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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2016 Ford Transit Connect Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
13%of 104 total for the year
Median mileage
84,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Ford Transit Connect, 13% of the 104 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“On 6-11-2020, I attempted to put my 2016 Transit Connect into drive from park. I was at a fast food drive-thru. The gear shift lever stopped in reverse. We tried the emergency neutral reset and it would not work. The wrecker driver mentioned that a part under the hood might be responsible, namely a shifter bushing. He had seen this problem in fusions and focuses. He was able to manually replace the connection long enough for us to get the Transit Connect onto the wrecker. The dealership did diagnose the issue as a shifter bushing and repaired it on 6-12-2020. …”

NHTSA complaint #11329274, filed 2020-06, 70,725 miles

“I stopped at the foot of my long driveway as I arrived home. I put the car in park and applied the parking brake and exited the vehicle to get my mail. When I returned to my car it would not shift into drive. The shift lever had become disconnected, and the shift lever bushing was gone. I found part of the bushing in the engine compartment. When researching the problem, I found information on the safety recall 18s20, covering the Ford fusion, with the same motor and transmission as the 2016 Ford Transit Connect I own. I feel very fortunate I was in a safe location when the bushing failed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11395864, filed 2021-02, 107,000 miles

“Purchased certified with 15,478 and current highway miles 63,412. Transmission exhibited symptoms of sluggishness and slowing down when driving my father to er for surgery. Most miles are highway miles (mom-open heart surgery; spouse-brain tumor removal and dad-a colostomy). My spouse indicated the transmission bogged down slowly from 70, 60, 55mph down to 0 MPH with no power to engage in any gear. Spouse heading home with kids when van just stopped working and wouldn't move in any gear except park and neutral. Called a tow truck at 10:45 pm. We paid the $150/diagnostic fee and trans fluid ok. …”

NHTSA complaint #11279772, filed 2019-11, 63,000 miles

“Shifter cable broke. Vehicle stuck in reverse and would not go back in park. This is not the first time this has happened on our vans of this model. Also happened on the fusions, but they were finally recalled.”

NHTSA complaint #11362984, filed 2020-10, 106,055 miles

“Vehicle failed to go into park when putting shift lever into the park position. Vehicle actually went into reverse instead even though the shift indicator showed the vehicle was in park. We could not shift the vehicle out of reverse. This was the result of a broken shift cable. This is the 2nd vehicle of the same model we have had this happen with. We will be reporting the other vehicle as well.”

NHTSA complaint #11417751, filed 2021-05

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2022117%
2021542%
20201031%
20192446%
2018314%
2017311%
20161313%
2015914%
2014129%
2013722%
2011417%
2010819%

Other parts of the 2016 Ford Transit Connect

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsElectrical system
14 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaintsEngine
12 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsWheels
6 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Ford Transit Connect

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology