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Ford Transit Connect Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2010 to 2023, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Ford Transit Connect model years through 2024, 2023 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2014 has the most (15). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Ford Transit Connect: Key Facts

Model years with data
14 (2010–2023)
Distinct recall campaigns
31
Fewest recalls
2023 (0)
Most recalls
2014 (15)
Most recalled system
Power train (24)
5-star overall rating
2014, 2015, 2016 and 2 more years

Ford Transit Connect Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Ford Transit Connect — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2010–2023
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2023 0 4 stars None on record
2022 1 4 stars Back over prevention
2021 4 4 stars Power train, Back over prevention, Seat belts
2020 8 Not rated Power train, Air bags, Back over prevention
2019 8 Not rated Power train, Air bags, Back over prevention
2018 6 5 stars Back over prevention, Power train, Seats
2017 6 5 stars Power train, Visibility, Back over prevention
2016 10 5 stars Latches/locks/linkages, Power train, Visibility
2015 10 5 stars Latches/locks/linkages, Power train, Back over prevention
2014 15 5 stars Latches/locks/linkages, Visibility, Fuel system, gasoline
2013 4 2 stars Power train, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment adaptive/mobility
2012 1 2 stars Visibility
2011 1 Not rated Visibility
2010 2 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Structure

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20230 recalls
  2. 20221 recall
  3. 20214 recalls
  4. 20208 recalls
  5. 20198 recalls
  6. 20186 recalls
  7. 20176 recalls
  8. 201610 recalls
  9. 201510 recalls
  10. 201415 recalls
  11. 20134 recalls
  12. 20121 recall
  13. 20111 recall
  14. 20102 recalls

Ford Transit Connect: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Ford Transit Connect recalls are power train (24), visibility (13), back over prevention (9), latches/locks/linkages (9) and seat belts (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 10 of these 14 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Ford Transit Connect Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Ford Transit Connect?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Ford Transit Connect model years have the most recalls?

2014 has the most, with 15 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Transit Connect", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy