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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2020 Ford Transit Connect Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
10about this part
Share
31%of 32 total for the year
Median mileage
58,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Ford Transit Connect, 31% of the 32 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 5 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.

“Transmission failure in my 2.0L Ford Transit Connect at approximately 94,000 miles. When I shift into reverse, the van sometimes drives forward instead of backing up — as if the transmission is confused or stuck in the wrong gear. Over time, reverse completely stopped working altogether. Additionally, after coming to a full stop (such as at a red light), the van occasionally stalls or becomes unresponsive when pressing the gas pedal. This creates dangerous situations in traffic. …”

NHTSA complaint #11674837, filed 2025-07

“My 8F35 transmission failed at 95,000 miles, a new unit was put in and that transmission failed at about 175,000 miles, a new transmission was not put in for replacement, but was rebuilt by Ford and currently I have 185,000 miles and as I slow down the transmission starts to jerk and I am slammed forward in my seat. This transmission does this everyday, without fail. Just a matter of time before this transmission fails.This transmission is acting like the last 2 transmissions that failed.”

NHTSA complaint #11668747, filed 2025-06

“Three summers in a row now the transmission overheats causing warning lights and errors to pop up while driving, then going away. Sometimes disabling vehicle power altogether. When control does come back, transmission gear changes happen at the wrong rpm , stuttering the vehicle and making erratic driving behavior. Ford ignored my requests to investigate for two years, and now that it's out of warranty, tell me I need to pay them to install a brand new transmission”

NHTSA complaint #11478261, filed 2022-08

“Transmission failed with only 17,000 miles (mostly highway) on the car. The car did not move forward from a parked location. It only moved in reverse. It had to be towed to the nearest dealership and when they examined it, it did not move in reverse either. Even though it is under warranty, the dealers are taking a long time to repair the car.”

NHTSA complaint #11451925, filed 2022-02

“The contact owns a 2019 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the transmission was shifting very rough. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over on the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in a recall regarding the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 102,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11509576, filed 2023-02, 102,000 miles

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 2020 Ford Transit Connect

Brakes
6 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsForward collision avoidance
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsLane departure
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Ford Transit Connect

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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