FordTransit2020Overview/ford/transit/2020/base/

2020 Ford Transit

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Transit.

Body VANTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2020 Ford Transit is a van built around a 6-speed automatic transmission and EPA ratings of 20 city, 27 highway, and 22 combined mpg, a combination that has long defined the nameplate as a high-capacity work vehicle. That utility-focused profile, however, sits alongside a non-trivial reliability footprint: 82 owner complaints have been logged against the model year, with seats emerging as the most-cited problem area and 9 recalls issued over its life so far. Set against a 2001-2026 model complaint history that ranges from a low of 1 complaint in 2001 to a high of 188 in 2015, the 2020 lands squarely in the middle of the pack rather than at either extreme. For researchers, that middle position is itself the takeaway — the 2020 Transit is a representative data point in a nameplate whose reliability arc has been marked by sharp swings rather than steady improvement.

Model year202520242020

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy20/27/22 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.4 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height70.5 in
Wheelbase120.5 in
Curb weight3580 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 27 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Transit of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.70 sec — 2020 350 Crew EcoBoost Van (148WB HR)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020350 Crew EcoBoost Van (148WB HR) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.70 sec15.30 sec310 hpAWD
2017350 EcoBoost Van (148WB MR) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.80 sec15.30 sec310 hpRWD
2017350 XLT EcoBoost Wagon (12-pass 148WB MR) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V67.60 sec16.00 sec310 hpRWD
2015350 XLT EcoBoost Wagon (12-pass 148WB HR) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V67.50 sec15.90 sec310 hpRWD
2015150 XLT EcoBoost Wagon (10-pass 130WB MR) 3.5L Twin-Turbo V67.60 sec15.90 sec310 hpRWD
2015150 XL Diesel Van (148WB LR) 3.2L Turbo Diesel I-510.60 sec17.90 sec185 hpRWD
2015350 HD Diesel Van DRW (148WB HR) 3.2L Turbo Diesel I-512.50 sec18.70 sec185 hpRWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Ford Transit sits late in a generation that saw complaint and recall volumes peak sharply in 2015 (188 complaints, 26 recalls) and then decline steadily through 2018. By 2020, recalls dropped to 9—the lowest in the generation aside from the future 2026 model—but complaints rose to 82 from 55 in 2018, with seats accounting for 24 of those complaints. The year also records one investigation and three fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for these. This pattern suggests that while major recall campaigns have been largely resolved, some quality issues, particularly with seating, persist. Overall, the 2020 Transit represents a more mature and less recall-prone choice than earlier model years, but a buyer should carefully inspect the seats and electrical system given the complaint trends.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
177
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
82
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 82 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seats24
Power Train9
Unknown Or Other5
Electrical System5
Steering4
Wheels3
Service Brakes3
Back Over Prevention3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 9 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V978000Power Train:Driveline:DriveshaftReported 16/12/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Transit vehicles equipped with All Wheel Drive (AWD). The bolts that attach the rear driveshaft to the transfer case may become loose or damaged, which can result in… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driveshaft bolts. If any loose bolts are found, the driveshaft, attachment hardware, transfer case flange kit, and seal will also be replaced…

20V415000Air Bags:Side/WindowReported 17/07/2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and Transit vehicles. The affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser in the side curtain air bags which may result in the diffuser detaching from… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bag modules, free of charge. An interim letter notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed August 3…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 177 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 26-22262026-05-08Power TrainThis bulletin supersedes 26-2046. Reason For Update: update the parts list to change the…
SSM 547582026-04-20Vehicle Speed ControlSome 2020-2026 Transit vehicle customers may request vehicle speed to be limited. Speed…
SSM 547202026-04-02Electrical SystemVarious 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system…
25N122026-04-02Power TrainCustomer Satisfaction Program 25N12 Certain 2020-2025 Model Year Transit All-Wheel-Drive…
25N172026-03-25Unknown Or OtherAdvance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Transit. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 Transit have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Transit get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 27 highway / 22 combined mpg.