What 24 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Transit Connect Wagon

Passenger side wiper arm came off during a recent rain storm. I have contacted my local Ford dealer and Ford Customer Service in regards to 12s36 (NHTSA #12v-374). Ford explained it effects certain model years, produced during a certain time, at a certain manufacture facility. My vehicle meets all of the parameters, yet they will not honor the recall because the vin number is not listed. Please help. It is a minor repair, yet it is obviously a manufacturer issue.

NHTSA ODI 11723576

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.. THIS HAS DAMAGED 3 SETS OF MOTOR MOUNTS IN 117,000 MILES STARTED ST 15000 MILES AND GETTING WORSE AT DEALER AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11319275

TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED AND IS BURN

NHTSA ODI 11219797

MULTIPLE TIMES, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SEEMS TO JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WITH NO WARNING ALL THE LIGHTS AND DASH INDICATORS WILL FLASH AND ALL GO OUT. ENGINE WILL BRIEFLY RUN, THEN QUIT. SEVERAL TIMES BEEN VERY LUCKY TO GET OFF ROAD OR FREEWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. FORD DEALER WORKED ON IT FOR 1+ YRS, REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. I'VE TROUBLE TESTED AND FIND NO ISSUES. NO APPARENT GROUNDING ISSUES. NO FUSES OR RELAYS APPEAR TO BE FAULTY. FOUND MANY LIKE-COMPLAINTS ONLINE. ACTS LIKE A BATTERY/ALTERNATOR ISSUE. BUT LATER, AFTER JUMPED BATTERY, ALL SYSTEMS WORKS WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS...YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO HIT.

NHTSA ODI 11193946

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO DECELERATE. ALSO, BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. PRATER FORD (704 S WALL ST, CALHOUN, GA 30701, (706) 629-2883) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11183981

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 TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF THE BACK SEAT EXTREME PROBLEM IN AN EMERGENCY

NHTSA ODI 11114436

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND DID A BASIC TUNEUP, OIL CHANGE AND SPARK PLUGS. I ORDERED A AFTER MARKET FILTER FROM K&N AND HAD TO WAIT A WEEK BEFORE IT ARRIVED. AIR FILTER WAS NOT REPLACED YET BUT HOPING IT WOULD HELP WITH ACCELERATING. THE A/C WORKED WELL AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING BUT STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR DURING IDLE. A FEW DAYS LATER MY TRANSIT GOT REAL HOT AT A STOP LIGHT SO I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED FOR ANY LEAKS OR COOLANT LOSE IN THE RESERVOIR... ALL WAS WELL AND I SAW THE ELECTRIC FANS SPINNING. CAR GOT HOT AGAIN AND CHECKED ONLINE FOR A SOLUTION AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HIGH SPEED FUSE BEING BLOWN. CHECKED AND THAT WAS THE ISSUE, REPLACED THE FUSE AND HIGH SPEED WORKED AGAIN. CHECKED FOR RECALLS BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND SAW THAT THERE WAS RECALLS ON SOME BUT NOT ALL VINS QUALIFY???? ALSO SAW COMPLAINTS ABOUT IDLELING AND POOR ACCELERATION... INSTALLED K&N AIR FILTER, CLEANED THROTTLE BODY AND THE PROBLEMS STILL PERSIST. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS GREAT.

NHTSA ODI 11110070

DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY AT 80 MPH AND CAR STALLS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO THE SIDE RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER STARTED DOING AGAIN AND MORE OFTEN. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE MY CAR IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PUT A SCANNER ON THE CAR AND "THROTTLE STUCK CLOSED CODE CAME ON". I WILL TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. I BELIEVE IT IS A ISSUE FROM THE MANUFACTURERE.

NHTSA ODI 10809362

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUN ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10789794

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 FOR THAT ISSUE WERE RECALLED BUT OURS WAS NOT. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT AND FORD WILL NOT PAY.

NHTSA ODI 10787166

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE THROTTLE BODY AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BECOME INOPERABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 10763825

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE WRENCH SYMBOL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 10747600

FRONT TURN SIGNALS REPEATEDLY STOP FUNCTIONING - AFTER CHANGING BULBS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SHORTING WAS OCCURRING IN THE HEADLIGHT BUCKET - THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON THROUGHOUT THE 4 TRANSIT CONNECTS IN OUR FLEET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10608066

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-95 ON A RAINY NIGHT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND GOT STUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR. EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY! LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. WAS IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY, SO I PULLED OFF INTO HIGHWAY SERVICE AREA AND MOVED THE ARM BACK ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE HOME, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE ARM MALFUNCTIONED TWICE MORE IN LESS THAN 5 MILES. FORD DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE GAVE ME A MORNING APPOINTMENT, AND TIGHTENED THE MECHANISM. THEY DID NOT CHARGE ME OTHER TTHAN FOR THE OIL CHANGE 'UPSELL'. BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL AND WOULD NOT TECHNICALLY PUT THIS IN THE SYSTEM AS A WARRANTY CLAIM, BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN A ROUGH WINTER AND PERHAPS THE MECHANISM HAD BEEN DAMAGED WHILE CLEANNG OFF ICE OR OTHER WINTER WEAR AND TEAR. I DO NOT THINK THAT I EVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE DEALER'S EXPLANATION ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT A RECALL DOES EXIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596783

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,300. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,344.

