NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera may show a distorted, inverted, or blank image when you shift into reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera at no cost.
This page covers 9 recalls, 21 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Ford Transit Connect.
22 mpg combined
10.7 L/100km
Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering and brakes are the two systems drawing the most owner attention on the 2018 Transit Connect. On the steering side, owners frequently report complete power steering failure without warning, typically requiring rack and pinion replacement, sometimes at relatively low mileage. Brake complaints describe caliper lockup on one or more wheels, with some owners noting the issue progresses from occasional sluggishness to a wheel that won't roll at all. A separate brake pattern involves the vehicle downshifting and decelerating aggressively when braking at highway speeds, something owners say started intermittently before becoming a regular occurrence. Visibility rounds out the top reported systems, though the complaint volume there is low enough that no clear symptom pattern emerges from the available reports.
21
Total Complaints
By System
The 2018 Ford Transit Connect has 9 recalls, the most serious being a panoramic roof panel that can detach while driving and become a road hazard, and a shifter cable bushing that can degrade and cause the vehicle to move in an unintended direction.
On the safety equipment side, the side curtain airbag fabric can tear during deployment, shortening the time the airbag stays inflated in a side impact. Certain vehicles with aftermarket Freedman Seating GO-ES seats have a seat back cushion that may not lock into the upright position and can move forward in a crash or hard stop, raising the risk of injury to the occupant. The windshield on some vehicles was not properly bonded to the body and can separate in a crash.
Three recalls cover rear visibility: the rearview camera can fail to display an image when shifting into reverse, display a distorted or inverted image, or show a blank screen, all of which reduce the driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera may show a distorted, inverted, or blank image when you shift into reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera at no cost.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software problem may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying when you shift into reverse, which violates Canadian requirements for rearview display during reversing.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will update your SYNC software to restore the rearview camera display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The panoramic roof panel may not be properly bonded to the vehicle body, which could cause it to detach while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove, clean, and reinstall the panoramic roof panel at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the shifter cable to the transmission can wear down or come loose, potentially affecting shift control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the worn bushing and install a protective cap over the cable bushing at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front windshield may not be securely bonded to the vehicle body, potentially allowing it to separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the windshield and remove and reinstall it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rubber bushing connecting the shifter cable to the transmission can wear down or come loose, potentially affecting gear selection.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing and install a protective cap at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The back seat cushion may not stay locked in place when rotated to upright position, especially during a crash or sudden stop.
What the fix does
Freedman Seating will provide a repair kit to secure the seat cushion in the upright position.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fabric in the side curtain airbag may tear when the airbag deploys, causing it to deflate faster than designed and not provide the protection it should during a side-impact crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both the driver and passenger side curtain airbags with new ones.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
