2021 Ford Transit connect problems
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van sold by Ford since 2002. Developed by Ford of Europe, the model line replaced sedan-based vans (Ford Escort and Ford Courier vans) with a dedicated commercial vehicle platform. The model line is the second-smallest vehicle of the Ford Transit range, slotted between the Ford Transit Courier LAV and the Ford Transit Custom LCV/MPV. In line with other Ford Transit variants, passenger-oriented models (in Europe) are marketed as the Ford Tourneo Connect with side windows and rear seats.
The first and second-generation Transit Connect has been imported to North America from the 2010 model year. To circumvent the 25% "chicken tax" on imported light trucks, all examples have been imported as passenger vans, with cargo vans converted to the intended configuration after their importation. In the region, the Transit Connect does not have a direct predecessor; the closest vehicle to its size was the standard-length Ford Aerostar cargo van, which ceased production in 1997.
The first-generation Transit Connect was assembled by Ford Otosan (Kocaeli, Turkey) along with Ford Romania (Craiova, Romania). For the second generation, Ford of Europe shifted production to its Ford Valencia Body and Assembly facility (Almussafes, Valencia, Spain). For 2022, a third generation of the Tourneo Connect was released; based on the Volkswagen Caddy, the model line is assembled by Volkswagen in Poland.
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Common 2021 Ford Transit connect problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Ford Transit Connect 2021, some common problems include issues with the power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication, shift linkage/cable/rod, and front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor. Here is a detailed breakdown of each problem:
- Power Train Issues: Owners have reported problems with the automatic transmission, gear position indication, and shift linkage/cable/rod. This issue can lead to degraded or detached bushings that attach the shifter cable to the transmission, affecting the vehicle's shifting capabilities.
- Automatic Transmission Problems: The automatic transmission in the 2021 Ford Transit Connect has been a concern for owners, with reports of issues related to gear shifting and power train functionality. These problems can impact the overall drivability and performance of the vehicle.
- Gear Position Indication: Complaints have surfaced regarding the gear position indication system in the 2021 Ford Transit Connect. Malfunctions in this system can lead to incorrect gear readings, potentially causing confusion for the driver and affecting the vehicle's operation.
- Shift Linkage/Cable/Rod: Issues with the shift linkage, cable, or rod have been reported by owners. These components are crucial for the proper operation of the transmission system, and any degradation or detachment can result in difficulties with shifting gears effectively.
- Front Passenger Seat Belt Automatic Locking Retractor: Problems with the front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor have been highlighted. Early deactivation of this safety feature can prevent the proper securing of child restraint systems, posing a safety risk for passengers.
These issues with the Ford Transit Connect 2021 can impact the vehicle's safety, performance, and overall driving experience. Owners experiencing any of these problems are advised to contact Ford customer service for assistance and to address these issues promptly to ensure the continued reliability and safety of their vehicles.
What is the most common problem with the Ford Transit Connect?
One of the most common problems with the Ford Transit Connect is transmission issues. The transmission is responsible for transferring power from the engine to the wheels and any problem with it can result in significant performance issues.
What is the transmission problem on the 2021 Ford Transit?
Issue: Some 2019-2021 Transit Connect vehicles built on or before 20-Dec-2021 and equipped with the 8F35 transmission may exhibit transmission slipping concerns, harsh engagements and various clutch diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Some vehicles may also have torque converter clutch DTCs.
What year did Ford Transit Connect avoid?
Among the Ford Transit Van years to avoid, as noted by MotorBiscuit, the 2015 model year stands out as the most problematic. Known for significant issues in its engine, transmission, and electronic systems, the 2015 Ford Transit Van has faced several recalls and numerous owner complaints.
What is the life expectancy of a Ford Transit Connect engine?
What is Ford Transit Connect lifespan? The estimated lifespan of a Ford Transit Connect is 157,000mi, before reaching the life expectancy upper limit. Fuel type is a major factor when looking into a vehicles lifespan/life expectancy.
What goes wrong with Ford Transit Connect?
The main Ford Transit Connect van problems are the Cambelt shredding its teeth. This results in the same effect as the Cambelt snapping, causing the piston valve damage resulting in head removal for investigation or a replacement engine being needed. Other common faults known are turbo failure.
What is the transmission problem on the 2021 Ford Transit?
Issue: Some 2019-2021 Transit Connect vehicles built on or before 20-Dec-2021 and equipped with the 8F35 transmission may exhibit transmission slipping concerns, harsh engagements and various clutch diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Some vehicles may also have torque converter clutch DTCs.
Why is Ford discontinuing the Transit Connect?
Automakers continued to ditch the small-van market in 2023. Ford ended Transit Connect sales in the U.S. "to reduce global manufacturing cost and complexity, alongside decreased demand for the compact van segment." Ram, General Motors, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz have also abandoned the segment.
