Reliable Auto DB

2021 Ford Transit Connect reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2021 Ford Transit Connect has 8 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Transit Connect years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Gear position indicator, and Retractor.

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

8

Per year

1

Recalls

4

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (4 of 8), then Service brakes (3) and Engine (2).

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Transit Connect has 32 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2022 has 6 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

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 2021 Ford Transit Connect. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

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, 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 seat belts, front, retractor 2021-07-30 · NHTSA campaign 21V592000
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."
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.
Vehicles affected 42,493
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

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

Complaints by component (8 total)

Powertrain
4
Service brakes
3
Engine
2
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12022120232202442026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The transmission hasn't been working correctly for the last 2 years. It was constantly shifting incorrectly, lagging, stuttering, and making driving difficult. It finally just stopped in the middle of traffic and would…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-05-22
  • "Automatic braking system module System went out mid drive and Locked up the front right and back left brakes making vehicle immovable in the middle of the highway. Towed to a dealership where they had to remove and…"
    Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-05-22
  • "Rear window in hatch door spontaneously shattered while I was driving to work this morning."
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-03
  • "Two tires lock 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…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-01-27
  • "We have just passed 87,000 miles on our 2021 Ford Transit Connect and the transmission has had to be completely replaced. We were told at the transmission repair facility that ours was one of 4 2021 Ford Transit…"
    Powertrain · filed 2024-11-26

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Ford Transit Connect VAN FWD Not rated 4 stars 5 stars Not rated
2021 Ford Transit Connect WAGON FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 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 flex-fuel 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 24 27 25 MPG $2600
Transit Connect Van front-wheel drive 2.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 27 22 MPG $2950
Transit Connect Van front-wheel drive 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 2020 Ford Transit Connect Next year 2022 Ford Transit Connect See every Ford Transit Connect model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford Transit Connect reliable?

The 2021 Ford Transit Connect has 8 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Transit Connect years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Gear position indicator, and Retractor.

What are common problems with a 2021 Ford Transit Connect?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (4 of 8), then Service brakes (3) and Engine (2).

Is the 2021 Ford Transit Connect more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Transit Connect has 32 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2022 has 6 complaints, 0 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Ford Transit Connect been recalled?

The 2021 Ford Transit Connect has 4 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 2021 Ford Transit Connect?

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 2021 Ford Transit Connect with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Ford Transit Connect get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 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.