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#BS-2021-FORTRA-5051

2021 Ford Transit ConnectProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 21 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
21
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Recalls
4
TSBs
56
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 21 complaints, 0 crashes, 6 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 3.1x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the BrakesHIGH

6 owners reported brakes issues.

!Inspect the DrivetrainMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Brakes (6 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Brakes6 (29%)
Drivetrain5 (24%)
Other3 (14%)
Engine2 (10%)
Wheels & Tires2 (10%)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking1 (5%)
Fuel System1 (5%)
Visibility1 (5%)

2021 Ford Transit Connect: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 29% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Transit Connect, with 6 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 24% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Transit Connect, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Transit Connect, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Wheels & Tires Issues

Wheels & Tires complaints account for 10% of all reports filed for the 2021 Ford Transit Connect, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to wheels & tires-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

2
22
3
23
4
24
12
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Ford Transit Connect. Recent trend: increasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

21V376000Jun 2021

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2021 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

21V592000Dec 2021

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Transit and 2021 Transit Connect vehicles. The front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

22V413000Oct 2022

POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.

25V442000Sep 2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2021 Ford Transit Connect NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Ford Transit Connect is the 2012 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2021 Ford Transit Connect vs. Class Average (Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

21

Class avg

7

3.1x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical special purpose vehicle 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 21 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Ford Transit Connect Model Years

2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
View all Ford Transit Connect years →

2021 Ford Transit Connect: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford Transit Connect?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Ford Transit Connect is related to the brakes, with 6 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Ford Transit Connect reliable?
The 2021 Ford Transit Connect has 21 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 6 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 3.1x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2021 Ford Transit Connect?
NHTSA rates the 2021 Ford Transit Connect 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 Ford Transit Connect problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2021 Ford Transit Connect have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 Ford Transit Connect has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Transit Connect problems start?
Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.
When was the 2021 Ford Transit Connect data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 21 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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