MODELYEARINDEX

Which Ford Transit Connect years to avoid

Across 11 scored model years, the 2016, 2014 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Ford Transit Connect Full report
F
Grade 2010–2020
2016 vs model median 2.1×
Model median3× median
Engine 10
Electrical 7
Body & Interior 6
Avoid

2014 · 2016

Best

2011 · 2012

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.07× 29 C
2011
0.48× 14 A
2012
0.84× 24 B
2013
0.86× 17 C
2014
1.34× 43 D
2015
1.30× 38 D
2016
2.14× 50 F
2017
0.47× 12 B
2018
0.44× 14 B
2019
1.06× 27 C
2020
1.00× 25 C

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2014 D 43 reports · median 23,000 mi

  1. Body & Interior 9

    Lower center counsel where the drivers right leg (just under knee) touches becomes extremely hot while running the heat on high at a 2-4 fan speed. Caused a 2nd degree burn that required medical attention. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Fuel System 8

    The easy fuel system leaks badly especially over 75 degrees. I can smell the strong odor of gasoline. In addition it set off the MIL light for the "small leak" in the evap system. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Lights & Visibility 5

    The contact owns a 2014 ford transit connect. When driving various speeds during rainy weather conditions, the driver side windshield wiper failed to clear the windshield. owner complaint filed with NHTSA
2016 F 50 reports · median 31,000 mi

  1. Engine 10

    The contact rented a 2016 ford transit connect. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and a chime sound alerted three times. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 7

    The contact owns a 2016 ford transit connect van. While driving 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the instrument panel went blank. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Body & Interior 6

    The contact owns a 2016 ford transit connect. The contact stated that on various occasions, while driving at various speeds, the brushed aluminum on the steering wheel and the plastic around the radio and vents… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

1 crash · 1 fire · 2 injuries

The best year for the Transit Connect

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2011 is the best-scoring Transit Connect model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 85.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2018 at 0.44× this model’s median, against 0.48× for 2011.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2011 0.48× 14 A
2012 0.84× 24 B
2018 0.44× 14 B

Recalls

30 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
22V413000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) 2013–2020 2,925,968
20V331000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2014–2016 2,147,323
16V643000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2014–2016 2,046,297
25V572000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2015–2018 1,456,417
17V209000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 2013–2015 208,584
25V442000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2018–2020 200,237
21V376000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) 2013–2020 192,080
15V406000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 2014, 2015 184,519
23V502000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2014–2016 112,225
15V005000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2014, 2015 54,543
22V192000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD 2016, 2020 39,720
10V316000 STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS 2010 33,728

+ 18 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 31,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Ford Transit Connect years should you avoid?
2016, 2014, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ford Transit Connect model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Ford Transit Connect?
2011 is the best-scoring Ford Transit Connect model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 85.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Ford Transit Connect have?
30 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Ford Transit Connect model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 Transit Connect
Complaints in window
50
Severity-weighted
76
Model median (weighted)
35
vs model median
2.14×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
10
Open investigations
0
Score 31.5 F