Recall 16V111 affects 48,990 2015-2016 Ford Transit vehicles for rear seat belt buckles vulnerable to impact damage. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 48,990 2015-2016 Transit vehicles with rear passenger seats under recall 16V111 because a heavy object can damage a rear seat belt buckle and keep it from latching or staying latched. An unlatched seat belt raises injury risk in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once Ford makes it available.
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What's wrong?
On 2015-2016 Ford Transit vehicles with rear passenger seats, the rear seat belt buckle is the latch that receives the metal tongue from the belt. When it works normally, the tongue slides into the buckle, locks with an audible click, and keeps the passenger restrained until the release button is pressed.
The problem starts when a heavy object, such as luggage or a toolbox, lands on or presses hard against the top of the buckle. That impact can push the buckle cover down or rotate it out of position. Once the cover shifts, it can push or break the small anti-rattle springs inside the buckle or interfere with the release button. The buckle then fails to latch fully or fails to stay latched.
Owners have a visible warning sign when the buckle cover shows damage. A passenger can also notice that the belt tongue will not go into the buckle, or that there is no click after the tongue is fully inserted.
Who's affected?
Applies across the 2015 and 2016 Transit model years, with the same rear seat-belt buckle assembly involved in each year.
| 2015 Ford Transit | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2016 Ford Transit | seat belt |
| Units affected | 48,990 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
An unlatched seat belt increases injury risk in a crash. Before driving, check that each buckle accepts the tongue and clicks into place. Visible buckle-cover damage, a tongue that will not insert, or no audible click means that seating position is not properly restrained. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2016 Ford Transit is included in this recall.
- Watch for Ford's owner letter if you have not received it, then contact a franchised Ford dealer once the free repair opens for your VIN.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions and reference recall number 16V111 when you call.
- Schedule the rear-seat-belt-buckle repair that fixes buckles that fail to latch or stay latched.
- Use another seating position for passengers if a rear seat belt buckle does not latch and stay latched.
What happens at the repair
Once Ford opens the dealer repair, a Ford technician will modify or replace the rear seat belt buckles, depending on where each buckle sits in the vehicle. The recall repair will be free, with parts and labor covered. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the original warranty program, not through a separate reimbursement program, because Ford says that warranty coverage provides a free repair for this concern. Ask the service desk how the warranty applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| February 23, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| February 23, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 25, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
| March 14, 2016 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 14, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 18, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V111?
Recall 16V111 covers 48,990 2015-2016 Ford Transit vehicles with rear passenger seats. Rear seat belt buckles can be damaged by heavy objects or impacts, which can keep the buckle from latching or staying latched. Ford dealers modify or replace the affected buckles for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2016 Ford Transit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 16V111. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer and reference Ford recall number 16S06. The dealer will modify or replace the affected rear seat belt buckles for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers will modify or replace the affected rear seat belt buckles free of charge, depending on where the buckles are located in the vehicle.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V111?
The safety risk is an unlatched rear seat belt during a crash. If the buckle does not latch or stay latched, the seated passenger loses the restraint protection the belt is meant to provide, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Watch for a rear seat belt buckle that does not click, does not hold the latch plate, or releases after it appears fastened. If a rear passenger belt shows those signs, stop using that seating position and ask a Ford dealer about recall 16V111.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V111000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V111 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V111000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →