Ford Transit VO (2014-2026)
VerifiedAlso referred to as: Ford Transit VO 2025 and Ford Transit VO 2027.16 reviews
This is a review for a 2019 350L 6 speed auto FWD Transit. My boss bought the van new in 2020 for an AusPost run in rural NSW and I then bought it from her at 130,000kms when I took over the contract. Initially we both loved the van. Great to drive - comfortable, quiet, plenty of power, handled and drove like a big car. All the mod cons are… Read more
there - heated seats, heated windscreen and mirrors ( fantastic on winter mornings to de-ice the windscreen ), great view through high mounted rear camera, nice low seating position ( great for reaching letterboxes etc ). Fuel consumption was pretty good for a 2.5 tonne vehicle - 8 litres per 100 km on the highway, rising to 11.5 litres with the stop/start nature of the post run. Tyre and brake use is pretty high - front tyres last around 40,000kms, rears 50,000, and brake pads around 60,000kms - but that’s to be expected with a large van doing stop/start driving at highway speeds. Lots of design details are really well thought out like the way the rear barn doors fold back flat without the big metal stays of the Renault Master, and the 1001 storage pockets in the cabin. All up it was a revelation compared to previous vans (Hiace, iLoad, Master). It even looks pretty good, as far as vans go.
But then the problems started at 50,000kms with a wheel speed sensor intermittently putting the van into limp home mode. Not long after, a DPF sensor failed which meant the filter wasn’t doing a burn. Both annoying but minor issues fixed under warranty. Then the first of five CV joint failures. These are not covered by warranty and at $1000 each (fitted) more than just annoying - not just the cost but the time off the road and hassle of organising a rental etc. My neighbour has a Toyota Corolla with 400,000 on the clock and still has the original CV joints. The Transit on the other hand has now averaged 1 CV joint failure a year since 2020 - hopeless. Then the auto gearbox died at 150,000kms. Valve/solenoid failure apparently. Replaced under warranty, but was off the road for 6 weeks. Ford paid for some, but not all, of the rental van costs. Another CV joint failed at 190,000kms and the wet belt (timing belt) and accessory belt were replaced at 200,000kms (standard maintenance rather than failures, but $2,500.00 nevertheless - why not use a timing chain like every other diesel?). The van was then good until 240,000kms when the gearbox died again. It overheated the transmission oil and contaminated the valve/solenoids. Now out of warranty, it cost just under $5000 to fix and $2000 in rental van costs. None of that covered by Ford. It now drives beautifully again, but for how long?
If you’re going to build a commercial vehicle, make it tough enough to do the job. Surely? I own and run the van. I pay for the fuel, consumables like tyres and brakes and servicing, so there’s zero incentive for me to flog the thing. I service it by the book and treat it with respect. Two dead gearboxes and five CV joint failures is unacceptable. It could be that in lighter duty use, as a camper van etc that it’s a solid and reliable choice, but I definitely wouldn’t recommend testing that theory.
Great to drive, but unreliable in commercial use. NOT recommended
Purchased the brand new Ford Transit Custom Trend July 2024. Since then I have now driven to a Ford service dealer 11 times. Have had numerous issues and still can not resolve the main one being electrical. I have gone through 4 batteries as my van is draining power when it is parked. Once it was in for repair for 5.5 weeks. I have requested a… Read more
replacement vehicle through Ford and it has been rejected. Ford do not care about the customer. This is now with consumer affairs. Whatever you do buy another brand. You will be wasting your money and time dealing with Ford.
Not that thrilled – It's like these weren't even tested before they built them. Key gripes with my 2016 custom are - Stupidly wide door cards/doors. Good luck getting out of these in a parking space without some level of contortionism. Seatbelt alarm goes off when car is stationary for first 5min. Say goodbye to stopping somewhere to do some paperwork with the AC on… Read more
without some alarm screaming at you. No way to turn back interior light on or off. Van decides for you depending on whether the van is on or off. 2 batteries Wish I'd bought another hiace.
Newer transits are way better than old transits. 2016 Transit 410 is Amazing! – My transit 410 is easily the best van I have ever owned. It’s cheap to run, easy and cheap to fix, has room for days and drives like a small van. It’s often under rated by the vw or Mercedes cartel that try to say all the negative things. Yeah older transits had heaps of issues. This van has had zero. Show details
I was looking at buying a Transit, but no longer after seeing these reviews. I can't afford to get a loan to repair one – I think it is way overdue that everyone in this review space and anyone else with problems try a class action on Ford and or everyone show up at a Dealership who has problems, even if you have to tray truck your none working transit there in mass protest. They are dealing with you all on a one on one basis and you get nowhere. Time to start a… Read more
facebook page for these heaps of troubles. John Cadogan on Auto Expert may have done a review and he may be a place to contact also.