NHTSA ODI 10586752

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND SWAY BAR FAILED EVERY 20,000 MILES. THE EXACT REPLACEMENT HAD BEEN MADE ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE RAPIDLY RECURRING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS ALERTED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO FURTHER ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,873 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 10573873

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

NHTSA ODI 10544399

WHILE DRIVING IN THE DOWN POURING RAIN THE VEHICLE WIPERS CAME OFF CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10534354

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10532673

IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. I SET THE CURSE CONTROL AT APPROX. 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, OCCASIONALLY THE SPEED WILL DROP DRAMATICALLY BELOW THE SET SPEED AND THEN START TO SPEED UP AGAIN BUT WAY PASTED THE 60 MPH SET. I HAVE TO DIS ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO STOP THE SPEED UP. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO THE FORD GARAGE, BUT THEY SAY THEY KNOW OF NO ISSUES WITH CRUISE CONTROL. I THINK THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF NOT CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10502752

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS ADAPTED FOR WHEELCHAIR USE. THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE. VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD ON ANY KIND OF INCLINE WHEN VEHICLE FEELS ANY KIND OF WHEEL SPINNING. OTHERWISE WOULD OF DRIVEN UP VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. SEVERAL NEIGHBORS HELPED PUSH AND PULL. GOT TO END OF ROAD TURNING CORNER WITH SLIGHT SKID AND AGAIN TIRES STOPPED. FINNALY CALLED TOLL TRUCK. BACK TO MY HOUSE WHICH WOULD BE GOING DOWN THE SLIGHT INCLINE WITH NO PROBLEMS. GRANTED THERE WAS SNOW BUT NOT ENOUGH TO STOP ANYONE ELSE. NEED TO HAVE A OFF BUTTON FOR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM OR VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND ANY WEATHER THAN DRY AND SUNNY. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE A VERY HANDICAPPED PERSON. BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE SO IT WOULD NOT BREAK DOWN. FORD NEVER EXPLAINED PROBLEMS DRIVING IN NOT SUNNY AND DRY CONDITIONS. I AM IN MICHIGAN. DRIVEN MANY VEHICLES AND AM A SAFE DRIVER. IS THIS VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE OTHER THAN DRY AND SUNNY. SINCERELY, [XXX] WITH A YEAR OLD VEHICLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10496907

RE: SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 12S36/NHTSA RECALL 12V-374. WHILE AT MY DEALERSHIP MAC HAIK FORD, 7201 S IH35. GEORGETOWN TX ON 8/6/12, I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT WHICH TIME THE PART(S) WERE ORDERED FOR THIS REPAIR. MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH MY DEALERSHIP WAS YESTERDAY, WEDNESDAY 9/12/12 AND THEIR RESPONSE: "STILL ON BACK ORDER". THIS IS UPSETTING AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD CEASE TO WORK AT ANY TIME AND TODAY IT IS RAINING AND I WAS UNABLE TO RUN NECESSARY ERRANDS AS I DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH SUCH FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION, OR SOMEONE'S ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10475345

THIS IS A 2011 VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND IS A COURIER SO HE DOES GO QUITE A FEW MILES. ON A PART LIKE THIS, HAD TO COME DIFFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. FORD IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR VEHICLE. WE PAID $600.00 TOTAL FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH FORD AND THEIR NON EXISTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FOR THOSE IN THE FUTURE, DON'T BOTHER, YOUR ONLY PART IS IN IT, YOU GET TO PAY FOR THE CAR. GOOD LUCK ON GETTING ANYTHING UNDER WARRANTY, WHAT EVER GOES WRONG WILL NOT BE COVERED, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10454981

THE ADVANCETRACK RSC, OR TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE, ON THE 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT CAN NOT BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF. THIS HAS RESULTED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WERE THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE IN TRAFFIC IN INTERSECTIONS, PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, AND DRIVING UP ANY DEGREE OF INCLINE ON MUDDY OR SNOWY SURFACES.THE VEHICLE WOULD OTHERWISE BE CAPABLE OF PROCEEDING SAFELY AND CAPABLY BY SELECTING A MANUAL SHUT OFF OR ELECTING A MINIMUM SPEED CUT OFF FOR THE PROGRAM FROM A MENU SUCH AS 5-10 MPH. I DRIVE A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE YEARLY (60,000+ MILES) IN DIVERS CONDITIONS AND MANY KINDS OF VEHICLES. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY FAILURE IN PRODUCT DESIGN. THE FEATURE CREATES DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS THAT OTHER VEHICLES DO NOT ENCOUNTER WITH THAT DESIGN. A MANUAL SHUT OFF SHOULD BE A STANDARD SAFETY FEATURE FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY. THIS FEATURE ALSO MAKES THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES NOT SAFETY RELATED BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN. THE FUNCTION OF THIS FEATURE HAS PUT ME AND MY BEGINNING DRIVER DAUGHTER IN PERIL IN VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE DESIGN CREATES A HAZARD FOR. THE ENGINEERS NEED TO TEST THIS DESIGN AT ITS FAIL POINTS AND CONSIDER THE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY CONSEQUENCES (FAILURE). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10449561