2018 Ford Transit: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Ford Transit: 14 recalls, 58 owner complaints and up to 16 mpg combined.
Recalls
14 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seats Vehicle recall #18V782000 · 2018 · 475 vehicles
What's wrong: National van builders, Inc. (national van) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford transit vehicles equipped with freedman go-es foldaway seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: National van will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began November 26, 2018.
Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V103000 · 2019 · 174 vehicles
What's wrong: The cardan (universal) joint on the front driveshaft May fail, possibly causing the front driveshaft to detach.
Why it matters: If the front driveshaft detaches from the vehicle, drive power will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash. The detached driveshaft May also create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash for following traffic.
The fix: Xl will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driveshaft with an updated one, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V332000 · 2019 · 90 vehicles
What's wrong: When the seat back cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Prime-time specialty vehicles has notified owners, and freedman dealers have inspected and repaired the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2018.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V205000 · 2019 · 471 vehicles
What's wrong: Quality van sales, Inc. (quality van) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford transit and e-350 vehicles modified to be equipped with freedman go-es foldaway seat back cushions. The seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 207, "seating systems."
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Quality van will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began March 21, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V229000 · 2019 · 776 vehicles
What's wrong: When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Transitworks has notified owners and instructed them to contact freedman seats for a repair kit. The recall began December 19, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V238000 · 2019 · 12 vehicles
What's wrong: When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Vantage has notified owners, instructing them to contact freedman for a repair kit, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V252000 · 2019 · 15 vehicles
What's wrong: Waldoch crafts, Inc. (waldoch) is recalling certain 2018 Ford transit shuttle vans modified to be equipped with freedman go-es foldaway seats, part number 43705. When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Waldoch will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began September 25, 2020.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V247000 · 2019 · 4 vehicles
What's wrong: Cabot coach builders, Inc. dba royale limousine (royale) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford transit-based MINI-coaches equipped with freedman go-es foldaway seats recalled under 18e-076. When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Royale will notify owners and dealers will inspect and repair the seat. The recall began June 6, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V313000 · 2019 · 2,080 vehicles
What's wrong: When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Mobilitytrans will notify owners and freedman seating dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began May 19, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V329000 · 2019 · 360 vehicles
What's wrong: Fenton mobility products, Inc. (fenton mobility) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford transit vehicles modified to be equipped with freedman go-es foldaway seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Fenton mobility will notify owners, and a fenton mobility technician will repair the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V333000 · 2019 · 544 vehicles
What's wrong: When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion May not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The fix: New england has notified owners, directing them to contact freedman for repairs to the foldaway seats, free of charge. The recall began May 27, 2019.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #19V439000 · 2019 · 15 vehicles
What's wrong: La west Inc. (la west) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ford transit vehicles modified to be equipped with glass roof hatches. Temperature and vibration stresses May cause the tempered glass roof hatch to shatter.
Why it matters: If the tempered glass roof hatch shatters, glass fragments May fall onto passengers, increasing the risk of an injury.
The fix: La west will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hatch lids, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2019.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #21V631000 · 2021 · 30 vehicles
What's wrong: An incorrect driveshaft torsional damper service kit May have been installed, which can allow the damper shield to contact the parking brake cable, possibly resulting in parking brake failure.
Why it matters: Parking brake failure can result in unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side parking brake cable with a cable that provides sufficient clearance to the damper shield, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 24, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #25V572000 · 2025 · 1,456,417 vehicles
What's wrong: The rearview camera May display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Why it matters: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (14): the most common themes are warning light on (6), leaks (4), electrical failure (2).
- Other / unknown (12): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (12): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (4), noise or vibration (2), stalls / loses power (2).
- Electrical (9): the most common themes are electrical failure (3), warning light on (2).
The 2018 Ford Transit has 58 owner complaints, ranking #6 of 15 Transit model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 52). Complaints peaked in 2023 (10 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 44,820 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (98 complaints, 18 recalls), 2019 (37 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 18 | 16 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Ford Transit.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Ford Transit have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 14 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Ford Transit. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Ford Transit problems?
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (14), other / unknown (12), transmission & drivetrain (12).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Ford Transit get?
EPA ratings run up to 16 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Ford Transit repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.