Photo: Ford / edited
A compact van that will be discontinued in the United States after the 2023 model year due to insufficient demand, the Ford Transit Connect has been hit by a massive recall. No fewer than 112,225 examples of the breed may feature door latch pawls that may crack, therefore preventing the front doors from opening.
Ford became aware of this issue long before May 2023, the month specified first in the chronology of events filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The federal watchdog presented the Dearborn-based automaker with four vehicle owner questionnaires alleging the aforementioned issue, prompting the American automaker to investigate.
The Critical Concern Review Group within FoMoCo reviewed the latches used on 2014 to 2016 model year Transit Connect vehicles, identifying two suppliers: Brose for the sliding door latches and Kiekert for the front door latches. Ford also reviewed 21 warranty claims over cracked front door latches from Kiekert.
The root cause of the fracturing pawl spring tab? That would be poor design. Three part numbers – DT1A-V21813-B, DT1A-V21812-A, DT1A-V21812-B – are listed in the document attached below. On the upside, Ford isn't aware of injuries or accidents related to said condition. Dealers will replace the front door latches with redesigned parts featuring stronger tabs that won't crack because of solar loading or high temperatures.
Known owners of the recalled 2014 to 2016 model year Transit Connect vehicles will be instructed to bring their vehicles in for the remedy via first-class mailed notifications due to be sent between August 28 and September 1. In the meantime, said owners can easily tell whether their small vans are recalled or not on the NHTSA's portal, which features a VIN look-up tool.
Suspect vehicles were produced in the period between August 9, 2013 and February 1, 2016. Only the first three model years of the second-gen Transit Connect are called back. Underpinned by Ford's Global C platform succeeded by the C2 of the Escape and Bronco Sport, the Transit Connect for the US market was manufactured in Spain rather than the United States.
The third generation isn't even a Ford because it's built around the Volkswagen Group's MQB platform in Poland with 1.5- and 2.0-liter Volkswagen Group turbocharged engines. 2014 to 2016 models used to sport a 2.5-liter Duratec naturally-aspirated lump or an optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost force-fed mill. Both used a torque-converter automatic with six forward ratios.
Ford's online configurator for the Transit Connect lists the 2023 model with a sticker price of $34,100 (excluding destination charge) for the XL Cargo Van. The XL Passenger Wagon is $35,600, whereas the Titanium Passenger Wagon tops the lineup with a recommended sticker price of $39,800 at press time. The commercial and passenger versions both feature a 2.0-liter engine with 162 ponies on deck, connected to the eight-speed auto of the Escape and Bronco Sport.
The Critical Concern Review Group within FoMoCo reviewed the latches used on 2014 to 2016 model year Transit Connect vehicles, identifying two suppliers: Brose for the sliding door latches and Kiekert for the front door latches. Ford also reviewed 21 warranty claims over cracked front door latches from Kiekert.
The root cause of the fracturing pawl spring tab? That would be poor design. Three part numbers – DT1A-V21813-B, DT1A-V21812-A, DT1A-V21812-B – are listed in the document attached below. On the upside, Ford isn't aware of injuries or accidents related to said condition. Dealers will replace the front door latches with redesigned parts featuring stronger tabs that won't crack because of solar loading or high temperatures.
Known owners of the recalled 2014 to 2016 model year Transit Connect vehicles will be instructed to bring their vehicles in for the remedy via first-class mailed notifications due to be sent between August 28 and September 1. In the meantime, said owners can easily tell whether their small vans are recalled or not on the NHTSA's portal, which features a VIN look-up tool.
Suspect vehicles were produced in the period between August 9, 2013 and February 1, 2016. Only the first three model years of the second-gen Transit Connect are called back. Underpinned by Ford's Global C platform succeeded by the C2 of the Escape and Bronco Sport, the Transit Connect for the US market was manufactured in Spain rather than the United States.
The third generation isn't even a Ford because it's built around the Volkswagen Group's MQB platform in Poland with 1.5- and 2.0-liter Volkswagen Group turbocharged engines. 2014 to 2016 models used to sport a 2.5-liter Duratec naturally-aspirated lump or an optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost force-fed mill. Both used a torque-converter automatic with six forward ratios.
Ford's online configurator for the Transit Connect lists the 2023 model with a sticker price of $34,100 (excluding destination charge) for the XL Cargo Van. The XL Passenger Wagon is $35,600, whereas the Titanium Passenger Wagon tops the lineup with a recommended sticker price of $39,800 at press time. The commercial and passenger versions both feature a 2.0-liter engine with 162 ponies on deck, connected to the eight-speed auto of the Escape and Bronco Sport.
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