What 127 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that he was unable to close the front driver’s side door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the driver’s side door latch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case opened. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 79,006.

NHTSA ODI 11433870

On August 28, 2021, in Suisun City, CA, just prior driving, the owner discovered the front side door latch had failed, resulting in an inability to close the door. The vehicle had been parked in the direct sunlight with ambient temperatures over 100 degrees F. No prior indication the door latch was failing. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by local Ford Dealer and side door latch was found inoperative and was replaced. Owner retained replaced side door latch. Since the 2014 Ford Transit Connect was not built at the Valencia Assembly Plant, per Ford Recall #s 20S30, 15S16, and 16S30, the owner had to pay full the repair cost ($370.65). The serial numbers of the failed side door latch is FoMoCo DT1A V21813-BA. 4081 4157 97142 DOPRF. Consideration should be given to include 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connects built in Turkey be added to NHTSA door latch safety recall such that Ford can notify dealers to inspect and replace those side door latches at no cost to owners. Driving a vehicle with a front door latches that may be faulty is a safety hazard. See attached photos and document

NHTSA ODI 11431298

The front driver-side door will not latch. The door opened while driving. The fault appeared on the afternoon of Saturday 21AUG21. My seat belt saved my life and those around me in traffic. I booked the first available appointment for my local Ford dealership to inspect on Thursday 26AUG21. No warning sounds or changes in operation to indicate there was a problem prior to the fault.

NHTSA ODI 11430298

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the hatch inadvertently opened. The contact also stated that on several occasions the hatch would lock and failed to unlock when needed. The contact stated that the door ajar warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic stated that there was nothing needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20V331000 (Latches/ Locks/ Linkages). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to another local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11423773

The door panel on the rear sliding door is falling off due to failure of the adhesive. This is an issue with other Ford Transit Connects under NHTSA campaign 14V777000 and Ford recall number 14S26 but my Transit doesn't appear to come up under that recall even though i am experiencing the issue and it was manufactured in the time period specified under the recall. The panel is still on the van with tape keeping it secured so it is available for inspection. If the panel were to fall off during driving it could cause an accident by hitting other vehicles. The panel has not been inspected by anyone yet.

NHTSA ODI 11420430

ON APRIL 12, 2015, ATTENDED A FAMILY FUNERAL IN TAMPA, FL. THE TRANSIT CONNECT STARTED TO SHIFT HARD AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT WOULD MAKE A CLUNK NOISE. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT RODENTS HAD DAMAGED THE WIRING HARNESS. IT WAS REPLACED BY MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE, BUT MY POWERTRAIN PROBLEMS HAVE PERSISTED TO THIS DATE. I HAVE SUBMITTED A DOCUMENT SENT TO WHITE'S TRANSMISSION OF SEBRING, FL WITH A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE POWERTRAIN ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11408232

AFTER HAVING SEVERAL FLAT TIRES I HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE INTERSTATE AFTER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT AND THE ENGINE MUST HAVE BOUNCED UP AND DOWN TOO MUCH SO THE ACCIDENT DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON. THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS AFFECTED AS WELL AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO START, STARTED MISFIRING AND CONKED OUT AT LOW SPEEDS. WHENEVER I PUT FUEL IN TO THE GAS TANK THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO START AGAIN AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO TURN THE KEY 10>20 TIMES TO START THE ENGINE. UNLESS WHEN I PUT FUEL INTO THE TANK AND I KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING (FIRE HAZARD). AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES OF DRIVING THE CAR AFTER THE CAR ACCIDENT LIGHT CAME ON AND NO REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR THE MISFIRING AND STALLING OUT AT LOW SPEED WOULD DISSIPATE EXCEPT FOR THE REFUELING PROBLEM. OR AT LEAST UNTIL THE CAR WENT OVER A LARGE BUMP/POTHOLE AND THEN START ALL OVER AGAIN STALLING OUT AT LOW SPEEDS. I DID TAKE THE CAR TO A GOODYEAR AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IT MAY TAKE 2>3 DAYS WORTH OF REPAIRS TO FIX IT. UNFORTUNATELY I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND PROBABLY CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT MULTIPLE TIMES AS THE EXPENSE WOULD AMOUNT TO TWO>.THREE TIMES THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR ITSELF PLUS THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE BOUNCING TOO MUCH JUST CAUSES THE SAME PROBLEM TO REOCCUR SO IT'S BASICALLY A BOTTOMLESS PIT OF REPAIR AND EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI 11406445

