2017 Ford Transit Connect Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Transit Connect, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes826.7%
- Visibility620.0%
- Electrical516.7%
- Driver assistance413.3%
- Powertrain (other)310.0%
- Steering26.7%
- Engine13.3%
- Exterior lighting13.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rear brake lights work when locking and unlocking van however the passenger brake light does not work when pushing the brake pedal to stop van
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the front driver’s side brakes malfunctioned, and the front driver’s side wheel failed to properly rotate. The contact later examined the vehicle and discovered that the front driver’s side brake pad had become stuck to the brake rotor. The vehicle was later examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS Control Module and Hydraulic Control Unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 26,000.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while reversing with the rearview camera engaged, the screen became blurry or blank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V575000 (Visibility, Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
While driving my 2017 Ford Transit Connect at highway speed the panoramic sun roof and attached sun shade completely separated from the vehicle flew into the air and landed in the lanes of travel the vehicle behind me was nearly struck. This is an obvious safety issue had the glass struck another vehicle it would have likely caused serious damage and or injuries. The failure could have also caused serious injuries to the passengers to the vehicle had it been a partial separation with glass entering the passenger area. The vehicle is available for inspection until 15 Nov when the repairs will be completed. The vehicle was taken to Ford approximately 18 months ago for a wind noise complaint. The service department could not replicate the wind noise. My vehicle was not included in Ford's recall of the same model for sunroof adhesive failure. This was mentioned to the service department and I was told it was fine to continue to drive the vehicle. In the attached photos you can see signs of adhesive failure with pollen along the adhesive line. The only area that did not completely separate was as short section as noted in the pictures. The vehicle has been assessed by an insurance adjuster.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rear brake lights work when locking and unlocking van however the passenger brake light does not work when pushing the brake pedal to stop van
This was happened [XXX] in Mesa CO in winter storms negative temperatures and foot of heavy snow far away from anything car simultaneously looks with running engines when I went out of the car with my winter gear and telephone inside. For 4-5 hours didn’t find any body . I thinking I’m going to die. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen with the message "Camera Unavailable. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Transit Connect. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera intermittently failed to display an image of the rear of the vehicle. Occasionally, the screen went black while displaying an image. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint
Transmission keeps slipping and failing to accelerate. Feels like my van is running over rumble strips and slows the speed down. This continues to happen at many different speeds. Sometimes often and sometimes intermittently.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS A STEERING ASSIST FAILURE, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. MAKING VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER
AT 10,127 MILES, WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING FAILED. THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST FAILURE NEARLY CAUSING ME TO CAREEN OFF A HIGHWAY AND DIE. NOT ONLY WAS THERE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THERE WAS RESISTANCE. FORD DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY VEHICLE FOPR 45 DAYS NOW, THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACKORDER, THE BACKORDER DATE KEEPS GETTING LATER AND LATER. I AM TERRIFIED TO HAVE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ONCE IT IS RETURNED TO ME, I WILL HAVE LITTLE FAITH IN SOMETHING THAT ALMOST KILLED ME. THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS DEFECT WILL KILL SOMEONE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON HIS A/C UNIT BECOMING INOPERATIVE, HE HAD TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE FAN HAD EATEN AWAY AT THE HIGH COMPRESSION FREON LINE WHICH CAUSED FREON TO LEAK INTO HIS ENGINE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER ERROR AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DESIGNED IN THAT FASHION. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE; THE CONTACT WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. A DEALER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
Rear brake lights work when locking and unlocking van however the passenger brake light does not work when pushing the brake pedal to stop van
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .