Most common 2013 Ford Transit Connect problems
Share of the 32 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Transit Connect complaints by model year
Best Transit Connect years: 2022, 2021, 2012. Years to avoid: 2014, 2016, 2019, 2015. Compare all years →
2013 Ford Transit Connect recalls (4)
Power train › Shift linkage/cable/rod
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.
Remedy: 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.
Power train › Shift linkage/cable/rod
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.
Remedy: 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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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…
Remedy: 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.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
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,…
Remedy: 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.
What 2013 Ford Transit Connect owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
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 fast I was going in third gear and it would not shift, I tried to slow down and then re-accelerate to see if it would shift when it shifted in the fourth gear it never left fourth gear and revs back to 8000 RPMs at that point the check engine light came on with the gear light in with the transmission light and I lost all power and I could only drive in second gear so I drove in second gear to the shop. Problem with transmission confirmed by independent shop.
The Transit was parked on a slope and was in "Park", but it rolled back down the slope and hit a parked car.
Engine & cooling
3/19 the temperature gage went hot quickly. Checked coolant, although full in 2/19 now empty. Garage could not find the problem and contacted davidson's Ford who advised to install a new radiator and thermostat. In 7/19 Transit began to stall after short drive, then engine got so hot it stalled in traffic at a busy intersection and would not start. I kept trying to start it many times. Had to be towed to davidson's Ford who did a diagnostic tests and found the coolant boils out of reservoir even when sitting before fans can come on. I believe this could have caused a fire as the engine May crack and leak oil if it overheats. I have already spent $700 on radiator and thermostat and now it looks like they will install a water pump and/or head gasket. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford Transit Connect. While attempting to start the vehicle, there was a whining noise coming from the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact turned the heater on and it blew cool air. The contact turned off the engine, checked under the hood, and noticed that the engine oil and antifreeze were mixing together. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact would not start the vehicle because he was concerned for his safety. The contact had a mechanic diagnose the vehicle and was informed that the engine oil was mixing with the antifreeze and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer informed the contact to call NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
Body & structure
The muffler split open most likely from a clog. Because of that, the exhaust was directed toward the floor of the truck instead of going out of the muffler. As a result, it burnt through the heat shield, the back of the truck, melted the wiring harness, and burned a hole straight through the fuel tank. A mechanic took out the fuel tank and when it was being dropped out fuel spilled everywhere and there was a hole in the side of the tank. Since the wiring harness was melted, there was no power and no fuel pump power. The safety of the driver was put at risk because the car could have easily started on fire, or the fuel tank could have blown up and injured the driver or worse.
While driving the vehicle, regardless of whether I am going at a slow or fast speed, the door-ajar notification light May randomly turn on and stay on. Sometimes it will turn on when first starting the vehicle. When this condition occurs, the doors will not lock, even after the vehicle is turned off. This issue begun six months ago and has been occurring more and more frequently on this particular vehicle. Other vehicles of the same model in the company's fleet have reported similar issues intermittently as well.
2013 Ford Transit Connect engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: —.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Ford Transit Connect a good car?
Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Transit Connect rates average: 21% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Transit Connect at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford Transit Connect?
The transmission & drivetrain — 7 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Transit Connect have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2013 Ford Transit Connect, the most recent from June 10, 2022 (shift linkage/cable/rod). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Transit Connect?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2021 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2015. See the full Ford Transit Connect years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Transit Connect problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 36,000 miles; 64% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.