2018 Ford TRANSIT CONNECT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford TRANSIT CONNECT has 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: have taken our vehicle to ford at least 12 times and have the extended warranty, they have said nothing is wrong with it. we bought brand new and have three sets of brake pad placed on the fron and two pairs on the rears.. we have gone through two sets of tires and the front drivers side is clicking.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

6 complaints

19%

• HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO FORD AT LEAST 12 TIMES AND HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY HAVE SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAVE THREE SETS OF BRAKE PAD PLACED ON THE FRON AND TWO PAIRS ON THE REARS.. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE IS CLICKING
• ABS light comes on as well as loss of traction control and hill assist. Steering is more difficult, and the speed ohmmeter will not work. This is the second time this has happen. First time mechanic replaced bad speed sensor on drivers' side front wheel and everything went back to normal it only had
• The contact owns a 2018 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, with the traction and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted; however, the failure recurred. The contact also stated that w

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

“HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO FORD AT LEAST 12 TIMES AND HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY HAVE SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAVE THREE SETS OF BRAKE PAD PLACED ON THE FRON AND TWO PAIRS ON THE REARS.. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE IS CLICKING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

5 complaints

16%

• Unexpected power steering failure while driving. Driver and surrounding vehicles at risk Ford Dealer has reproduced the problem but can't identify the cause There weren't any warning lamps or messages before failure I own two other Ford Transit Connect vans from 2018, each has had the same problem
• Power steering failure while driving Driver safety at risk as well as surrounding vehicles yes yes no warning lights, messages or other symptoms prior to failure
• Steering system failed while driving put driver at risk of crash. The problem still exists. It appears that the power steering rack has failed for the second time and will need to be replaced. There was no warning prior to failure

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

“Unexpected power steering failure while driving. Driver and surrounding vehicles at risk Ford Dealer has reproduced the problem but can't identify the cause There weren't any warning lamps or messages before failure I own two other Ford Transit Connect vans from 2018, each has had the same problem”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

13%

• My vehicle is less than 5 years old, 10 months out of warranty. The LOCKS stopped working. They made the noise, but no action. So, I thought the locks were still working. The dealership had no idea what the issue was - they've had my vehicle for almost a month trying to figure it out. So far the
• hello - this is not a safety issue with my car. for the moment. inputting the VIN it states that there is only 1 row of seats (D/P). this is not accurate. there are 3 seat rows in my van. (front x2, middle x3 and rear seats x2) total of 7 seats. thus this should be corrected for my VIN. if or when
• The transmission is having a shuddering issue, and looking online there on tons and tons of people having the same issue and stating it’s the torque converter and this is over many different years and variants of my vehicle… how is this not a recall yet?? People are having this issue right after pur

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

“My vehicle is less than 5 years old, 10 months out of warranty. The LOCKS stopped working. They made the noise, but no action. So, I thought the locks were still working. The dealership had no idea what the issue was - they've had my vehicle for almost a month trying to figure it out. So far the”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

3 complaints

• VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED (STANDARD EQUIPMENT, NOT AN OPTION) WITH AUTOMATIC FOLDING SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON DRIVERS DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR. SAFETY FAULT IS THAT VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN FOLDED POSITION. FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD'S CUSTOMER HOTLINE ARE CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOR
• I had been driving my car for a few minutes when I heard a loud pop and my rear window glass shattered. Covered in spider glass cracks and only held in place by the tint. No point of impact visible to show that it had been hit by an object. It was chilly, 43 F, and I had the heat/defrost on. Unfortu
• The contact owns a 2018 Ford Transit Connect. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V294000 (Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

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

“VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED (STANDARD EQUIPMENT, NOT AN OPTION) WITH AUTOMATIC FOLDING SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON DRIVERS DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR. SAFETY FAULT IS THAT VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN FOLDED POSITION. FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD'S CUSTOMER HOTLINE ARE CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

• Torque Converter failed. Confirmed by dealer service department. No warning indicators. Dealer repaired under warranty but it took 3 months from the first phone call. Looking online at user boards this should be a recall issue. I was told I could continue to drive it until parts came in and onl
• The contact owns a 2018 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, with the traction and ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted; however, the failure recurred. The contact also stated that w
• Driving at higher speeds when going to brake, the vehicle drops gears and slows agressively. It started to do this occasionally a couple of month ago, now it happens every other day.

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

“Torque Converter failed. Confirmed by dealer service department. No warning indicators. Dealer repaired under warranty but it took 3 months from the first phone call. Looking online at user boards this should be a recall issue. I was told I could continue to drive it until parts came in and onl”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 32 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO FORD AT LEAST 12 TIMES AND HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY HAVE SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. WE BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAVE THREE SETS OF BRAKE PAD PLACED ON THE FRON AND TWO PAIRS ON THE REARS.. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES AND THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE IS CLICKING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: Unexpected power steering failure while driving. Driver and surrounding vehicles at risk Ford Dealer has reproduced the problem but can't identify the cause There weren't any warning lamps or messages before failure I own two other Ford Transit Connect vans from 2018, each has had the same problem
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: My vehicle is less than 5 years old, 10 months out of warranty. The LOCKS stopped working. They made the noise, but no action. So, I thought the locks were still working. The dealership had no idea what the issue was - they've had my vehicle for almost a month trying to figure it out. So far the
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED (STANDARD EQUIPMENT, NOT AN OPTION) WITH AUTOMATIC FOLDING SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON DRIVERS DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR. SAFETY FAULT IS THAT VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN FOLDED POSITION. FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD'S CUSTOMER HOTLINE ARE CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)