What year did Ford Transit Connect avoid?
Among the Ford Transit Van years to avoid, as noted by MotorBiscuit, the 2015 model year stands out as the most problematic. Known for significant issues in its engine, transmission, and electronic systems, the 2015 Ford Transit Van has faced several recalls and numerous owner complaints.
2021 Ford Transit connect car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Transit connect problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Engine problems
- Visibility/wiper problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2021 Ford Transit connect vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2021 Ford Transit connect complaints
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2021 Ford Transit connect.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-11
- VIN: NM0GE9F27M1
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: My windshield is leaking and has been leaking since manufacturing. The windshield is flexing and is missing the adhesive along the top. Caused electrical damage to the car.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-10-06
- VIN: NM0LS7E25M1
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: This vehicle keeps flashing service engine soon light and malfunction indicator lamp. Dealer is keep saying that there are nothing to fix the issue. However, they have noted that it might be related to fueling hole and also fuel misfire. Dealer is not addressing the issue and on the manual page 99, it advises not to operate the vehicle when both lights flash together. However, dealer is not addressing the issue. Please help.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-02
- VIN: Nm0ge9g22m1
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: july2, 2022 Saturday, 4pm 2021 Ford transit connect titanium -Sudden unintended acceleration I was making a very slow (2-3mph) U-turn in an empty, very small strip mall parking lot with the brake being lightly pushed as I went around tight left turn. 3/4 thru the turn the van suddenly accelerated while I believe the brake pedal was still being pushed, I pushed the brake pedal down hard but the van continued to accelerate..it wouldn't slow down. The van jumped the curb and ran into a 4' square cement planter on the sidewalk, sliding the planter about 3 ft. forward. The whole sudden acceleration happened within about 3-5 seconds and was stopped by the cement planter, cutting off the engine. All front airbags were deployed. A few cuts and bruises from the airbags required no medical attention. No citations were issued by the police. The vehicle damage has been estimated at 27,000 and the insurance company is deciding whether to total it or repair it.
2021 Ford Transit connect recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 2021 Ford Transit connect.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
- Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Transit and 2021 Transit Connect vehicles. The front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt assembly, and replace the assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 30, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C18.
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2021 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
- Consequence: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, causing the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the underhood shifter cable bushing, and add a protective cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 29, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S24.
Negative 2021 Ford Transit connect car reviews
Positive 2021 Ford Transit connect car reviews
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Hi there! I'm so glad to hear that you've been enjoying your Titanium Long Wagon! It sounds like a great vehicle for a small family, and I'm happy to hear that the seats are comfortable and that there's plenty of cargo space when the seats are folded down. I can definitely understand your frustration with the cargo area being only 46
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We gave this car a five-star rating not because it's perfect, but because we absolutely love it! When we were shopping for a car, we had a lot to consider. My elderly mother was still alive at the time, and it was important to find a car that was easy for her to get in and out of. This car has a high roof and a low floor, which makes it perfect for her. We also have some children who are unusually tall for their ages, so we needed something that they could ride in comfortably, even when they reach their full height. Another thing that caught our attention was that a few years ago, Consumer Reports tested this car and found that its slalom time was far better than any other minivan. While it might seem odd to look for a minivan with an excellent slalom time, I can be a demanding driver, and my wife, who is a violinist, appreciates a sensitive response in the steering wheel. Overall, this car can fit a wide variety of people and satisfy even the most demanding drivers. As for imperfections, the paint quality isn't great. Black paint is more prone to scratches than other colors, and this car is no exception. However, we still love it and wouldn't trade it for anything else. We did some research and found that certain years of this car had poor reliability, but we also knew that Ford models tend to improve greatly in reliability over the course of the model cycle. Since this 2020 model is 6 years past the most recent major redesign and a year past the most recent minor redesign, we were confident that the reliability bugs would have been worked out, and that's been the case for us.Zero problems, except for the paint issue mentioned earlier. During our test drives, we tried out all three types of seats: leather, cloth, and vinyl. We found that the leather seats were definitely worth the extra cost. I've heard that they will be moving manufacturing to a different country after 2021. Whenever there's a new assembly operation, there's always a chance of mistakes when a new group of people start building the same thing, regardless of where it's moving from or to. All of this suggests that 2020 and 2021 would be the best years to buy. We really enjoy the driving experience and appreciate the fact that it can accommodate friends and family of all ages and sizes. (2022 Update: everything mentioned above remains unchanged in 2022)
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33,000 miles so far, with 0 issues. You'll be happy to know that I'm an easy driver, and have gotten as much as 34 mpg on the road without a/c, and 30 with. In town, I get 29 mpg, and 27 with. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it came with an amazing amount of standard features such as remote start, etc. I primarily use it as a work truck and for camping. Although it was a little bit bouncier than my previous Chrysler minivan, it has work truck suspension. Overall, I love it!
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We've been driving the 2020 Connect XL 2.0L Cargo for 3 years now and, while it hasn't been perfect, we've found ways to make it work for us. We did have some trouble with the windshield cracking twice in less than 4 months, which was a bit frustrating. As for the seats, they weren't our favorite, but we were able to improve them by using 50mm skateboard wheels under the front seat frame rails. This lifted the rear of the seat and moved it forward, making it more comfortable. Our main goal is to turn this van into a sports van by upgrading the suspension. We plan to upgrade parts like the Bilstein B6 Struts, Bilstein B6 shocks, Super-pro Volvo end links, Hardrace 28mm sway bar and Cobra coil springs. We also added 19'' Axe wheels with 245/40 Nokian tires, which made a big difference in the handling and performance of the van. We even added a drop in K&N air filter and performance NGK sparkplugs to give it an extra boost. We also added some personal touches, like diamond-tucked carbon fiber to the door panel blanks, as well as a custom dash cover and seat covers. Overall, we're happy with the van and it gets decent fuel economy at 24 City and 27 Highway.
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I recently traded in my beloved Ford C-Max for a Ford Transit Connect XLT. Although I miss the great gas mileage of my C-Max, the Transit Connect has the cargo space I need for larger items and all the comfort and features I've grown accustomed to, such as tire pressure monitoring, electric mirrors, and built-in navigation.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2021 Ford Transit connect problems:
Ford Transit Connect Recalls and Problems | 2nd Generation, 2014 ...
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View topic - Ford Transit Connect 2009 ECU problems
Ford Transit Connect 2009 ECU problems ... Post by scootsman » Fri Mar 19, 2021 6:23 ... I'm not saying that they're not right, just that it would be an unusual cause, for what seems to be a fairly common problem on the Connect.
Top 5 Problems Ford Transit Connect Van 2010-2013 1st ...
Jul 19, 2022 ... ... Ford Transit Connect, which you can find in model years 2010 to 2013! In this video, Sue points out some of the common problems with this ...
Other years of Ford Transit connect
Are you having problems with your 2021 Ford Transit connect?
Zander Beatty 2024-11-07
The power ratio of this vehicle is quite low, so it may struggle to maintain speeds of over 55mph on uphill grades when fully loaded. The interior feels quite basic, even with seats, and may remind you of a handyman's van. The suspension is not the best, so it's not recommended to take sharp turns as it may not hold the line without jerking. Due to the low set oversized windows, some passengers, especially kids, may feel a bit uneasy as they may end up in your lap in case of a collision. However, the vehicle has six seats, and the back row is a bit weird, which results in very little cargo space when the seats are set up. It's worth noting that some safety features that are common in most cars, such as a blindside warning system, are missing. Lastly, the slide doors are a bit awkward and may be difficult to use, so be careful when closing them to avoid any injuries.
Damon Trantow 2024-09-08
This vehicle can be a bit challenging to drive, especially on the highway. The transmission can feel a bit sluggish at times, but with some practice, it can be managed. One thing to note is that the AC turns off when you cut the vehicle off, so you may need to switch it off and on again to get it to blow. The windshield is quite large, which can be a bit overwhelming when facing the sun, but the sun visors do help to some extent. Overall, I understand that this vehicle may not be everyone's cup of tea, but with some adjustments, it can be a decent ride.
Carroll Stoltenberg 2024-07-23
Overall, this vehicle has performed below expectations. However, the fuel economy is particularly disappointing.
Selmer Friesen 2024-06-19
My company has provided me with this vehicle, but I would not recommend getting the vinyl seats. Regardless of which seats you choose, if you're 5'11
Elian Funk 2024-06-05
I purchased this vehicle brand new in 2019. Unfortunately, the rear camera stopped working after just two weeks. Additionally, the radio would lose all presets once a month. After two months, the car stopped downshifting when going uphill, and I had to manually shift down. The engine light would come on and indicate that the exhaust gas was not right. I took it to Ford and was charged $180.00, but they told me that nothing was wrong with it and to just keep driving it. I continued to experience these issues for two years, and every time I took it in for service, I complained. However, I was told that if I wanted them to look at it again, I would have to leave it with them for 2-3 months before they could even take a look. Eventually, the transmission stopped going in reverse and started shifting up and down erratically. I took it back to Ford, and after 2 months, they told me that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. They rebuilt it 5 times, then put in a new transmission. However, within a week, the instrument cluster started flashing on and off with a beeping noise every 30 seconds. The engine light still comes on, the radio loses presets every half hour, and there is a clunking noise coming from under the hood. The key fob doesn't work, and the backup camera is still not functioning. They denied the lemon law, and finally, after 9 months, they gave me a rental truck for 10 days. I believe that something is seriously wrong with this vehicle, and I may need to get a lawyer involved.