RoadVitals

2017 Ford Transit Connect Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
28
Latest Jul 24, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

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.

8
reports

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

NHTSA ID 11696949 · filed Nov 1, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID 11603177 · filed Jul 18, 2024
All 8 reports naming brakes

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

6
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11625249 · filed Nov 14, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID 11554570 · filed Nov 10, 2023

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.

5
reports

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

NHTSA ID 11696949 · filed Nov 1, 2025

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)

NHTSA ID 11581610 · filed Apr 7, 2024

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.

4
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11752605 · filed Jul 24, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID 11721624 · filed Mar 3, 2026

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID 11637932 · filed Jan 23, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID 11529996 · filed Jul 2, 2023

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE HAS A STEERING ASSIST FAILURE, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. MAKING VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER

NHTSA ID 11145385 · filed Nov 5, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID 11112968 · filed Jul 23, 2018

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.

1
report

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.

NHTSA ID 11365533 · filed Oct 21, 2020

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 11696949 · filed Nov 1, 2025

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

Data on this page last refreshed .