2011 Ford Transit Connect Problems and Recalls (24 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2011 Ford Transit Connect is Glass / wipers / cameras (25% of 24 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Glass / wipers / cameras — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 24 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 2011 Ford Transit Connect?

6 of 24 filings named Glass / wipers / cameras (25% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (4 reports).

There are 1 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2010 has 42 reports on file; this year has 24. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2011 Ford Transit Connect

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Glass / wipers / cameras. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Glass / wipers / cameras. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Glass / wipers / cameras 6 complaints · 25.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 0
  • Deaths 0
All Ford Transit Connect years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) appears in 6 of 24 owner complaints (25.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 6 complaints, 25.0% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 6 · 25.0% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 4 complaints, 16.7% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 · 16.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 8.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 · 8.3% Engine (ENGINE): 2 complaints, 8.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 · 8.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 2 complaints, 8.3% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 · 8.3% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 2 complaints, 8.3% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 · 8.3% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 1 complaints, 4.2% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 · 4.2% Steering (STEERING): 1 complaints, 4.2% of reports Steering (STEERING) 1 · 4.2% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 1 complaints, 4.2% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 · 4.2% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 3 complaints, 12.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 · 12.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 6 25.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 4 16.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 8.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 2 8.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 8.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 8.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 4.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 1 4.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 4.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 12.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2012; the first recall shown was reported in Aug 2012. 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2012 Jan 2026 Recall campaign 12V374000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V374000
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 3
2014-Q1 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 2
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q4 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 12V374000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras.

  1. Recall campaign 12V374000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    If the wiper arm detaches, the windshield wiper will fail and the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver and passenger side wiper arm and blade assemblies, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 15, 2012. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 24 complaints · page 1 of 1
2026-03-11Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11723576
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Passenger side wiper arm came off during a recent rain storm. I have contacted my local Ford dealer and Ford Customer Service in regards to 12s36 (NHTSA #12v-374). Ford explained it effects certain model years, produced during a certain time, at a certain manufacture facility. My vehicle meets all of the parameters, yet they will not honor the recall because the vin number is not listed. Please help. It is a minor repair, yet it is obviously a manufacturer issue.
2020-03-25Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11319275
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN HALF OR 3/4 LOADED GOING UP A HILL ON HWY VAN DOWN SHIFTS A JERKS IN TO GEAR . FEELS LIKE YOU GOT KICKED OFF A HORSE . MOST NOTICABLE BETWEEN 40MPH AND 50 MPH.. THIS HAS DAMAGED 3 SETS OF MOTOR MOUNTS IN 117,000 MILES STARTED ST 15000 MILES AND GETTING WORSE AT DEALER AGAIN
2019-06-13Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11219797
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED AND IS BURN
2019-04-04Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11193946
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MULTIPLE TIMES, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SEEMS TO JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WITH NO WARNING ALL THE LIGHTS AND DASH INDICATORS WILL FLASH AND ALL GO OUT. ENGINE WILL BRIEFLY RUN, THEN QUIT. SEVERAL TIMES BEEN VERY LUCKY TO GET OFF ROAD OR FREEWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. FORD DEALER WORKED ON IT FOR 1+ YRS, REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. I'VE TROUBLE TESTED AND FIND NO ISSUES. NO APPARENT GROUNDING ISSUES. NO FUSES OR RELAYS APPEAR TO BE FAULTY. FOUND MANY LIKE-COMPLAINTS ONLINE. ACTS LIKE A BATTERY/ALTERNATOR ISSUE. BUT LATER, AFTER JUMPED BATTERY, ALL SYSTEMS WORKS WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS...YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO HIT.
2019-03-04Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11183981
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO DECELERATE. ALSO, BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. PRATER FORD (704 S WALL ST, CALHOUN, GA 30701, ([redacted]) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
2018-07-29Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11114436
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE VAN IT DOES NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS FOR THE SLIDING DOORS HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE FRONT SEATS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THEM DIFFICULT TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF THE BACK SEAT EXTREME PROBLEM IN AN EMERGENCY
2018-07-08Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11110070
CrashFireInjuryDeath
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND DID A BASIC TUNEUP, OIL CHANGE AND SPARK PLUGS. I ORDERED A AFTER MARKET FILTER FROM K&N AND HAD TO WAIT A WEEK BEFORE IT ARRIVED. AIR FILTER WAS NOT REPLACED YET BUT HOPING IT WOULD HELP WITH ACCELERATING. THE A/C WORKED WELL AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING BUT STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR DURING IDLE. A FEW DAYS LATER MY TRANSIT GOT REAL HOT AT A STOP LIGHT SO I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED FOR ANY LEAKS OR COOLANT LOSE IN THE RESERVOIR... ALL WAS WELL AND I SAW THE ELECTRIC FANS SPINNING. CAR GOT HOT AGAIN AND CHECKED ONLINE FOR A SOLUTION AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HIGH SPEED FUSE BEING BLOWN. CHECKED AND THAT WAS THE ISSUE, REPLACED THE FUSE AND HIGH SPEED WORKED AGAIN. CHECKED FOR RECALLS BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND SAW THAT THERE WAS RECALLS ON SOME BUT NOT ALL VINS QUALIFY???? ALSO SAW COMPLAINTS ABOUT IDLELING AND POOR ACCELERATION... INSTALLED K&N AIR FILTER, CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS GREAT.
2015-12-09Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10809362
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY AT 80 MPH AND CAR STALLS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO THE SIDE RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER STARTED DOING AGAIN AND MORE OFTEN. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE MY CAR IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PUT A SCANNER ON THE CAR AND "THROTTLE STUCK CLOSED CODE CAME ON". I WILL TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. I BELIEVE IT IS A ISSUE FROM THE MANUFACTURERE.
2015-11-11Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 10789794
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUN ALL THE TIME.
2015-10-30Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 10787166
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WE HAD A WINDSHIELD WIPER FLY OFF WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO REPAIR SHOP THE OTHER WIPER FELL OFF. WE DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND SHOWED SOME VEHICLES FOR THAT ISSUE WERE RECALLED BUT OURS WAS NOT. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT AND FORD WILL NOT PAY.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2011 Ford Transit Connect?

Owners named Glass / wipers / cameras most often — 6 of 24 reports (25%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2011 Ford Transit Connect?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2011 Ford Transit Connect?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources