AI Damage2019 Ford Transit Connect: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Ford Transit Connect filed 51 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. The maker issued 78 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 51
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 78
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 47% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 37% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Backover prevention 8% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 4% of all complaints
- 7 Forward collision avoidance 4% of all complaints
- 8 Lane departure 2% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 24 complaints (47% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
- Service brakes: 19 complaints (37% of all).
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 32.
- Backover prevention: 4 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Visibility: 4 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 4 complaints
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 51 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 24 | 0 | 18 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 32 |
| Backover prevention | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Communication | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On May 17 2022, I was involved in a multi vehicle accident in which my vehicle was hit on the side and ended up with a right frontal impact into a concrete barrier. Despite the severity of the impact, None of the airbags deployed. The onboard collision sensor was triggered and dialed 911.
Description of Defect: When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the rearview camera display freezes for several seconds before going black. This malfunction creates a direct and serious safety hazard — during the period the display is frozen, the image shown does not reflect actual real-time conditions behind the…
The car would not start after the second trip and was towed to a Ford dealer for repair. I was told I needed a new alternator and battery and what I experienced on the freeway was the alternator impacting the transmission.
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.
Jerks when accelerating, loses power, hesitates backing up, brake on left front does not release and overheats, right back brake following suit. Took into repair shop for brake service.
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.
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.
During a rainy day, I had water coming in from around the top driver's side windshield and from the inside light above the dash. According to my VIN there are no recalls, but apparently there have been recalls on the seal around the windshield on some. I have not had the vehicle inspected by the dealer.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 871 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 41% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Transit Connect has 28 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 51, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines…
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
- Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns…
Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing activation prompt pop-upon the vehicle's…
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless…
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated…
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2092 to update model years
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Transmission slipping Harsh Engagements Clutch DTCs This may be due to worn needle bearings in the…
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes…
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in…
- Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black…
Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black center display screen at start-up using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This does not affect rear camera…
- CERTAIN 2018-2024 MODEL YEAR VARIOUS VEHICLES — UPDATE SYNC SOFTWARE
- Certain 2018 - 2024 Model Year Various Vehicles Update SYNC Software
- While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal…
While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some…
- Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a telematics control unit module (TCU) may exhibit…
Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a telematics control unit module (TCU) may exhibit the Location toggle button in the Connectivity setting menu grayed out with an inability to switch it off.
- Some 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles may exhibit a false overheat condition and illuminated malfunction…
Some 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles may exhibit a false overheat condition and illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with DTCs P1299 and/or P0217 present. Prior to any diagnostics, disconnect the generator…
- Certain 2018 - 2024 Model Year Various Vehicles Update SYNC Software In all the affected vehicles, due to…
Certain 2018 - 2024 Model Year Various Vehicles Update SYNC Software In all the affected vehicles, due to an error in the SYNC software, you may experience SYNC system instability concerns and/or a failure to preserve…
NHTSA lists 78 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ford Transit Connect?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, electrical system. Total complaints: 51. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: transmission slipping (14%), warning lights, check engine (14%), jerking, harsh shifts (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Ford Transit Connect?
NHTSA lists 78 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Ford Transit Connect from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.