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRE ISSUES. I TOOK THE VAN TO FOR SEVERAL TIME TO ASK ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE I HAD WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I EVENTUALLY SOLD THE VAN TO A FRIEND OF MINE WITH ABOUT 106,000 MILES ON IT. I ALSO ADVISED HIM OF THE RECALL INFO AND TOLD HIM FORD SAID IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE BURNT TO THE GROUND WITH IN 10,000 MILES AFTER I SOLD IT TO HIM. IT WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 WHEN THEY NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE COWLING AND PULLED OVER. THE VAN THEN BURST IN TO FLAME FORWARD OF THE WINDSHIELD NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THE FIRE DID MAKE IT TO THE FRONT SEATING AREA.

NHTSA ODI 11404024

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BUSHING FELL OUT WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK, TRANSMISSION IS STUCK IN PARK AND CANNOT SHIFT. FORD DEALERSHIP WILL NOT SELL THE PART.

NHTSA ODI 11397560

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 ODI 11388117

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. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD HAD A VEHICLE OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR IN THEIR SHOP THAT VERY DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS ALSO NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM VERY MUCH PERTAINS TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AS THE DOOR OF A VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM MAY LATCH AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO SHUT IT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS CERTAINLY A FRIGHTENING PROSPECT. I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED PROACTIVELY TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY TO OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11366931

2014 TRANSIT CONNECT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR LATCH SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI 11361827

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 ODI 11361408

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING WITH THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT - SERVICE REQUIRED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11355167

SUN VISOR BAR INTERNALLY CRACKED POSSIBLY FROM SUN AND CAUSES THE VISOR TO DROP DOWN SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING, DANGEROUSLY OBSCURING VIEW.

NHTSA ODI 11351859

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 ODI 11351317

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. NOTHING HAPPENED TO WARRANT IT BREAKING. THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH OR LOCK, SO IT IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. IT WILL JUST OPEN AND ATTEMPT TO CLOSE WITH THE MOTION OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THINKING THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE, AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE LATCH STOPPED WORKING. IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11350692

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH PAWL FAILURE, DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN IN THE CLOSED POSITION, NOR CAN IT BE LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11343373

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ON MY FORD 2014 TRANSIT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T, BUT IT SOMETIMES, ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T. ON THE HIGHWAY BENDS, THE THE STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY WORK AND THE CAR WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS A BIT OUT OF CONTROL. IT IS FINE IF IT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN BUT IT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T. SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR, IT WORKS BUT WHEN YOU GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY, IT BREAKS. WE ALSO HAVE NO MONEY TO FIX IT. THIS HAPPENS ON FORD A LOT AND MANY CARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT MINE.

NHTSA ODI 11340260

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERABLE ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON EXTREMELY HOT DAYS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED, LEAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DARK. GJOVIK FORD INC. (2600 US-34, SANDWICH, IL 60548, (815) 786-3333) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V406000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 11328018

PANORAMIC MOON ROOF (NON-MOVABLE) URETHANE SEAM SEPARATED FROM BODY AND PRESENTS AIR/WATER LEAK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF UNCHECKED, RESEARCH FOUND OTHER TRANSIT CONNECTS WHERE THE ENTIRE MOONROOF BECAME DETACHED AND FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. HAPPENED GRADUALLY OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH, WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL (20S22) FOR THIS CONDITION, BUT FORD REFUSED COVERAGE FOR MY VEHICLE SPECIFICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325041

THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR LATCH NO LONGER LATCHES. THIS PREVENTS THE DOOR FROM CLOSING AND CAN CAUSE IT TO OPEN DURING VEHICLE MOTION. I PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED THE SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE IN 2017. THIS FIX SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED THREE YEARS LATER. FORD WILL NOT REPERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THE ORIGINAL ONE IS STILL FINE.

