failure lifters on promaster. It's same engine that it's being used in, every Chrysler, dodge, ram and jeep vehicles. None of them have this issue, I have looked at 300k miles promaster and they had zero engine repairs, except for water pump which normal maintenance item. Also, ford does not offer 3.7 anymore.
Sounds like not a good option in the market and will be a headache to go into a Van (any brand).
@@dawudgt That depends on your point of view. In some ways they are all viable options because you have to consider the amount of miles and work we're putting onto these things. The issue is you have to be able to make enough money in these vans to turn a profit that's acceptable considering the amount of work you put in plus the cost of buying and maintaining the vehicle.
The clear front runner in That respect is the transit. The Sprinter is The most comfortable to drive and the easiest to live with but the challenges of keeping one in good running and driving order are the highest.
Actually the best option if It's large enough to suit your purpose is the Nissan NV2500 or NV3500. They are as comfortable to drive as the sprinter and even better on maintenance and reliability than the Transit.
@@toyoracer33 thanks for your reply, I’ll check the Nissan. I want to convert into a mobile coffee shop.
Thanks again 🙏🏻
@@dawudgt for a mobile coffee shop you're probably going to want something much larger. That's something I'd actually recommend and extended Sprinter for. Since you won't be piling on the miles It would last you pretty much forever and you're really going to need the extra room. My two cents anyway.
Thanks for an awesome video! I am looking to buy one, but now I am not sure. The problem is that there are not many other options with medium or high roof.
Ford Transit vans have always been absolutely appalling rust traps that literally corrode everywhere, rapidly.
One would have thought that their new flagship model would have been better designed and built using high quality anti-corrosion inhibitors!
For the screen water to drain onto the main computer electrical connector is inexcusable!
Ford dealers were telling potential buyers about this issue with the Fiat Ducato/Citroën/Peugeot series vans when this fault appeared in them, though I doubt they'll be so honest this time.
The terrible door closing, paint scraping issue beggars belief too!
The poor quality oil deterioration will prematurely wear out the engine.
Thank you for this video.
Many Fords in general. My Explorer was a rusty mess underneath, as well as the front fenders. Super low kms on it too.
Wow I was going to buy a Storyteller on a ford chassis. Can you tell me more. Reasonings why NOT.
Chevy Express and GMC equivalent vans have been around for a long time and not many changes but also not a lot of bells and whistles or styling changes. Most are commercial so they are proven.
GM 6.0 engine is one solid engine, simple and reliable.
@@repairvehicle What about the 4.8L V8?
I don't think it's bad engine, don't know much about it. GM stopped making them long time ago.
@@repairvehicle No. I have a 4.8L and my cargo van is a 2017.
In pick up trucks they stopped using long time ago. Based on the information available, it is good engine as long as it's maintained. If older 5.7 was capable reaching 1 million miles without any engine repairs, I don't see why this engine cannot reach same mileage with high quality synthetic oil.
Wow, wow, wow. So many people in the comments have had so many problems with the Ford Transit. I own 3 Toyotas - 2 Tacomas and an Echo. All 3 of them are older than twenty years. I bought them all used. They all run fine. Just a few minor repairs over the years.
I just started looking at cargo vans for use as a camper van. Needless to say, all these problems are a BIG RED FLAG for the Ford Transit cargo van. Thank you to all the commenters and this video for WARNING all of us about the problems and defects. I'm sure many of us have been saved from making a BAD decision.
I drive a 2017 Transit daily at my job, it has been ok for the most part but it is quite obvious that it was built cheaply, as others have said if only Toyota manufactured these I would sell my step-son for one.
Why let the drains get that bad in the first place.? Just a little effort on your part will save headaches in the long run
Why didn't you watch video without skipping and then comment?
I think this must be a US problem I have bought 5or six transits since 2001 not had any of these issues. I suspect we pay slot more in Europe so get better build quality
The 2.2 tdci engine on transit from 2007 to 2012 is junk, many many engine broke!
Be careful with leaves clogging any windshield drainage system because on many vehicles if the leaves get down and clog, then the water may build up high in the system in a heavy rain and leak down the Heater blower vent right into under the foot wells causing mold in the jute padding under the carpet!
This is a big problem if parking under a tree all the time and or if there was a factory foam weather stripping between windshield and windshield cowl piece but is gone now because of old age or windshield replacement discarded it...
