YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Transit Connect Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

46/100

#8 most-complained of 14 Transit Connect years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Ford Transit Connect has 32 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 46 out of 100 — #8 highest of 14 Transit Connect model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (7 complaints, 22% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes.

Complaints
32
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
2 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
21.5 city / 26.5 hwy

Top 2013 Ford Transit Connect problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine7 (22%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain7 (22%)
  3. Brakes6 (19%)
  4. Electrical System5 (16%)
  5. Structure & Body5 (16%)
  6. Other2 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
  8. Airbags1 (3%)
  9. Fuel System1 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (3%)
2013 Ford Transit Connect complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2014Oct 2014Jan 2016Mar 2018May 2019Aug 2020Jul 2022
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2014 to Mar 2024; peak Jan 2016 (4).

2013 Ford Transit Connect recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V413000Jun 10, 2022Transmission & Powertrain2,925,968 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

    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. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.

  2. NHTSA 21V376000May 24, 2021Transmission & Powertrain192,080 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, causing the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.

    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. Ford's number for this recall is 21S24.

  3. NHTSA 17V209000Mar 27, 2017Engine208,584 vehicles

    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 leak oil.

    Risk: If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.

    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. The recall began on January 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S09.

See all 4 recalls for the 2013 Ford Transit Connect →

2013 Ford Transit Connect fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21.5 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Transit Connect years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Good3124122
2012Caution5426123
2013Good4632423
2014Avoid1001271524
2015Avoid85661024

All Ford Transit Connect years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford Transit Connect a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Ford Transit Connect ranks #8 of 14 among Transit Connect model years (Complaint Index 46/100, verdict: Good). It has 32 complaints and 4 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Transit Connect?
The most reported problem areas are engine (7 complaints), transmission & powertrain (7 complaints), and brakes (6 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 35,700 miles.
Does the 2013 Ford Transit Connect have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Transit Connect, most recently reported 2022, covering transmission & powertrain, engine, and other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Ford Transit Connect?
EPA rates the 2013 Ford Transit Connect at 23 MPG combined (21.5 city / 26.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.