NHTSA ODI 11322183

MY FORD TRANSIT CONNECT REAR LIFT-GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. STATIONARY. ALL DOOR LOCKS WORKED WITH THE KEY FOB EXCEPT THE REAR LIFT-GATE. THE LIFT-GATE WOULD NOT WORK WITH THE INTERIOR DOOR LOCK ELECTRIC SWITCHES. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE LIFT-GATE IN ANY MANNER. THE LIFT-GATE DOES NOT HAVE A LOCK OPERATED BY A KEY, JUST AN ELECTRONIC SWITCH. I CHECKED THE 10AMP FUSE FOR THE REAR LIFT-GATE LOCK AND IT WAS DEFECTIVE. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND THE DOOR WORKED FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE BREAKING AGAIN. I REPLACED THE 10 AMP FUSE 4 MORE TIMES, EACH TIME IMMEDIATELY BLOWING THE FUSE. AFTER READING 2 SIMILAR ONLINE ISSUES ABOUT THIS, MY OPERATIONAL THEORY WAS THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES POWERING THE REAR LIFT-GATE SWITCH WERE "SHORTING OUT". THE MOST LIKELY PLACE WAS THE AREA WHERE THE WIRES PASSED FROM THE CAR BODY TO THE REAR LIFT-GATE. HOWEVER, SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE LIFT-GATE, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE WIRES. I TOOK THE TRANSIT CONNECT TO THE CLOSEST FORD SERVICE FACILITY, AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE PERSON REMOVED THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER SLEEVE COVERING THE WIRES EXITING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRANSIT CHASSIS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LIFT-GATE. ONE COULD EASILY SEE A NUMBER OF BLACK WIRES WITH INSULATION MISSING AND EXPOSED COPPER WIRE. THE WIRES WERE CONTACTING EACH OTHER AND/OR THE METAL WHERE THE WIRES EXIT THE CHASSIS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE OTHER WIRES OPERATE, BUT THE REARVIEW CAMERA HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONING FOR MONTHS. (CAR IN MOTION, BACKING UP) I FEEL THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, FOR THE SHORTING WIRES ARE IN THE APPROXIMATE VICINITY OF THE GAS FILL SPOUT INSIDE THE CHASSIS. GAS VAPORS COULD IGNITE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11316245

MOTOR HAS A KNOCKING / TAPPING NOICE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S COMING FROM BETWEEN THE CYLINDERS 2 AND 3. THE CAR HAD LOW COOLANT ALSO WHICH IS A LINK TO A CRACK IN THE BLOCK. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/N0JYS2TEXDK

NHTSA ODI 11300396

AT 76K MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND MISSING SHIFTS FROM BOTH REVERSE AND DRIVE SELECTIONS, EITHER HOT OR COLD. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ARE WHERE THIS ISSUE IS MOST ACUTE. IT OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND ALSO WHEN DECELERATING. GATOR FORD STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE COST. ALSO STATED FLUID WAS BURNT AND METAL FOUND IN PAN. ALL SERVICE WITH EXCEPTION OF LAST OIL CHANGE WAS CONDUCTED AT DEALER SINCE PURCHASED NEW. AT NO TIME WERE WE INFORMED OF ANY TRANSMISSION FLUID BREAK DOWN. DEALER PROVIDED LIST OF FAULT CODES WHICH DID NOT TRIGGER DASH INDICATOR OF ANY KIND.

NHTSA ODI 11288340