Because this allowed water but keeps large leaves from entering and clogging. it can be restored with home doors/windows foam self sticking weather stripping and some glue to make sure it stays in place.
I was on the edge. You convinced me not to buy Ford. Thank you. Leaves only the Promaster for me
STILL ENGINEERING TO FAIL. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME! I WAS VERY TEMPTED TO LOOK AT THE NEW 250 TRANSIT AWD. TEMPTED NO MORE!!!! AGAIN THANK YOU! IN 2002 MY FRIEND WAS A LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER FOR THEM. WE RODE HARLEYS TOGETHER. HE WHISPERED IN MY EAR. "YOUR EXPLODER HAS 116K MILES, GET RID OF IT, THE TRANS WILL FAIL AT THE 125-126K MILES, THEY ENGINEER TO FAIL!" I SHOULD HAVE TRUSTED HIS WORD, HE WAS SPOT ON. AT 125K TRANS FAILED.
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Thank you for the excellent video. There are a ton of van-lifer people that are trying to determine between the Ford transit, the ram pro master, and the Mercedes sprinter. Your channel may benefit from a very comprehensive comparison between these vehicles. Keep in mind, the Mercedes sprinter can only be serviced at a Mercedes dealership. And additionally the ram pro master has a piece of crap Fiat engine apparently
Sprinter can be serviced by any diesel truck service shops.
Thank you for posting your review. This is definitely making me rethink possibly purchasing the van as my work vehicle.
What you end up getting?
@@TechGod7 - Nothing yet. The prices of vehicles, especially trucks, were ridiculous. I have decided to wait until the bottom drops out of the used truck market, then I will buy a Ford F250 Super Duty.
@@donquijote6030 good luck.
@@TechGod7 - Indeed. We shall see what the future holds. ;)
Sure that Transit has some surface rust. But you could buy a Sprinter for twice the money and in a couple of years you get rust everywhere. Even big chunks of rust down the bodysides. Sprinters also have bolts that hold the wheels on. You need 3 hands to change a flat tire. At 2X the cost of a Transit. Mercedes dealers aren't excited to see you come in for service probably because you did not buy it there. Service will take a while so you better have a spare van to use.
I know a contractor who has sprinter van and has another vehicle as back up for his business.
Yep, all crap! Wish Toyota and Honda would get in the game.
I recently ordered a new AWD Transit . I would be concerned about quality if it werent for the fact that every fifteenth vehicle you see on the highway is a white Ford Transit. Must be something good about them for so many people to be using them.
McDonald's is around every corner, does it mean quality burgers?
I think that most people who drive/use vehicles don't really know much about them.
I once bought a used Ford Tempo. I did some basic observations of the engine soon after buying it. I noticed the throttle linkage had a chain that looked exactly like the stopper chain on my old bathroom sink. I practically died laughing!
Ford has designed an easily replaced driveshaft wafer connection. The computer is liquid cooled. Very advanced. The rust is really a weight saving process... LOL
Very good points. LoL
Todd just Todd more stolen technology
@Blind Squid LOL nah, I'm just being phucking silly. 😂
You must work in Marketing.
When I bought y 2015 Transit I noticed the wind shield water drain doing exactly what you demonstrated and I fixed it by drilling out and opening the drain hole because it had a plastic type screen to keep out dirt and hooked up a hose to that plastic nipple downspout leading below past the engine and exiting to the ground - no longer having water problems. As far as the rusting . . . my 2015 doesn't have any, I guess because I live in NC where it snows once a year so there is no salt hitting the under body. I guess if you had your Van's under body cleaned at a car wash you would not have such a severe rust problem. At this point I am to do the 100K van maintenance . . not looking forward to doing that. Love my Transit . . . Peace!!
Hi, can you please show me how to do it to protect our ford transit it’s a big help to fix this issue. Thank you and God Bless
spray hinder rust
25 years ago the Ford Transit Van (when I used them). Was the van to have. Short or long wheel base, they were the best by a mile. So sad to see what they have become.
Unfortunately I know the feeling. My 2013 F-150 with only 68,000 miles spent 11 weeks at the dealership garage and took over $5000 in repairs (covered by an extended warranty I’d purchased with the truck when new). The first thing I did when I got it back was trade it for a Toyota Tacoma.
