Reliable Auto DB

2020 Ford Transit Connect reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Ford Transit Connect holds 32 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Transit Connect years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 8 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Transmission control module, and Gear position indicator.

2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon Titanium LWB
Photo by Mr.choppers, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

32

Per year

4

Recalls

8

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (10 of 32), then Service brakes (4) and Visibility (4). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 17,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 9,000 and 53,894 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 2 that report a fire.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Transit Connect has 51 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2021 has 8 complaints, 1 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 Ford Transit Connect. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (8)

Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Vehicles affected 200,237
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, transmission control module 2025-03-28 · NHTSA campaign 25V196000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V-636. The powertrain control module (PCM) software has fail-safe temperature threshold values higher than intended for the engine. This may delay engine cooling and result in engine overheating.
Remedy Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 21, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S32.
Vehicles affected 152
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, gear position indicator 2022-06-10 · NHTSA campaign 22V413000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 2,925,968
Recall visibility, windshield 2022-03-25 · NHTSA campaign 22V192000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 and 2020 Transit Connect vehicles. The front windshield may have been manufactured with inadequate adhesion to the vehicle body structure.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the windshield and, if necessary, remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S20.
Vehicles affected 39,720
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, gear position indicator 2021-05-24 · NHTSA campaign 21V376000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 192,080
Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2020-12-17 · NHTSA campaign 20V791000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 EcoSport and 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles. Depending on the model, either the driver side or passenger side frontal air bag modules are missing the first-stage booster propellant and sleeve. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag module on either the driver or passenger side, free of charge. This recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C26.
Vehicles affected 12
Recall engine and cooling, cooling system 2020-10-15 · NHTSA campaign 20V636000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The powertrain control module (PCM) software has fail-safe temperature threshold values higher than intended for the engine. This may delay the fail-safe cooling strategy in the event of coolant loss and result in engine overheating.
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S60.
Vehicles affected 2,903
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2020-09-10 · NHTSA campaign 20V550000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S49.
Vehicles affected 97

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (32 total)

Powertrain
10
Service brakes
4
Visibility
4
Forward collision avoidance
3
Engine
2
Hydraulic brakes
2
Speed control
2
Air bags
1
Back-over prevention
1
Electrical system
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Lane departure
1
Steering
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Of the 14 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 17,000 miles. The middle half fall between 9,000 and 53,894 miles.

Complaints filed per year

12019420206202232023620247202552026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while attempting to pull into a parking lot, the brakes locked up. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that several attempts…"
    Hydraulic brakes · filed 2026-09-01
  • "Intermittent Electronic issues are: 1) Rear view backup camera malfunction. Works sporadically. Camera some times clear as bell, and stays on when in drive moving forward. Other days camera fails to blue screen, then…"
    Electrical system, Back-over prevention · filed 2026-07-21
  • "The windsheild is not properly sealed. It has caused water to leak into the vehicle. The water leaking in has caused electrical problems with the radio and backup camera. Also causing mold inside the vehicle."
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-05-13
  • "ABS Hydraulic control unit pump malfunction. vehicles brakes locked up on the highway and could of caused an accident. this is a known and common issue with these vans. this type of thing shouldnt happen my vehicle has…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-04-29
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while driving in a rainstorm, rainwater poured into the vehicle from the front passenger’s side windshield. The vehicle was taken to the local…"
    Visibility · filed 2026-04-17

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Ford Transit Connect VAN FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2020 Ford Transit Connect WAGON FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Transit Connect USPS 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 27 22 MPG $2950
Transit Connect Van two-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 27 22 MPG $2950
Transit Connect Van two-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 27 25 MPG $2600
Transit Connect Van flex-fuel 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 27 25 MPG $2600
Transit Connect Wagon LWB flex-fuel 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 29 26 MPG $2500
Transit Connect Wagon LWB front-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 26 22 MPG $2950
Transit Connect Wagon LWB front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 29 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

2nd-generation (US market), 2014–2023
Body styles Cargo van, Passenger wagon
Oil 5W-20 (1.6L EcoBoost, 2.0L and 2.5L) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R16 (XL/XLT/Titanium) or 215/50R17 (Titanium option)

Known issues for this generation

Safety recall 21S24 (NHTSA 21V-376) affects certain 2013-2021 Transit Connect vans with the 2.5L engine, on which the bushing attaching the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade or detach. A damaged or missing bushing may keep the van from shifting into the intended gear, so it can move in an unexpected direction, and it may roll away after the driver selects Park; Ford's dealers replace the underhood shifter cable bushing and add a protective cap free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 29, 2021.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Ford Transit Connect Next year 2021 Ford Transit Connect See every Ford Transit Connect model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Ford Transit Connect reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Ford Transit Connect holds 32 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Transit Connect years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 8 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Transmission control module, and Gear position indicator.

What are common problems with a 2020 Ford Transit Connect?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (10 of 32), then Service brakes (4) and Visibility (4). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 17,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 9,000 and 53,894 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 2 that report a fire.

Is the 2020 Ford Transit Connect more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Transit Connect has 51 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2021 has 8 complaints, 1 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Ford Transit Connect been recalled?

The 2020 Ford Transit Connect has 8 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Ford Transit Connect?

Owners have filed 32 complaints about the 2020 Ford Transit Connect with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Ford Transit Connect get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Ford Transit Connect is 24 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

When did the Ford Transit Connect stop being sold in the US?

Ford ended US and Canadian Transit Connect sales after the 2023 model year; production stopped in December 2023, though the model continues in Europe.

Could the first Ford Transit Connect tow a trailer?

No. Ford's own owner's manual for the 2010-2013 model years states the vehicle is not equipped to tow and no towing package was available.