Ford Transit Connect Recalls

The Ford Transit Connect has 46 recalls covering 2010 through 2022, with the most serious recent issue affecting 2019–2021 models where the shifter cable bushing on 2.5L-equipped vehicles can degrade or detach, leaving the transmission in a different gear than the shifter indicates and allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly when the driver exits.

The 2021 model year has an additional safety concern: the front passenger seat belt's automatic locking retractor can deactivate too early, preventing a child safety seat from being secured properly in a crash. On 2019–2020 models, frontal airbag modules on some vehicles are missing first-stage booster propellant, meaning the airbag will not deploy as intended in a crash. There is also a powertrain control module software issue on 2019–2020 vehicles where the engine's fail-safe cooling strategy activates too late during coolant loss, allowing the engine to overheat and raising the risk of fire. Prior repair attempts for this overheating issue on some 2019 vehicles did not fully resolve the problem, requiring a second fix. A separate start/stop accumulator issue on 2019–2020 models can cause transmission fluid to leak and eventually result in loss of transmission function.

The 2014–2019 generation carries a recurring panoramic roof concern: the glass panel on 2014–2019 models equipped with the optional Vista roof can separate from the vehicle while driving, becoming a road hazard. This issue was addressed in multiple rounds of repairs across 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2017–2019 model years. The 2016 and 2020 model years share a windshield adhesion defect where the glass can detach in a crash. On 2016–2017 models, the front seat belt pretensioners may not fire in a crash due to an incorrect chemical mixture in the initiator. The 2016 model year also has a brake hydraulic control unit that can be contaminated with metallic debris, degrading electronic stability control performance. Front door latches on 2014–2016 vehicles can crack and fail to hold the door closed while driving; prior repair attempts for this latch issue on the same year range did not fully resolve the problem for all vehicles. The 2014 model year has fuel line routing issues that can cause abrasion and fuel leaks near ignition sources, a panoramic roof bonding defect, upper seat belt anchor bolts that can loosen over time, and sliding cargo door panels that can separate while driving. On 2013–2015 models with the 1.6L turbocharged engine, running the engine with low coolant can crack the cylinder head and leak oil onto hot exhaust components, raising the risk of fire. The 2018 model year has a side curtain airbag that can tear during deployment, shortening its inflation duration, and an aftermarket seat cushion on modified vehicles that may not lock into the upright position under crash loads.

The 2015–2018 model years have a rearview camera that can display a distorted, inverted, or blank image in reverse, and the 2018–2022 range has a separate software issue that can cause the camera to show a blank image. The 2014–2015 instrument cluster can go completely dark, preventing the driver from seeing warning lights for tire pressure or airbag faults. Going back to the earliest production years, 2011–2012 models have wiper arms that can detach from the pivot, eliminating windshield clearing on that side.