Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Ford Transit Connect owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed in the highway, the rear passenger's side plastic sliding door panel separated from the vehicle and flew off. The contact was able to retrieve the door panel. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's side plastic sliding door panel was loose. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V777000(Structure). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
On August 28, 2021, in Suisun City, CA, just prior driving, the owner discovered the front side door latch had failed, resulting in an inability to close the door. The vehicle had been parked in the direct sunlight with ambient temperatures over 100 degrees F. No prior indication the door latch was failing. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by local Ford Dealer and side door latch was found inoperative and was replaced. Owner retained replaced side door latch. Since the 2014 Ford Transit Connect was not built at the Valencia Assembly Plant, per Ford Recall #s 20S30, 15S16, and 16S30, the owner had to pay full the repair cost ($370.65). The serial numbers of the failed side door latch is FoMoCo DT1A V21813-BA. 4081 4157 97142 DOPRF. …
The tailgate unlocks on its own and becomes unlatched on its own. It is unpredictable but has happened at least once when coming to a stop (still in gear) and once when sitting with the engine off, after having come to a stop. My dogs ride in the back so they could fall out of the vehicle if it occurred while driving; in addition, cargo in the back of the van could fall onto the road if the tailgate came unlatched and opened. I have not taken the van to a dealer because the nearby Ford dealership has a reputation as not being easy to work with, and I don't know who else would be qualified to work on such a problem. The "tailgate open" warnings do occur, when the door unlocks/unlatches. But the lock makes audible noises FREQUENTLY, and it's not always easy to tell if the lock has disengaged or just made a noise.
The door panel on the rear sliding door is falling off due to failure of the adhesive. This is an issue with other Ford Transit Connects under NHTSA campaign 14V777000 and Ford recall number 14S26 but my Transit doesn't appear to come up under that recall even though i am experiencing the issue and it was manufactured in the time period specified under the recall. The panel is still on the van with tape keeping it secured so it is available for inspection. If the panel were to fall off during driving it could cause an accident by hitting other vehicles. The panel has not been inspected by anyone yet.
After having the panoramic sunroof replaced in 2019 due to a recall, the roof started leaking again causing mold to grow and making us fear for the structural integrity of the vehicle due to the possibility of unseen rust. The Service Department said it was not related to the original recall and that it was an epoxy failure. We feel this is just a continuance of the original defect and there was another recall about leaking.
The drivers door is failing to latch. Ford Dealers have only said there were only recalls on the rear doors. My minivan has the door roped shut for the time being and it is dangerous having to unwrap the rope to exit. Also the smell of fuel inside the vehicle is pronounced and they won't repair the fuel line because I purchased the vehicle used and the previous owner didnt handle it.
In February 2022 the driver's side door stopped being able to latch. The door was unable to securely close. The driver's door was able to swing open on turns and the driver would be able to fall out of the vehicle during a crash.
2014 Transit connect LH front door won't latch , this van has 44,000 miles on it I bought it new.. the door will fly open can not drive it like this.. the sliding doors had a recall but not the front doors. door latch fail
The driver side door latch failed. The door would not close and latch. Dealer charged $578.42 for the repair and has not reimbursed the charges per safety recall 23V502. ~ 90 days has passed since the repair.
The sliding door on the drivers side. I opened it and then it would not close. A little plastic spring / plunger from the "b" post had attached itself to the pin on the door and would not allow the door to close. There was no way to get the door to close other than to manually work and remove this spring from the door pin, however the plastic part of the spring / plunger is still impaled on the door pin. I am taking the vehicle into the dealer for repair - but obviously this is a serious design defect that keeps the door from properly closing and latching.
Related recalls
Structure › Body › Door
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Transit Connect cargo vans manufactured August 9, 2013, to September 20, 2014. The affected vehicles are equipped with sliding door panels that may have an improper bond strength between the plastic panel and paint primer.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reinstall the panel with proper materials, free of charge. The recall began January 28, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Body complaints in other Transit Connect years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2014 Ford Transit Connect?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the body & structure of the 2014 Ford Transit Connect, 22% of the model year's 127 complaints. The component named most often is body (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Ford Transit Connect body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-777 (door, Dec 5, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Transit Connect body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 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.