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2011 Ford Transit Connect Van

Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

24 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.

Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)100
Severity (30%)100
Recall load (20%)97
Trend (10%)91

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20122026 YTD

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2011 Ford Transit Connect Van, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k mi

Also reported (mileage varies): Visibility & wipers (6)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Visibility & wipers

25%

6 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

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…

Transmission & drivetrain

17%

4 complaints

NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!

Engine

17%

4 complaints

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.. T…

Electrical system

17%

4 complaints

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 …

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Visibility · 12V374000

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Transit Connect vehicles. The wiper arms may not be adequately riveted resulting in incomplete or inconsistent clearing of the windshield and possible detachment of the wiper arm.

Risk: If the wiper arm detaches, the windshield wiper will fail and the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Before you hand over money

Check the VIN for open recalls

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Ford TRANSIT CONNECT VAN beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2011? See how every Transit Connect Van model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Ford Transit Connect Van against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2011 Ford Transit Connect Van as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.