RoadVitals

2016 Ford Transit Connect Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest May 28, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 104 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Ford Transit Connect submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed May 28, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the transmission downshifted to 1st gear without warning. The contact continued driving and while coming to a stop light the failure recurred. The contact attempted to accelerate when the light turned green, and the vehicle inadvertently shifted into neutral, and the contact nearly crashed into another vehicle. The contact pulled the vehicle over at a gas station and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer where the cable shifter bushing was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID
11591151
Incident
May 14, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 12, 2023

Going down highway at 70 mph, no power all of a sudden. No warning. Made it to the side, stranded. Transmission needs to be replaced, 83000 miles

NHTSA ID
11559644
Incident
Dec 12, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Transit Connect. The contact stated that while attempting to operate the vehicle, the transmission failed to shift into either drive or reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced and the failure was remedied but eventually the failure reoccurred. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ID
11472880
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Mileage
180,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 17, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that after parking in the driveway, his wife exited the vehicle; moments later the vehicle rolled backward down the driveway. The contact stated that his wife was able to get back in the vehicle and depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from rolling out into the street. During the failure, the front driver’s side door and driver’s side quarter panel were damaged. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 59,000.

NHTSA ID
11469769
Incident
May 30, 2022
Mileage
59,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Nov 5, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit Connect. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V260000 (Visibility) and 21V376000 (Power Train) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11439505
Incident
Jun 2, 2021
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed May 19, 2021

The vehicle failed to shift into reverse causing the vehicle roll down hill when the driver expected to back up. The driver was able to stop the vehicle without incident. It turns out the shift cable broke that links the shifter to the transmission. We had it repaired (replaced) by a local shop. The vehicle is available for inspection if necessary, but has been repaired. We have had two of these break on two different vehicles of the same model and year. This happened on this vehicle at 127000 miles. There were no warning indicators illuminated before this incident occurred.

NHTSA ID
11417765
Incident
Oct 5, 2020
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed May 19, 2021

Vehicle failed to go into park when putting shift lever into the park position. Vehicle actually went into reverse instead even though the shift indicator showed the vehicle was in park. We could not shift the vehicle out of reverse. This was the result of a broken shift cable. This is the 2nd vehicle of the same model we have had this happen with. We will be reporting the other vehicle as well.

NHTSA ID
11417751
Incident
May 13, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 16, 2021

SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING FAILURE. CAR IS STUCK IN GEAR, WON'T START BECAUSE IT SAYS IT IS IN DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
11408501
Incident
Apr 14, 2021
Mileage
84,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 12, 2021

I STOPPED AT THE FOOT OF MY LONG DRIVEWAY AS I ARRIVED HOME. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO GET MY MAIL. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE SHIFT LEVER HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED, AND THE SHIFT LEVER BUSHING WAS GONE. I FOUND PART OF THE BUSHING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND INFORMATION ON THE SAFETY RECALL 18S20, COVERING THE FORD FUSION, WITH THE SAME MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION AS THE 2016 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT I OWN. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE I WAS IN A SAFE LOCATION WHEN THE BUSHING FAILED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SAFETY RECALL 18S20 DOES NOT COVER MY 2016 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. PICTURE OF FAILED BUSHING ATTACHED.

NHTSA ID
11395864
Incident
Feb 11, 2021
Mileage
107,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 6, 2020

SHIFTER CABLE BROKE. VEHICLE STUCK IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT GO BACK IN PARK. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OUR VANS OF THIS MODEL. ALSO HAPPENED ON THE FUSIONS, BUT THEY WERE FINALLY RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
11362984
Incident
Sep 18, 2020
Mileage
106,055 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 16, 2020

ON 6-11-2020, I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY 2016 TRANSIT CONNECT INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. I WAS AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE-THRU. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER STOPPED IN REVERSE. WE TRIED THE EMERGENCY NEUTRAL RESET AND IT WOULD NOT WORK. THE WRECKER DRIVER MENTIONED THAT A PART UNDER THE HOOD MIGHT BE RESPONSIBLE, NAMELY A SHIFTER BUSHING. HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN FUSIONS AND FOCUSES. HE WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY REPLACE THE CONNECTION LONG ENOUGH FOR US TO GET THE TRANSIT CONNECT ONTO THE WRECKER. THE DEALERSHIP DID DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AS A SHIFTER BUSHING AND REPAIRED IT ON 6-12-2020. I RESEARCHED THE PART NUMBER AND DISCOVERED THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT PART NUMBER ON 2013-2016 FUSIONS AND 2013-2014 ESCAPES. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSIT CONNECT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL SINCE THE PART NUMBER USED WAS THE SAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329274
Incident
Jun 11, 2020
Mileage
70,725 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 13, 2019

PURCHASED CERTIFIED WITH 15,478 AND CURRENT HIGHWAY MILES 63,412. TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF SLUGGISHNESS AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN DRIVING MY FATHER TO ER FOR SURGERY. MOST MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES (MOM-OPEN HEART SURGERY; SPOUSE-BRAIN TUMOR REMOVAL AND DAD-A COLOSTOMY). MY SPOUSE INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION BOGGED DOWN SLOWLY FROM 70, 60, 55MPH DOWN TO 0 MPH WITH NO POWER TO ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. SPOUSE HEADING HOME WITH KIDS WHEN VAN JUST STOPPED WORKING AND WOULDN'T MOVE IN ANY GEAR EXCEPT PARK AND NEUTRAL. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AT 10:45 PM. WE PAID THE $150/DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND TRANS FLUID OK. TECH MENTIONED NEEDED A NEW $8,000/TRANSMISSION-ALL THE INNER MECHANICALS STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ID
11279772
Incident
Mar 7, 2019
Mileage
63,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .