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2020 Ford Transit Connect: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2020 Ford Transit Connect — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Not enough federal data to rank this one yet.

Complaint data for this model year is still being compiled. Power Train leads the reports (33%). 8 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2020 vehicles, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

30

Reports to NHTSA, 2020

Safety recalls

8

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Not rated

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

25

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

Peer ranking not yet available for this model year.

Known issues

Power Train issues lead owner complaints (33% of 30 reports), followed by unknown or other (17%).

Power Train33% · 10 reports
Unknown Or Other17% · 5 reports
Service Brakes13% · 4 reports
Visibility13% · 4 reports
Vehicle Speed Control7% · 2 reports
Air Bags3% · 1 report
Engine3% · 1 report
Forward Collision Avoidance3% · 1 report

+ 2 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 30 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11674837, ODI 11668747, ODI 11585826, ODI 11574808, ODI 11523180.

Recalls(8)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Power TrainOct 2022 · 22V413000Details +

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.

Power TrainOct 2020 · 20V550000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.

Risk: Missing or loose bolts on the start stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission fluid leak and may progress to a loss of transmission function. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S49.

Engine And Engine Cooling · 20V636000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The powertrain control module (PCM) software has fail-safe temperature threshold values higher than intended for the engine. This may delay the fail-safe cooling strategy in the event of coolant loss and result in engine overheating.

Risk: If the engine overheats, it can result in engine damage and increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S60.

Air Bags · 20V791000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 EcoSport and 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles. Depending on the model, either the driver side or passenger side frontal air bag modules are missing the first-stage booster propellant and sleeve. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: Air bag modules missing the first-stage booster propellant will not deploy as intended in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag module on either the driver or passenger side, free of charge. This recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C26.

Power Train · 21V376000Details +

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.

Visibility · 22V192000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 and 2020 Transit Connect vehicles. The front windshield may have been manufactured with inadequate adhesion to the vehicle body structure.

Risk: During a crash, the windshield may detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the windshield and, if necessary, remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S20.

Power Train · 25V196000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Transit Connect vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V-636. The powertrain control module (PCM) software has fail-safe temperature threshold values higher than intended for the engine. This may delay engine cooling and result in engine overheating.

Risk: An engine that overheats increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 21, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S32.

Back Over Prevention · 25V442000Details +

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2020 Ford Transit Connect WAGON FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover

2020 Ford Transit Connect VAN FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Transit Connect Wagon LWB FWD2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive242926
Transit Connect Wagon LWB FFV2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive242926
Transit Connect Van FFV2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive242725
Transit Connect Van 2WD2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive242725
Transit Connect Wagon LWB FWD2.5L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive202622
Transit Connect Van 2WD2.5L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive202722
Transit Connect USPS2.5L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive202722

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2020 Ford Transit Connect: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2020 Ford Transit Connect?

Owners filed 30 NHTSA complaints about the 2020 Ford Transit Connect. Among the 14 model years of this Transit Connect, that ranks #8 by complaint volume, where #1 has the fewest.

What are the most common problems on the 2020 Ford Transit Connect?

The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (33% of complaints) and unknown or other (17%).

How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Transit Connect have?

8 recalls have been issued that affect the 2020 Ford Transit Connect, covering components such as power train. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Ford Transit Connect get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Ford Transit Connect between 22 and 26 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.