Ford · Known Issues
2017 Ford Transit Problems: 22 Known Issues
2017 model year · 7,270+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2017 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2017 model year · 7,270+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2017 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 7,270+ owner reports, the 2017 Ford Transit has 22 documented known issues, with 12 rated critical. The most serious are 3.5L EcoBoost Twin Turbocharger Failure ($1,200-$3,500 repair), Fuel Injector Failure and Rough Running (EcoBlue Diesel) ($300-$2,500 repair), 3.5L EcoBoost First-Gen Timing Chain Stretch and Rattle ($1,500-$4,500 repair), Front Brake Caliper Sticking / Premature Pad and Rotor Wear ($150-$900 repair), Body Control Module (BCM) Failure Causing Intermittent Electrical Gremlins ($300-$1,200 repair), PCM/ECM Software Calibration Causing Stall or No-Start After Refueling, Cooling System Degas Bottle (Coolant Reservoir) Cracking/Leak Leading to Overheating ($150-$600 repair), Rear Leaf Spring U-Bolt and Spring Pack Fatigue / Breakage ($350-$1,200 repair), 3.7L Ti-VCT Throttle Body Failure / Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Limp Mode ($350-$900 repair), Electric Power Steering (EPAS) Assist Loss / Steering Fault Warnings ($250-$3,200 repair), Brake Vacuum Pump Oil Leak / Reduced Brake Assist (3.5L EcoBoost & 3.7L) ($350-$1,100 repair) and Turbo Wastegate Actuator Sticking Causing Limp Mode ($200-$2,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Roof Water Leaks and Premature Rust - All Body Styles with 2,140 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $4,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Ford Transit vehicles. An inadequate amount of rear axle lubricant may cause rear axle tail bearing damage and seizure, which can result in wheel lock-up or driveshaft separation.
TIRES
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Transit vehicles equipped with the Transit Trail package. The tires may contact the front wheel arch liner and body flange, causing damage to the tires.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Transit vehicles equipped with a Transit Trail package. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) ground eyelet joint may experience corrosion, which can result in a loss of power steering assist.
STEERING:COLUMN
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Transit vehicles. The steering column intermediate shaft may have been secured to the steering gear pinion shaft with an incorrect bolt, which can result in the separation of steering components and cause a loss of steering control.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Transit vehicles. The front gross axle weight rating may be labeled incorrectly on the vehicle B-pillar label and the owner's manual label, which can result in an overloaded vehicle.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 7,270+ owner reports, the 2017 Ford Transit has 22 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: 3.5L EcoBoost Twin Turbocharger Failure, Fuel Injector Failure and Rough Running (EcoBlue Diesel), 3.5L EcoBoost First-Gen Timing Chain Stretch and Rattle. Of these, 12 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2017 Ford Transit has 22 known issues documented across 7,270+ owner reports. 12 issues are rated critical: 3.5L EcoBoost Twin Turbocharger Failure and Fuel Injector Failure and Rough Running (EcoBlue Diesel) and 3.5L EcoBoost First-Gen Timing Chain Stretch and Rattle and Front Brake Caliper Sticking / Premature Pad and Rotor Wear and Body Control Module (BCM) Failure Causing Intermittent Electrical Gremlins and PCM/ECM Software Calibration Causing Stall or No-Start After Refueling and Cooling System Degas Bottle (Coolant Reservoir) Cracking/Leak Leading to Overheating and Rear Leaf Spring U-Bolt and Spring Pack Fatigue / Breakage and 3.7L Ti-VCT Throttle Body Failure / Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Limp Mode and Electric Power Steering (EPAS) Assist Loss / Steering Fault Warnings and Brake Vacuum Pump Oil Leak / Reduced Brake Assist (3.5L EcoBoost & 3.7L) and Turbo Wastegate Actuator Sticking Causing Limp Mode. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Ford Transit issues range from $50 to $4,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, 3.5L EcoBoost Twin Turbocharger Failure, typically costs $1,200-$3,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The Ford Transit 350/350 HD with the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 experiences turbocharger failures from inadequate lubrication, carbon buildup in the turbo housings, wastegate actuator failure, and turbo bearing wear. OMS AutoParts and Autodoc document common Transit turbo… Repairs typically run $1,200-$3,500. Severity: high.
The 2017-2023 Ford Transit with the 2.0L EcoBlue diesel engine (available in some markets) and the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 experience fuel injector failures causing rough running, misfires, poor idle, reduced performance, and excessive smoke on cold start. Parkers UK documents an offici… Repairs typically run $300-$2,500. Severity: high.
The first-generation 3.5L EcoBoost (2011-2016) used in the 2015-2017 Ford Transit 350/350 HD with the twin-turbocharged V6 is known for premature timing chain stretch. The single-chain-per-bank design (two chains total) stretches as the links wear individually, causing the chain… Repairs typically run $1,500-$4,500. Severity: high.
Front brake calipers on the Ford Transit, especially the heavy-duty variants (350 and 350HD), are prone to sticking due to corrosion of the caliper slide pins and guide bolts. The high gross vehicle weight combined with stop-and-go commercial use accelerates heat buildup, which b… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: high.
Ford Transit BCMs, particularly on 2015–2019 models, have been reported to fail or develop software faults causing a wide array of seemingly unrelated electrical issues including random door lock cycling, instrument cluster malfunctions, and accessory power loss. Water intrusion… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: high.
Ford Transit owners, particularly those with the 3.5L EcoBoost and 3.7L V6, have reported stalling or no-start conditions immediately after refueling due to fuel vapor purge system calibration issues within the PCM. The evaporative emission canister purge valve and PCM calibratio… Severity: high.
NHTSA complaints and owner reports describe coolant loss from the plastic degas bottle/reservoir cracking or leaking at seams, causing low coolant warnings and overheating if not caught early. Heat cycling and plastic aging can lead to hairline cracks that only leak under pressur… Repairs typically run $150-$600. Severity: high.
Ford Transit rear leaf springs and their associated U-bolts have been reported to crack, fatigue, or break outright on high-roof and extended-length variants that are operated at or near maximum payload, particularly in commercial fleet service. The high static load combined with… Repairs typically run $350-$1,200. Severity: high.
Owners report sudden loss of power with a wrench light and reduced throttle response, often while cruising or accelerating. NHTSA complaints and Ford service information describe electronic throttle body internal faults (TPS/actuator) that can trigger ETC failsafe and limp mode o… Repairs typically run $350-$900. Severity: high.
NHTSA complaints include intermittent or sudden loss of power steering assist with warning messages, making the van difficult to steer at low speeds. Reports often describe the issue occurring after a restart, during parking maneuvers, or intermittently with electrical/communicat… Repairs typically run $250-$3,200. Severity: high.
Owner complaints and service reports document vacuum pump oil leaks that can reduce available brake assist and/or create oil seepage on the engine. The mechanical vacuum pump seals can leak, and in some cases vacuum output drops, leading to a harder brake pedal especially after r… Repairs typically run $350-$1,100. Severity: high.
The 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo Transit models experience wastegate actuator sticking, particularly on the passenger-side turbo. Carbon buildup and heat cycling cause the wastegate pivot to seize, resulting in either overboosting (wastegate stuck closed) or underboosting (stuck open… Repairs typically run $200-$2,500. Severity: high.
Ford Transit vans are well-known for water infiltration through the roof, particularly in medium-roof and high-roof configurations. Water intrudes through multiple paths: (1) factory roof plug holes (the 2015 roof has 16 plugged holes for optional roof rack and ancillary hardware… Repairs typically run $50-$3,500. Severity: medium.
Ford Transit models equipped with the 6R80 6-speed automatic transmission are prone to a torque converter clutch (TCC) shudder felt as a vibration or flutter between approximately 40–55 mph during light throttle cruise conditions. The issue is caused by degradation of the transmi… Repairs typically run $100-$1,800. Severity: medium.
Multiple Ford Transit owners and fleet operators have reported the instrument cluster exhibiting erratic speedometer behavior, gauge dropouts, and spontaneous warning light illumination without stored fault codes corresponding to the indicated faults. The issue is linked to a fau… Severity: medium.
NHTSA complaints and fleet/owner reports commonly cite the Transit sliding door becoming difficult to open/close, popping, grinding, or failing to latch. Wear in the center roller/hinge and track hardware can cause misalignment, especially on high-use cargo vans. The problem ofte… Repairs typically run $200-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The Ford Transit uses a twin I-beam or independent front suspension with radius arm bushings that are known to wear or crack prematurely, especially in high-mileage commercial fleets or when the vehicle is operated at or near maximum payload regularly. Worn bushings cause the fro… Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
Transits equipped with rear A/C (dual HVAC) have documented complaints of repeated refrigerant loss and poor cooling, often traced to leaks at rear A/C lines, fittings, or rear expansion valve connections. Corrosion, vibration, and seal degradation can lead to slow leaks that are… Repairs typically run $300-$1,800. Severity: medium.
Ford Transit vans experience premature alternator failure, often between 50,000-80,000 miles. The internal voltage regulator fails first, causing undercharging or overcharging conditions. Commercial Transit vans with aftermarket upfitter packages (extra lighting, inverters, refri… Repairs typically run $400-$1,000. Severity: medium.
The Ford Transit rear-wheel-drive models develop axle shaft oil seal leaks at the rear differential, allowing gear oil to weep past the axle seals onto the brake backing plates and brake shoes/pads. The leak is often slow enough to go unnoticed until a rear brake inspection revea… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.