2018 Ford Transit Connect problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (5) · Visibility (2) · Vehicle Speed Control (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Transit Connect model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (6)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2025-09-03 · campaign 25V572000 · 1,456,417 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 202
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-06-27 · campaign 25V442000 · 200,237 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Visibility:fixed Panaramic Roof/Sky Light Assembly 2024-04-26 · campaign 24V294000 · 1,315 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Transit Connect vehicles. An improper bond may exist between the panoramic roof and the vehicle body, which can result in the panel detaching from the vehicle.
Risk: A roof panel that detaches while driving can create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will remove, clean, and reinstall the panoramic roof panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S29.
Power Train:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod 2022-06-10 · campaign 22V413000 · 2,925,968 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:shift Linkage/Cable/Rod 2021-05-24 · campaign 21V376000 · 192,080 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Seats 2019-03-22 · campaign 19V229000 · 776 vehicles
Defect: TransitWorks is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit, 2018 Ford Transit Connect, and 2016 Dodge Ram ProMaster vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman Seating GO-ES seats. When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion may not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Fix: TransitWorks has notified owners and instructed them to contact Freedman seats for a repair kit. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact Freedman Seating customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or TransitWorks customer service at 1-855-337-9543.
Service bulletins (63)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-20 · 25N15 S1 · Other
customer satisfaction program 25n15 - supplement #1 certain 2015-2019 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera inspection for one-time replacement
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-25 · 25N17 · Other
advance notice – customer satisfaction program 25n17 certain 2015-2025 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera replacement if required after dealer evaluation
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Electrical System 2025-11-26 · TSB 25-2570 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 24-2165 to update the tsb service procedure. some vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit various sync performance related concerns including but not limited to: display operation concerns navigation inoperative voice recognition concerns phone co
Power Train 2025-11-12 · SSM 54366 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2015-2021 ford and lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated mil with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0011, p0012, p0014, p0015, p0016, p0017, p0018, p0019, p0021, p0022, p0024 and/or p0025. pinpoint test hk in the powertrain control and emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) or in section 303-14 of th
Unknown Or Other 2025-05-10 · 24B47 S1 · Other
certain 2018-2024 model year various vehicles — update sync software
Showing the 6 most recent of 63 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-18 · Unknown Or Other“component affected: service brakes / abs module / hydraulic braking system description of safety defect: there is an active, intermittent, catastrophic failure in the front braking system/abs module causing the front brakes to completely lock up mid-transit while operating at high speeds (60+ mph). first incident (april 24, 2026): during operation…”
2026-01-27 · Service Brakes“one tire locks up gradually and then completely preventing the vehicle from being driven and causing damage to the other tires. the inability to drive the vehicle on the open road is very dangerous. there are no warning lamps. the vehicle may seem sluggish to accelerate. after towing to a service station, the abs module failed and this caused damag…”
2025-04-16 · Visibility“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. the contact stated that two dealers were made awar…”
2025-01-31 · Steering“power steering failed without warning. rack and pinion had to be replaced. you now have 5 complaints on this but still no investigation open. this is clearly a manufacturer defect. $2,700 to fix. vehicle only had 65,000 miles on it when it failed. …”
2025-01-31 · Service Brakes“abs brakes are locked up and only release after a few seconds. i have replaced the driver front caliper and now the passenger front is locking. after a quick search online, i have found several cases of the abs module malfunctioning on this vehicle requiring a new module and programming. the first time the driver side locked, there were no warning …”
2024-12-21 · Vehicle Speed Control · 170,000 mi“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. …”
2024-08-05 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:abs Warning Light · 114,000 mi“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 while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aw…”
2024-04-14 · Unknown Or Other“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 purchase? …”
2023-07-27 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch · 80,000 mi“the contact's company owns a 2018 ford transit connect. the contact stated that while an employee was driving at 30 mph, the rear driver side sliding door unintendedly opened. the employee could not shut the door due to a defective latch. the contact stated that a zip tie was used to secure the door. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the m…”
2023-06-29 · Vehicle Speed Control“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 around 6k miles on it. now it has around 7.5k on …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.