You are just smart man. I did same thing with my 2013 F-150 80k miles, sold it and bought 1/4 million miles tundra. It drives million times better than my f150 was.
@@repairvehicle why did you sell the Toyota or are you still using it
same my 2019 f150 pos left me stranded on hwy on way to florida while towing my boat , no more ford for me ever...... toyota only @@repairvehicle
I heard that Ford was not a good buy but I didn't know why,
Now I know thanks to you, I am grateful to you, thanks.
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We have 2 at our company and both have constant transmission problems. Mines been in 3 times, first time at 60K they had to replace the entire transmission, second time at 90k more errors and shifting problems. Just got it back and it’s doing it again, not even 100k kilometers on it
You forgot to add that most of the fuel doors will break and you will have to replace them called "Housing Fuel Tank Filler Pip part # CK42-5427936-J 1X. The traction is terrible on the 350 cargo van, will get stuck on level ground if the least bit wet!
Thank you for sharing your experience
!!!!Thank You so much, I have been shopping for a van and I was considering a Ford. Wow Thanks for sharing 😱
check out the nissan nv, we love ours.
Get the Nissan nv
Yes-agreed! Thank you @repairvehicle for saving us!! 🙏
I have a 2017 Transit 350HD and don't have these issues, although I'm in the dry Southwest. A couple of poor design and workmanship things I have noticed are the silicone caulking in between the various panels literally melted in the hot Palm Springs sun and the gooey residue dripped down the side of the van. Also the passenger area seat mount design is awful and removing them is way more difficult than it should be.
Driving wise, the Transit is superior to the Mercedes Sprinter, especially if you get the Ecoboost engine. It has the torque and smooth power delivery of a diesel with the lower operating and repair costs of a gasoline engine.
I do have an 2016 transit 350 xlt 15 pass, and all what you said is happening to me,. I got it brand new and cost me 53k and i feel that is the worst invesment i ever made.. thank you for the video
Sir, thank you for sharing your experience. Please share this video with others via Facebook or any other ways. Thank you.
My step dad has an issue with something killing his battery. He’s replace the battery and alternator and dash light went off, only to come back on once he touches the gas. Then the battery gets drained again. Any ideas ?
Some kind of module/small computer failed and it’s causing it to drain battery. Also, relay can fail and cause battery to drain
I am glad I found this before I almost purchased one. I won't be buying one now for a large investment to have crumble away in a few years? Planned obsolescence to sell more new vehicles to pay unions.
Ive already got a mk7 jumbo on a 56 plate. Great work van for past 4 years. Im looking at doing a camper conversion. Wanted a mk8 jumbo. But after a few reviews think ive made my mind up on a Mk7 camper conversion.
My supplier who delivers right to my door bought a Mercedes van and it’s been in the 32 times in 3 years .Garbage .What about Nissan vans ???? I have a econoline and will keep it
Got 2021 high roof 350 very low mileage and got drive shaft problem 😆
Wow. I was looking to buy an RV based on this platform, and thought I should just maybe look into the Transit’s reliability. I’m so thankful that you made this video. Just saved me a $125,000 headache. I’ll spend a little more money and stick with the Mercedes Benz chassis RV!
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MERCEDES SPRINTER "OM647"
ONLY "MILLION MILE MOTOR" EVER BUILT!!!
I had a Ford Taurus once and one day, all of a sudden was smoke everywhere. Like you said "they build their vehicles to fail". Sir, from my experience and your experience, I would never buy anything Ford forever and ever amen.
I’ve got a 2017 with 36,000 miles, and it does not have any of the issues. This looks like a poorly maintained vehicle to me.
You just don't know it or don't want to admit.
I agree it is poorly maintained
@LTLX7000 if you had any clue you would have posted valuable comments, but you have except nonsense
Ford always did have a problem with rust. Rust remains a problem, when other manufacturers have mostly resolved the issue.
My friend just took his 2015 transit V6 turbo in for spark plugs $1400 he needed a new catalytic converter $3000 you can stick those new Ford transit up your Wazzu I’ll stick with my 86 Chevy G 10 if I need a set of spark plugs it cost me 20 bucks I put a new Exhaust on it with the flow master it cost me 300 bucks and yes the guy told me it needed a new catalytic converter it was an extra 30 bucks
I just finished reading every comment on here to date, all 685 of them, it was worth every minute. What a fiasco. I currently own a 2006 Chevy Express 3500. I made it into a camper, and I’ve been happily living in it for the last five years. Mechanically my Chevy has been a dream, but I really want to be able to stand up inside.
