Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Ford Transit Connect problems

Owners filed 32 complaints about the 2013 Ford Transit Connect with NHTSA between Jan 2014 and Mar 2024. The most-cited component is power train (7).

Complaints
32
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train7
  2. Engine5
  3. Structure4
  4. Electrical system3
  5. Service brakes3
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  7. Exterior lighting2
  8. Vehicle speed control2
  9. Suspension1
  10. Latches/locks/linkages1
  11. Fuel/propulsion system1
  12. Seat belts1
  13. Wheels1
  14. Visibility/wiper1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20147
20153
20163
20171
20183
20195
20204
20210
20224
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

7 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“Transmission. I was driving down the road in my Ford transit going 65 miles an hour I I started to have major transmission problems from traffic slow down so I slow down with it down to 30 miles an hour after doing so traffic sped back up and I could not get out of third gear when I realized how fast I was going in third gear and it would not shift, I tried to slow down and then re-accelerate to see if it would shift when it shifted in the fourth gear it never left fourth gear and revs back to 8000 RPMs at that point the check engine light came on with the gear light in with the transmission light and I lost all power and I could only drive in second gear so I drove in second gear to the shop. Problem with transmission confirmed by independent shop.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2022Power trainODI 11473987

Engine

5 reports
“TAKATA RECALL - COOLING SYSTEM, OVERHEATING , DANGER - COULD CAUSE FIRE DUE TO OVER HEATING ! COOLANT LEVEL KEEPS DROPPING , NO WARNING !! ALWAYS WHILE DRIVING ! CAN'T GO FAR ! CAN'T DRIVE VEHICLE !!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2019EngineODI 11253278

Structure

4 reports
“The muffler split open most likely from a clog. Because of that, the exhaust was directed toward the floor of the truck instead of going out of the muffler. As a result, it burnt through the heat shield, the back of the truck, melted the wiring harness, and burned a hole straight through the fuel tank. A mechanic took out the fuel tank and when it was being dropped out fuel spilled everywhere and there was a hole in the side of the tank. Since the wiring harness was melted, there was no power and no fuel pump power. The safety of the driver was put at risk because the car could have easily started on fire, or the fuel tank could have blown up and injured the driver or worse.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2022Electrical system, Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11461601

Electrical system

3 reports
“Power transmission failure due to electrical issues. 63k miles only.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 12, 2023Power train, Electrical systemODI 11526579

Service brakes

3 reports1 crash
“THE REAR WHEEL ADJUSTERS ARE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED EVERY 15 TO 20 THOUSAND MILES MAINLY ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEELS. WE HAVE ONLY BEEN USING MOTORCRAFT PARTS. THE DRIVER COMPLAINS THAT THERE IS A GRINDING, CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY HAVE HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE ISSUE AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY ONLY SELL A LOT OF THEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2019Service brakesODI 11165789

Electronic stability control (esc)

3 reports
“I FOUND PULLING ON TO A 55 MPH HIGHWAY STARTING FROM A GRAVEL LOT, I ALLOW PLENTY OF SPACE FROM TRAFFIC AND, IF I GET THE SLIGHTEST WHEN SPIN, THE POWER DROPS AND I AM HALF IN TRAFFIC AND CAN'T MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE HAD CARS HONK AND WEAVE AROUND ME TO AVOID COLLISION. I MADE A GREAT DISTANCE TO BE SAFE AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY STALLING IN THE LANE. 4 SECONDS AT 60 MPH IS 352 FEET. IT GOES AWAY QUICK. OTHERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SNOW TRAPPING THE VAN IN PLACE. OTHERS HAVE PULLED FUSE 191 TO DISABLE ALL ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTIONS. YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN TRAFFIC. HAS NO-ONE CRASHED, OR BEEN KILLED BY THIS? FORD OFFERS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS DEATH TRAP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2018Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11141969
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.