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2015 ford Transit vs 2015 toyota Highlander

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-04-29 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
The 2015 Toyota Highlander edges ahead clearly on reliability data

2015 ford Transit

3.2/5
Reliability score
184 complaints
7 recalls (0 critical)
$11,950 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2015 toyota Highlander

3.7/5
Reliability score
184 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$12,300 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

If you're putting a gun to my head, I'd take the 2015 toyota Highlander. Reliability score's a solid 3.7 versus 3.2 on the 2015 ford Transit, and the complaint counts back it up — 184 versus 184. That's not noise, that's a real gap.

If you're leaning 2015 ford Transit, know what you're getting into on powertrain and engine. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than what the 2015 toyota Highlander sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2015 toyota Highlander? Watch the electrical and steering. The 2015 ford Transit has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2015 ford Transit
2015 toyota Highlander
powertrain
68 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
7 reports
severe · ~$2,500
electrical
16 reports
severe · ~$850
43 reports
severe · ~$850
steering
7 reports
moderate · ~$700
24 reports
severe · ~$700
engine
26 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
body
8 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
18 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
visibility
No reports
12 reports
severe · ~$350
cruise control
No reports
9 reports
severe · ~$600
lighting
No reports
9 reports
moderate · ~$250
brakes
6 reports
moderate · ~$450
No reports
airbags
No reports
6 reports
severe · ~$1,100

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2015 Ford Transit or the 2015 Toyota Highlander?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2015 Toyota Highlander comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.7 versus 3.2. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2015 Ford Transit?

Compared to the 2015 Toyota Highlander, the 2015 Ford Transit sees more reported issues in powertrain and engine. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2015 Toyota Highlander?

Compared to the 2015 Ford Transit, the 2015 Toyota Highlander has more complaints in electrical and steering. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2015 Ford Transit has more active recalls (7 vs 1). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $12,300 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary auto-generated from the data and reviewed by ASE-certified contributors. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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