Best vehicle I have owned – Have owned my 2018 VO transit for over a year and put 60,000kms on it. Great fuel economy for a large van. Really good power from the turbo diesel engine, always had plenty of acceleration uphill. Comfortable sitting position. Auto gearbox if flawless. Plenty of room and storage compartments. Apple play as standard is a nice touch. Drives better than any 4x4 turntable diesel I have owned. Currently converting mine to a camper. Show details
Broken down for 2 Months - FORD hasnt even diagnosed the problem – Our 2017 regularly serviced work van wouldnt turn on after a work event. Couldnt get our equipment home. Had to tow to our local mechanic who said it was a Ford specific issue. Called every Ford service centre in a 400km radius and all had waits of 2-4 months. Spent $800 towing it to a service centre and they still have no diagnosis for us. No updates or call backs. Costing our business a fortune. NEVER again Ford.
Adaptive cruise control is dangerous – Just purchased a 2020.5 Ford Jumbo overall a decent van except for the adaptive cruise control have had near misses so far with the cruise control braking suddenly due to a car changing lanes in front off me with 3 to 5 car lengths distance. This on at least 2 occasions has caused the car behind me to either have to lock breaks up or swerve to… Read more
avoid rear ending me all off this was on the freeway at 110km hour. I visited 3 dealerships until I found someone who could change the settings to normal cruise control. Don't waste your money paying for adaptive cruise control. II have owned the van for 3 months and was at the point off either replacing the cruise control with a after market version or selling the van
Don't buy – I use this car for my business and besides the ad blue being a pain just found out my rotors need to be replaced at 42,000 kms $2,500 later not worth it. Asked Ford how long the new ones will last and said about the same amount of time. Show details
Don't do it to yourself – This is my 4th Transit, 1 VH, 2 VMs and now the VO, three bought new. I average about 2200km per week, the earlier vans have been pretty reliable apart from some egr valve problems with th VMs, wound up blanking them off and ignoring the warning light. The 2017 VO (dual rear jumbo) is a different story. Turbo at 133500km covered by warranty. Diff… Read more
at 225000km, just out of warranty and Ford would not come to the pparty even though a few months after I bought it the 5 yr unlimited km warranty was introduced. In a stunning display of technical incompetence the problem was mis-diagnosed by my local Ford dealer as a wheel bearing (I'm a mechanic and told them they were wrong but they wouldn't listen!) which was repaired at a cost of $1386 and the vehicle was annointed as good to go and returned to me in unserviceable and unsafe condition - I literally drove 100m and took it back, it wasn't what you'd call a subtle noise and the cause was blindingly obvious. Diff was rebuilt by Sunstate Gearbox & Diff for a further $3700. Now at 270000km another turbo failure, same as last time by the sound of it which was a sheared impeller spindle. This thing is sending me broke, after 16 years & 4 Transits I'll never own a Ford again.
Great van, terrible technology – 10,000 km 12 moinths Van and functional stuff is great Centre console is straight out of the *early* 2000s I'm 185cm, and can't reach the radio etc from the driving position SYNC technology SatNav is useless (prompts -after- the turn in city situtions) - now using phone and TomTom Voice control is laughable (but it doen't understand laughs… Read more
or swearing)
Radio is dangerous to use while driving (illogical controls)
Reverse camera cuts out if a call comes in!
Don't park on a slope - rear-up with <20% tank. Won't start!
There's much more - I wouldn't buy another one until it's fixed.
Not Happy Ford – I have enjoyed the two years of owning this vehicle. But at 70,000km, the clutch has gone including gear box. Ford Customer Fleet Care has not been helpful at all. I've been without my vehicle for 5 weeks and still waiting on parts. And with this being my work vehicle which I work out of every day, it becomes Very disturbing. I know we live in… Read more
North Queensland but we do have Daily Air Freight Services. I would not recommend a Ford due to lack of service from Customer Care plus the fact of it's age and such major problems at such low Km.
Disappointed With Gearbox – Gear selection problems vehicle into dealer Launceston TAS 5 days ago, feedback non existent on diagnosis, had to follow and chase them continuously. 5 days no parts ordered no decision made from ford Australia on warranty claim. Disappointed as this is a front line vehicle for our company. Come on dealer and Ford Australia get your act together. Simply not good enough! Show details
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Tyre wear due to fault Ford can't seam to detect – At just over 17000km I had to replace the front Tyres on my Jumbo Transit, the wear was down to the metal on the front tyres on the inside on the off side wheel and not far behind on the near side. The ford dealership I purchased it from are trying hard to correct the fault but Ford Australia don't seam able to help. I bought this van new in… Read more
good faith and feel gutted as it is off the road to much be analysed but to date there is no remedies , fixes from Ford.
I picked a Ford Transit jumbo for its economic value and load carrying rating. On the surface the fixed price servicing is good but after you have had problems you begin to wonder if it is at the cost of something else.
The van has a great potential but only if Ford get there finger out and do as there adds say and make people happy to own a Ford.
Mixed bag – In the first 12 months in the shop every other week was ready to put a match to it list while under warenty turbo,gear box, computer, just out of warranty did same thing lights on power down replaced wiring harnes ford played 80% of bill .at 375thousand pump &injectors $7500.00. Three clutches gearbox has just worn main bearing it is a 2008 jumbo just done 895000 motor is still strong Show details
New Ford Transit Custom Van, first 1000Km review – Hello, Got my new van on Thursday and a week later I've managed to put 1000Km on it. Now, I have to state this, the company I work was paying for it and it didn't have any major budget restriction, so even the high end Vito was considered. Let me start, I've always said I'd never buy a Ford, but, as I was looking around, it became clear this van… Read more
was the only one that would fit everything I needed in the short wheel base variant.
I've looked at the Transporter, which is my old van and I loved the engine, had the twin turbo diesel 2.5L and I would say it had plenty of power, put over 250,000Km in about 4 years and the only major problem was an oil leak which was fixed for about $1,000, BUT, as I said, I could not fit everything I wanted.
Looked at just about everything that was available, from the Toyota HiAce through the Mercedes Benz Vito.
What I ended up getting is the short wheel base with the City Pack option.
For starters, it is comfortable, just done a daily Sydney-Canberra-Sydney with a couple of jobs in the middle and my back is happy.
It has plenty of cup holders, I need to keep hydrated, so I drink lots of water, they're place handy and out of sunlight, so it doesn't get warm if you leave a few hours in the sun, unlike thew old Transporter.
If you buy this van, do yourself a favor and get the City Pack option, this will give you the rear view camera and the parking sensors, both front and back. They work very well and quite cleverly too, for example, the radio keeps playing until something gets in range, at this point the volume is muted so you can clearly hear the beeps from the sensors.
Hands free is the next important thing, I've been told from the other end of a phone call to a colleague that it sounded very clear, he asked twice if I was on hands free. Pairing is very quick, address book access is incredibly quick, I'm not sure if it downloaded the the full address book the first time, but all the contacts are there. The van is fitted with the SYNC type 1, small monochromatic display, the issue I have with this is that on a sunny day, wearing sunglasses and driving with the headlights on (Company safety requirement and mine...) is very hard to read, what makes it worst, the dimmer as shown on the Owner Manual is missing.... The dealer is inquiring as to how to increase the brightness.
Must say that the manual doesn't quite match what I have, really annoying.
When you can see the display, it is very easy to use, make phone calls, browse your address book, playing with the radio and so on.
This van also has a Customer Connection point, that is, a terminal block with +12V available to it, 60Amps fuse, which is great, it actually has provision for three connections of 60 Amps each, but only one is fitted with fuse and terminal block, what looks like a M6 stud.
And here's the big problem, if you blow the fuse you are in really big trouble as they are located under the driver seat, inside the Pre-Fuse control box which, amongst other things, looks like it is also the controller for the Twin battery system, YES, this van is fitted with TWO 80 Ah batteries! Great! one side effect is that, if you are in the middle of a phone call and you manage to stall the engine, did I mention you can only buy this van with a manual transmission? And you crank the engine again, the Radio/Hands free doesn't die but stays powered during the engine cranking and you don't miss that important phone call. Back to the fuses, they're the bolt on type 298 or 498 types, no blades, now you start to understand TROUBLE, they're located in a place you can't almost see, let alone reach to undo.
This is important for me as I need to add extra accessories, I'm still debating whether I should take the easy way and use the provided terminal and pray that the fuse never blows or go for one of the un-fitted slot, connecting directly to the Bus bar, much easier to access. You could also connect directly to one of the Batteries, but I fear this will mess up with the battery management system.
One of the system I work with, uses a similar type of twin battery arrangement and is quite sophisticated, so I'm not really going to do this unless I have to.
On the safety side of it this van is fitted with just about any xxx-control you can think of, ABS, Stability, swaying control etc., but something that is really great is the Emergency Assistance option, imagine this, you're driving on a rural road, not much traffic passing on the road, you have an accident and end up flying off the road and out of sight of traffic and you're critically injured (airbags deployed) unable to call for help, what happens then is the van waits 10 seconds for you to stop it, if you don't, it calls 000 and starts an automated message, part of it being your location as retrieved from your mobile phone GPS, after repeating the message a few times it opens the line to the cabin so the operator can try and talk to you. I think this is a great feature.
The engine seems fine, sluggish in the first 500Km, better after 1000Km, I am following the braking in recommendations, so I'm not really pushing it, but I can definitely see a big difference now.
Fuel consumption is also good, got down as low as 7.4L/100Km an when I refilled it, the Trip Computer indicated a range of 1170Km before refilling was needed!
So far, so good, will see after 10,000Km how's it going. Hopefully still good and hopefully I'd figure out the extra power outlet.
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