99 of the
742 complaints filed about the Ford Transit Connect
are about the transmission —
13% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
99
Complaints
13%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I am writing to report a serious safety concern involving our 2023 Ford Transit Connect (VIN [XXX]) van that resulted in an unintended vehicle movement and collision. While the incident resulted in only minor property damage and a minor injury, we believe the circumstances warrant review due to the potential for a much more severe outcome. The vehicle had been exhibiting operational issues prior to the incident. Employees reported that it was running and shifting noticeably rough and, after being parked, would not move when placed in either Drive or Reverse. The engine RPM would increase to approximately 2,000 RPM with throttle input but the vehicle remained stationary. The following witness statements document the sequence of events: Witness #1: [XXX] started the van to verify whether the issue from the previous day remained. The van still would not move. He placed the transmission in Neutral, turned the engine off, and we were able to push the van by hand. Based on this, he concluded the brakes were not preventing the vehicle from moving. He then reached into the van and restarted the engine. Immediately upon startup, the van accelerated forward unexpectedly at a high rate of speed, jumped the curb, and struck the hangar wall. [XXX] attempted to stop the vehicle, and I also attempted to intervene, but the event occurred so quickly that neither of us was able to prevent the collision. Witness #2: I went to the van to diagnose the reported issue. I had been informed the van had been running and shifting roughly before it was parked and would no longer move afterward. I started the vehicle while it was in Park and attempted to engage both Reverse and Drive, confirming that it would not move. The engine RPM increased to approximately 2,000 RPM with throttle input and remained elevated. I then shut the engine off and placed the transmission in Neutral with the ignition in the Run position to determine whether the vehicle would roll. It rolled f INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
NHTSA complaint #11750893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since I’ve bought it at 48,000 miles the van has always had hard engagements on 1 gear and 2nd. I knew the transmission was bad a week after I bought it at the ford dealership. All they did under their limited warranty was a transmission flush. Now it has 70,000 and the torque converter is toast now. I was on the interstate going 70mph. Let off the gas and a huge aggressive deceleration happened and I almost lost control. It is constant issue now when going over 70mph. Took it to ford, no transmission codes so they didn’t try fix it or find anything wrong. Noticing high rpms trying to get up to speed. Torque converter is clearly slipping.
NHTSA complaint #11744955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 not move. It threw a diagnostic code of P0751, which we learned was related to a known issue with the vehicle, TSB 25-2550. The vehicle is now not drivable and had to be towed back home.
NHTSA complaint #11739453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission failure at 80,000 miles. This a known issue with 8F35 transmissions in these model years. Left me stranded and in danger on the roadway. The transmission has other recalls, and a TSB from Ford acknowledging the issues without recall for known failures. There were no lamps, indicators, or codes before failure.
NHTSA complaint #11707757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Good evening, I wanted to bring to your attention an ongoing issue I've experienced with two 2019 Transit Connect vehicles that I purchased together. Both vehicles have encountered a transmission problem when shifting into reverse; initially, they would not move, but after shifting to park and then back to reverse, they would engage. I visited the dealership where I bought both vehicles, and they inspected them, indicating that they found no problems. However, both vehicles began showing transmission issues around the 50,000 to 58,000-mile mark. I was able to replace the transmissions under the manufacturer’s warranty. Unfortunately, after approximately 30,000 miles—about a year and a half later—I encountered the same issue again. Once more, the vehicles struggled to engage in reverse. When I returned to the dealership to report this recurring issue, I learned that my warranty had expired, and I would need to replace the transmission again. I would like to formally express my concerns regarding this situation. It seems that there may be a common issue with the transmission in the 2019 model, and I believe it's important for this to be addressed. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
NHTSA complaint #11691952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Damaged torque converter pump and foreward planetary assy bushings. Jerks when accelerating, loses power, hesitates backing up. Overhaul of torque converter, reseal and reassemble. Hydraulic control unit not working properly and break on left front does not release and overheats. Replaced hydraulic control unit. Airbox loose and damaged. Rattling. Replaced airbox.
NHTSA complaint #11682139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission failure in my 2.0L Ford Transit Connect at approximately 94,000 miles. When I shift into reverse, the van sometimes drives forward instead of backing up — as if the transmission is confused or stuck in the wrong gear. Over time, reverse completely stopped working altogether. Additionally, after coming to a full stop (such as at a red light), the van occasionally stalls or becomes unresponsive when pressing the gas pedal. This creates dangerous situations in traffic. All recommended maintenance has been done on time, including a full transmission flush performed by a Ford dealer at around 80,000 miles. There were no warning lights or error messages before the issue began. After researching, I found many other Transit Connect owners with the same problem, especially in models with the 2.0L engine. This points to a potential defect in the transmission system. A full transmission replacement may be necessary, and I believe Ford should issue a recall to address this recurring failure.
