2013 Ford Transit Connect Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Transit Connect years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 2 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Transit Connect. That ranks 6th out of 14 Transit Connect model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (7 complaints, 22%), typically at around 37,500 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 32owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Ford Transit Connect problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 7 | 22% | 37,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 16% | 35,350 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 13% | 92,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 9% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 9% | 15,800 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 9% | 68,158 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 6% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 6% | 21,600 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 6% | 43,453 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | 4,100 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Ford Transit Connect recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:shift linkage/cable/rod; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: 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; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
Risk: If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017. The recall began on January 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S09.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Fix: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The Front Suspension Subframe Crossmember had rusted though and the front tires become out of alignment SUDDENLY causing the vehicle to veer of course. The vehicle is then disabled and must be towed and the Front Suspension Subframe Crossmember has to be replaced.
Power transmission failure due to electrical issues. 63k miles only.
Transmission. I was driving down the road in my Ford transit going 65 miles an hour I I started to have major transmission problems from traffic slow down so I slow down with it down to 30 miles an hour after doing so traffic sped back up and I could not get out of third gear when I realized how…
The Transit was parked on a slope and was in "Park", but it rolled back down the slope and hit a parked car.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the front driverâs side door was unlatched independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the front driverâs side door also failed to latch. The contact called the…
Other Ford Transit Connect years
← 2012 Transit Connect · 2014 Transit Connect →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Transit Connect | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 Transit Connect | 6 | 1 |
| 2021 Transit Connect | 10 | 4 |
| 2020 Transit Connect | 32 | 8 |
| 2019 Transit Connect | 51 | 8 |
| 2018 Transit Connect | 22 | 6 |
| 2017 Transit Connect | 28 | 6 |
| 2016 Transit Connect | 104 | 10 |
| 2015 Transit Connect | 66 | 11 |
| 2014 Transit Connect | 127 | 15 |
| 2013 | 32 | 4 |
| 2012 Transit Connect | 26 | 1 |
| 2011 Transit Connect | 24 | 1 |
| 2010 Transit Connect | 42 | 2 |
See all Ford Transit Connect problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Transit Connect?
Owners most often report power train, engine, structure problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Ford Transit Connect?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 Ford Transit Connect a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Transit Connect model years, the 2013 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.