2013 Ford TRANSIT CONNECT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford TRANSIT CONNECT has 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford transit connect. the contact stated that while driving at 20 mph, the automatic transmission failed. the contact stated that the transmission failure caused the vehicle to move from the drive gear to neutral without the shift interlock button being depressed. the veh.

2 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FROM THE DRIVE GEAR TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK BUTTON BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEH
• I PURCHASED A 2013 TRANSIT CONNECT FROM A FORD DEALER THIS FALL. STILL UNDER FORD WARRANTY AND PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH FORD. TODAY WE GOT OUR FIRST SNOW AND WHILE DRIVING THE TCS KICKED IN AND BASICALLY DISABLED THE VEHICLE. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE, SO WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FROM THE DRIVE GEAR TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK BUTTON BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

5 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEATER ON AND IT BLEW COOL AIR. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENG
• MY TRANSIT'S GAUGE WENT TO HOT VERY QUICKLY, I CHECKED THE COOLANT AND IT WAS EMPTY. IT WAS FULL A MONTH AGO. I ADDED COOLANT AND THE GAUGE STILL WENT TO HOT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD MY MECHAN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE COOLING GAUGE WENT TO HOT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT COOLANT NEEDED TO BE ADDED. THE CONTACT CALLED DAVIDSON FORD (18621 US-11, WATERTOWN, NY 13601, (315) 873-33

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEATER ON AND IT BLEW COOL AIR. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

4 complaints

11%

• AS A BUSINESS WE OWN (2) FORD TRANSIT 2013 VEHICLES. BOTH THESE VEHICLES HAD LARGE CRACKS TO APPEAR IN WINDSHIELDS WITH NO REASON. WHEN THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAD EXPERIENCED COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE BUT HAD NO RECALL ON FILE AND THEREFORE HAD NO OTHER RESPONSE.
• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I AM GOING AT A SLOW OR FAST SPEED, THE DOOR-AJAR NOTIFICATION LIGHT MAY RANDOMLY TURN ON AND STAY ON. SOMETIMES IT WILL TURN ON WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK, EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF
• MY TRANSIT IS ONLY 7 YEAR OLD AND THE CHASIS LOOK REALLY BAD THERE IS A LOT OF RUST IN ALL CHASIS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AS A BUSINESS WE OWN (2) FORD TRANSIT 2013 VEHICLES. BOTH THESE VEHICLES HAD LARGE CRACKS TO APPEAR IN WINDSHIELDS WITH NO REASON. WHEN THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAD EXPERIENCED COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE BUT HAD NO RECALL ON FILE AND THEREFORE HAD NO OTHER RESPONSE. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

3 complaints

• IN 45 MPH HIGHWAY THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AT THE STOP SIGN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE SECTION TOTLING THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
• VEHICLE STOPS WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, THEN MOVES FORWARD WHILE BRAKE PEDAL IS HELD DOWN. VEHICLE THEM MOVES FORWARD ON ITS OWN,AGAIN, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL PEDAL PRESSURE UNTIL PEDAL NEARLY AT FLOOR. NUMEROUS DRIVERS IN THE OFFICE HAVE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS RET
• 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 HAV

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“IN 45 MPH HIGHWAY THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AT THE STOP SIGN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE SECTION TOTLING THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

• THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH WITH A BAD WIRING HARNESS, THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A KNOWN SERVICE ISSUE YET FORD DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR FIXING IT. THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHEN THEY MAY GET THE REQUIRED PART. *TR
• 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 ta
• Power transmission failure due to electrical issues. 63k miles only.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH WITH A BAD WIRING HARNESS, THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS A KNOWN SERVICE ISSUE YET FORD DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR FIXING IT. THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHEN THEY MAY GET THE REQUIRED PART. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 38 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FROM THE DRIVE GEAR TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK BUTTON BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE HEATER ON AND IT BLEW COOL AIR. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: AS A BUSINESS WE OWN (2) FORD TRANSIT 2013 VEHICLES. BOTH THESE VEHICLES HAD LARGE CRACKS TO APPEAR IN WINDSHIELDS WITH NO REASON. WHEN THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAD EXPERIENCED COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE BUT HAD NO RECALL ON FILE AND THEREFORE HAD NO OTHER RESPONSE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: IN 45 MPH HIGHWAY THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AT THE STOP SIGN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CROSS THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE SECTION TOTLING THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)