2014 Ford Transit Connect Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around doors and latches that stop catching, along with the panoramic fixed roof panel bonding, fuel pump failures that leave the vehicle unable to start, and instrument cluster and rear camera electronics. Reports span very early miles for roof and heater concerns up through high-mileage latch failures, and many owners note the dealer or manufacturer declined coverage.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door and sliding door latch failure (door opens or will not

   • 27 complaints (21%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe a door that suddenly swings open or will no longer stay closed or locked, often with the door ajar light coming on. Dealers commonly trace it to a broken latch pawl or pawl spring and replace the whole latch; several owners say the repair was not covered or that parts for the recall were not yet available. A few report the problem returning after a latch replacement or after a prior recall repair. Reported from about 50,000 to 150,000 miles, and several at very high mileage; a few occur with the vehicle stationary.

   Recall 23V502000Recall 20V331000Recall 16V6430002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open and close every door and the liftgate and confirm each latches firmly and stays latched; ask whether the door latch recall work was done and whether the repair was completed a second time if it recurred.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver's side door of my vehicle will no longer latch. This problem appeared without any precipitating event, just ordinary use of the door. When I researched the problem online, I see that the Ford motor company has recalled vehicles of the same model and year with this problem. I consulted a Ford dealer about repair of the problem and they said that the recall did not apply to my car's VIN. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11366931, filed 2020-10, 77,180 miles

   “Driver door latch failed traveling 65mph on freeway. Door swung open on a turn and would not re-latch. Ford has denied the claim. Ford is replacing the latch as it has a 'broken pawl spring'. Door will not close until entire latch is replaced. According to dealership, they've encountered this same problem on other 2014 Ford transit connects. After replacing the latch, Ford insisted the vehicle was safe to drive and gave me the keys back. I did not even leave the dealership when the latch failed again and the door would not close again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351317, filed 2020-08, 108,849 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel pump failure causing stalls or a no-start

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2022

   Owners describe the engine stalling at speed, hesitation when accelerating from a stop, or a van that will not start at all, which dealers diagnose as a failed fuel pump; some had the pump replaced more than once with the problem returning. Several owners say the pump recall was not applied to their VIN despite matching the described build dates, and others note parts were unavailable. Mostly reported between 26,000 and 70,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage.

   Recall 15V0050001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump recall was completed for this VIN, and listen for extended cranking or hesitation when starting and accelerating during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Well driving my Transit Connect . I slow down or stop for a light . When it turns green I give it gas and the vehicle will hesitate before taking off. I told my Ford dealership about the recall on the fuel pump but they tell me by checking the VIN no your vehile isnt on that recall. I just find it heard to believe that every recall Ford has had for the Transit Connect . My vehicle was not involved in any of the recalls. The issue I am having happens in the city streets, on highway, turning etc. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10850503, filed 2016-03, 10,000 miles

   “On january 23, 2017 I drove my van to the loading point like every other morning, loaded and was going to start my delivery route, but my van would not start. I was very disappointed, because van never showed any signs of malfunction before. I was lucky it didn't happen on the highway. The cause of this breakdown was the fuel pump. I looked up on the internet for the new part and found out that Ford motor company has a recall on the fuel pump for Transit Connect manufactured at valencia plant november 11, 2013 through august 29, 2014. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11051692, filed 2017-12, 70,900 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster goes blank or warning chimes and

   • 24 complaints (19%)
   • median 91,500 mi at 8.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the instrument panel going dark or the multifunction display showing nothing, sometimes leaving gauges, chimes and warning messages inoperative; several say it happens intermittently and clears after a restart or a few minutes of driving. On hot days one owner found the cluster failed to give accurate readings. Dealers diagnosed a failed cluster needing replacement, and one owner was told the vehicle was not included in the instrument cluster recall. Spread from about 59,000 to 179,000 miles; one owner linked it to extremely hot weather.

   Recall 15V4060002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the vehicle and confirm the cluster, gauges, chimes and display all power up, and ask whether the instrument cluster software recall was done for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon starting the vehicle, the dashboard does not provide information, power brakes do not seem to function, power steering quits and several items show up on dash. Upon cutting car off and restarting, they may all be corrected. The next time car is started, it may or may not recur. This has happened about six times recently as late as today. Our fear is we will lose control of the car while driving at highway speeds. It seems many functions are controlled by computers that have a flaw. Brakes also lose power.”

   NHTSA complaint #11361408, filed 2020-09, 50,000 miles

   “Dash board lights and all meters inoperative. Instrument cluster inoperative. Multifunctional display inoperative. Chimes, warning lights and messages out. Intermittent and all function come back after several minutes of driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388117, filed 2021-01, 179,000 miles

Buying note. Check the door latches and liftgate carefully on any test drive and confirm by VIN which open recalls have actually been completed, since a number of owners report the same fault returning. Also verify the fuel pump and instrument cluster recall status, and look closely at the panoramic roof panel for movement or water intrusion if the van has one.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.