NHTSA complaint #11674837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 8F35 transmission failed at 95,000 miles, a new unit was put in and that transmission failed at about 175,000 miles, a new transmission was not put in for replacement, but was rebuilt by Ford and currently I have 185,000 miles and as I slow down the transmission starts to jerk and I am slammed forward in my seat. This transmission does this everyday, without fail. Just a matter of time before this transmission fails.This transmission is acting like the last 2 transmissions that failed.
NHTSA complaint #11668747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
the transmission stopped while in motion approaching a stoplight. It made a big clunking noise kind of died and will not do anything now. It is sitting in a dealership waiting for repairs. Under NHTSA Campaign #21V376000 it is the exact issue per the Ford dealership. The only difference in that recall is the engine size is 2.5L and our is 2.0L. Ford will not do anything to help us fix the issue due to the engine size difference and the specifications of that recall. It is a 10k fix for us and Ford already knows the issue exists but it was just a slightly larger engine. Other than that the issue is the same. We would like Ford to do something about this. Luckily it happened while stopping
NHTSA complaint #11661912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my 2022 Ford Transit Connect (cargo model, 2.0L) in city traffic, I experienced a serious intermittent issue. Twice now, the vehicle suddenly jerked, throttle response was delayed or non-existent, and a “Collision Detection Disabled” warning flashed on the dash. Simultaneously, the “Service Vehicle Soon” light illuminated. Both times, I pulled over and shut off the vehicle. Upon restarting, the warnings cleared and the vehicle drove normally again. There were no prior warning signs or fault messages. I brought the vehicle to Mullinax Ford in Apopka, FL, and explained the issue in detail. However, I was told there were no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) stored, and they refused to conduct any further testing. I specifically asked them to perform: A full scan of all vehicle modules (including the IPMA/collision system), Check the forward collision camera and wiring, Confirm all PCM/ADAS software is up to date, Perform a battery and charging system test, Inspect the throttle body or related sensors. They declined, saying “if there are no codes, there’s no issue.” This is concerning because the symptoms are intermittent and potentially safety-related — including unexpected loss of power and the disabling of a major safety system. Based on owner reports and technical bulletins from Ford for similar symptoms in other models (such as F-150 and Explorer), this may be due to software or hardware faults that do not always trigger DTCs. This issue affects my confidence in the safety and reliability of the vehicle. I am requesting that Ford investigate further, open a case, and provide support in ensuring proper diagnostics and resolution — even if the dealer won’t take further action.
NHTSA complaint #11658074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the electrical system failed to respond, and the vehicle turned off. There were no warning lights illuminated. There was no power to the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where unknown repairs were performed along with a taillight repair. On a separate occasion, while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond, the transmission was not shifting properly, which caused the vehicle to jerk. The contact stated that while driving after the engine had warmed up, the vehicle would unintendedly stop. The contact returned from a trip and the vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,500.
NHTSA complaint #11652334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After placing vehicle in Park, vehicle rolled away and destroyed my mailbox. Luckily I was able to stop it inches away from neighbors car. There is a recall for other years, but none for this year. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer yet, however, after talking to the dealership service department, it is a common problem and would cost a lot to repair
NHTSA complaint #11649597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1 Transmission: very harsh shift engagements up shift and downshifting. Harsh downshifting while cornering and approaching intersections made me concerned for my safety. Random slipping in mid gears 3,4, or 5, no DTC's for slipping or harsh engagements. Transmission currently has the DTC: P0772 Shift Solenoid E Stuck On. and is not drive able. Vehicle is in my driveway until I determine where to take it. I am concerned why my vehicle Vin isn't listed in the transmission recalls when I'm having the exact same problem as the recalled vehicles. 2 Brakes: February 2024 ABS Unit. When driving on highways at speeds between 45-65mph, when I would release my foot off the gas pedal the vehicle would apply medium pressure to the braking system (without touching the brake pedal). Vehicle was taken to Nazareth Ford, they replaced a front brake hose and cycled the Anti-lock Brake System unit. I drove back on the highway and the same thing happened, brakes applied when letting off the gas pedal, almost causing an accident. I replaced the ABS unit myself and had Nazareth Ford program the software. Problem solved. I still have the old ABS unit available for inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11635748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving at higher speeds when going to brake, the vehicle drops gears and slows agressively. It started to do this occasionally a couple of month ago, now it happens every other day.
NHTSA complaint #11631955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 91,000.
NHTSA complaint #11631372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 Connects in their shop alone with a whole transmission replacement within a 2 week time period. While our vehicle is outside of the mileage for the power train warranty from Ford, it is not outside of the time period. We feel that the significant amount of transmissions needing to be replaced on 2021 Ford Transit Connects is unreasonable expectation when you purchase your vehicle brand new from the manufacturer. Our vehicle has always been properly maintained to all dealer specs for the entire time we have owned it (and it was purchased with 6 miles on the odometer).
NHTSA complaint #11627527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.