Ford E-Transit Lemon Law

Ford recalled certain 2022–2025 E-Transit vans (NHTSA campaign 25V860, Ford reference 25SD9) because the left rear axle half shaft can partially disengage from the power drive unit. When that happens the van can suddenly lose drive power, and if the parking brake isn't set the vehicle can roll away — both serious safety hazards. The recall covers roughly 32,160 vehicles, and Ford has said the remedy was still under development when owners were first notified, leaving many vans waiting on a fix.

Beyond the axle recall, the E-Transit carries the growing pains common to a first-generation commercial EV. Fleet operators and owners have reported sudden or gradual loss of drive power and stalling, DC fast-charging faults and failures to charge, 12-volt and high-voltage battery problems, software and over-the-air update glitches, and SYNC and telematics issues — along with the usual build-quality complaints. For a work van that has to run a route every day, even one of these problems can pull the vehicle out of service for long stretches.

California's Lemon Law covers many business-owned and commercial vans. A vehicle used for business qualifies if its curb weight is under 10,000 pounds, and the business has five or fewer vehicles registered in California. Because the E-Transit is sold in several configurations with different weights, whether a particular van meets the curb-weight limit depends on how it is built and equipped — so eligibility should be confirmed with a case review rather than assumed. If your E-Transit keeps failing after repairs or sits in the shop for an extended time, it is worth having the specific vehicle looked at.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your E-Transit has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Ford E-Transit qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Ford pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.