During this time of not having to pay rent, my bank account has grown and by the end of 2020 I should have enough cash to buy another van. I thought I had settled on a tall 19.5 foot long Ford Transit, but your video and all these corroborating disaster stories are certainly giving me pause.
Originally I was thinking of the Nissan NV, but moved on from it because it’s smaller than the American vans. It only comes in one length, which is 18 feet and it’s more narrow than its American counterparts. But from this comments section, it sounds like the Nissan is really the only choice for dependability. And I really like hearing about its chassis frame versus the Ford unibody construction. And I don’t care about gas mileage-I am WAY ahead in rent savings.
Can you advise which features to look for? I’m thinking a V-8 gas engine and whatever their beefiest model is, 350? 3500? Not sure what they call it. I wonder if there are other considerations? Again I’m interested in only the TALL Nissan NV, and i’ll be converting it into another camper.
EDIT: The Nissan NV is actually 20 feet long from bumper to bumper! But much of that length goes to the large engine compartment and passenger compartment so the cargo area is smaller.
That's an awesome comment! thank you so much for taking time and reading every comment. Nissan NV3500 is the their most HD and capable van in terms of payload and towing. Definitely go with V8, also make sure it has tow package if its not standard option.
repairvehicle Why do you recommend a tow package? Hey one other thing I should mention: my ultimate plan is to have the van converted to 4WD at a later date. Any thoughts on that topic?
As an aside, my son works for Amazon, and at one point their entire fleet was Nissan NV’s, they had about 35 vans. The drivers were mostly young people who abused those vehicles, but my son was very impressed with how well they held up despite the abuse!
What will you do with your Ford transit? Are you planning on selling it? Just curious! Thank you for posting this important video and your time in answering all of our questions!
@@spleerfloof , with tow package you get additional or bigger transmission cooler. Also, there might be engine oil cooler if doesn't come standard.
Any van can be converted to 4x4 if they half ton truck 4x4. Nissan vans uses same engine and transmission as titan. Ford vans uses f150 engine and transmission. Chevy van uses silverados engines and transmissions.
No plans to sell while its still under warranty.
@@spleerfloof , with extra weight added to the van, tow package will help keeping temperatures lower for engine oil and transmission and it will last longer if you drive a lot with the van.
@repairvehicle Great info on the tow package, makes sense. I want every advantage to help the next van last. Thanks again, new sub!
I guess i’ll just look into a newer chevy express. Any thoughts on the promaster?
For what purpose van will be used?
@@repairvehicle expediting
if you change fluids like that guy did and more often in transmission than factory says, then promaster can you get you 500k miles no problems.
That’s why they call it Ford ! > found on road dead < . That is a good footage for the buyer on Ford .👍
Coil pack bolts gets rusted at the bottom in the engine valve cover and will not come out to replace the coil pack, unless you ruined the insert. Also intermittent stalling with no DTC, changed fuel computer module twice and relays, worked for 3 days and it's not starting.
omg thank you for posting this! I was considering purchasing one of these
I read this to late 😢
My 2016 Ford transit connect has just blown the transmission for the third time since I bought it. The first time was covered by the warranty but the second time and now this time is coming out of my pocket.
Different vehicle entirely but same brand. Ford is in deep shit.
Thank you for the info. I was looking to buy one. You saved me a lot of problems.
I bought a 2015 transit 250 medium roof 130 inch wheelbase and mine is awesome. I haven’t had one problem.
Maybe what i consider general maintenance others may consider to be a hassle. The first month that I bought the truck I sprayed the entire bottom, inside doors and anywhere water could go, with fluid film. When I crawl under it now there is rust but it’s nothing like this?
Yes the water dripping on the ECU is stupid but they designed a tray to route the water away. I have to say that judging by the dirt and shit inside of your wiper tray you look like you take the thing off road. There were two pieces of foam inside of a plastic bag that is stuffed in the space there that I removed as prevention. I believe it was there for sound but I didn’t notice a difference.
I do have a TINY spot of rust along the door but nothing like yours. Back door hinges have a tiny bit of rust but almost unnoticeable.
I change my oil every 4 to 5000 miles on the motor is rocksolid and 50,000 miles. I just changed my brakes at 50,000 but it only needed pads in the rear which I thought was weird. The fronts are fine still. Yes the driveshaft coupling is a problem but you’re supposed to change it like every 25,000 or something. I had it done once and I took a day. I didn’t really care either way.
The only thing that I’m disappointed with and really pissed off about is how shitty my local dealer is. I’m not gonna get into the whole story here because it’s way to long but the basic outline is that I bought the truck without a radio(big mistake) and I wanted to add a radio later on. I need to buy the wiring harness and it turns out they make about 30 different versions. My dealer had no fucking clue how to figure out what I needed so they basically told me to screw. I called up Ford to get their help and find out what harness I needed and they told me they can’t help and I have to go through the dealer. So far I went to three different dealers and none of them could help me. I ended up taking apart my whole dash and figuring it out myself but it was a fucking nightmare. So anyway don’t try and save $500 on no radio because you plan on putting an aftermarket radio in later😂. I had to run speaker wire is everywhere to which was horrible
Do not use fluid film, it will cause your rubber components to swell up. Use hinder rust or NH oil, both are great products and I use on everything including f150 except for transit.
I’m lucky to have come across this review I was about to buy one of these at a cost of $54,000 NZ plus gst. I won’t be now thank you
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Thank you for this video! I was considering to buy this Van, but not anymore. Too much headaches, not worth unfortunately 😪.
my ford transit 350 transmission went out at 49k mile and no dealership in the entire city of LOS ANGELES can service it. THEY ARE TOO BUSY AND SOME SERVICE DEPTS WONT EVEN MAKE AN APPT FOR FORD TRANSMISSON. Dont buy one, save yourself.
What were you towing
I am looking a vans right now and was considering Ford Transit , but not after this !! Thank you so much for your vlog , hopefully you will trade to a better engineered van soon !!
I’ve been on the forums quite a bit... These things seem to last several hundred thousand miles without much issue. If you clean your vehicle weekly you won’t have rust issues. If you keep the drainage tray along the bottom edge of the window cleaned out occasionally it won’t plug up like that. This van has been poorly cared for... My last ecoboost engine had 150k miles on it, I changed the oil every 10-15k miles, I used Amsoil 5W30 in it. When I sold the vehicle it still ran like new! If things are adjusted, cleaned and serviced properly they last longer... If this thing is diluting oil his crank case ventilation system could be plugged... Looking at the condition of the van I would assume that’s exactly the issue. He is also using the motorcraft oil, Ford will put their synthetic blend in a vehicle unless you specify full synthetic. The volatility of synthetic blend and conventional oils is terrible, they will evaporate quickly and clog your pcv. Bottom line is, this vehicle has not been well cared for, changing the oil frequently is only part of the preventative maintenance required to ensure long vehicle life.
Thanks. I was thinking buying one myself, but not anymore.
I have an 2019 Ford Transit 350. I'm under 14,000 miles. I don't have any problems yet. Thanks for that eye opener. I'll keep an eye on those things you mentioned.
Thanks for commenting
hows the van still runnin and how many miles?
Mine is “better” than yours, man! It’s a 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4. Bought it new in September 2019, only have 2k+ miles in it now. After a week of ownership, I discovered rusty components on the seat hardwares, the steering metal components under the dash, and several suspension components (not sure how to upload photos for exhibit). Brought it to dealer’s attention and was told it’s fine. So I can exactly feel your pain!
Thank you for sharing.
I would of put the RAM and maybe the Fiat up there at the top of the range.
Very disappointing to hear about the RAM
@@jules4soni I both bought a Ram 2500 brand new in 2016 for my Landscaping business. My brother bought 2 new Ram 2500's and a 1500 for his Landscaping business. My transmission failed at 40K miles and was fixed under the factory warranty. It failed again at 60,023. 23 miles out of warranty. They did fixed it under warranty anyway. Less than a month later, I traded it for a 2020 GMC Sierra. One of his 2500 failed at 29k miles. His was fixed under the factory warranty and he got rid of both 2500's for two Tundras. The Tundra burns more gas and has a smaller bed but, it starts and go every single time. Ram is a no go.
You should see review of my first Toyota truck tundra, I bought it last year with 224k miles on it and everything on the truck is original.
You guys in these snowy cold climates are just out-of-luck when it comes to rust. The salt on the roads attacks EVERY vehicle in those areas regardless of manufacturer.