2012 Ford Transit Connect problems & reliability
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Transit Connect, alongside 1 safety recall campaign. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2012 Ford Transit Connect vehicles were involved in 20 fatal crashes with 8 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 23% |
| Visibility | 5 | 19% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 15% |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 15% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 8% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 8% |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 8% |
| Seats | 2 | 8% |
| Structure | 2 | 8% |
| Tires | 2 | 8% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Transit Connect. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the front driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts were damp following a rainstorm. Upon inspection, the contact observed that the door seals on both front doors were allowing water to…”
Structure · filed Jan 8, 2026
“1. The heat shielding around the exhaust system failed to protect the fuel tank from exhaust heat. Heat from the exhaust system melted holes in the fuel tank, causing fuel to leak from the tank. The parts are at the Ford dealer with the vehicle. 2. The fuel tank developed leaks when it melted, causing a risk of fire…”
Electrical System · filed Apr 20, 2024
“The seat belt buckle/latch in the backseat is a dangerous defective design that can cause injury. It is available for inspection, see photos provided. Merely taking a seat can result in a bruised or broken coccyx. The car was parked when the incident occurred. No, the problem has not been reproduced by a dealer or…”
Seats · filed Oct 13, 2022
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
22 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Transit Connect. The 10 most recent:
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated…
SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 24, 2026
While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024…
SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 10, 2024
All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the…
SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2024
For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle…
SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 4, 2023
The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved…
SSM 47009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 10, 2018
The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved…
SSM 47009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 10, 2018
Some vehicles may have a concern where the safety belt retractor webbing does not extract from the stowed position or exhibits excessive pressure on the occupant during use. This may be due to a normal condition which…
SSM 46102 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 30, 2016
Ford: no service action is recommended for this condition. Please use at your discretion. Various 2010-2015 vehicles may experience a turbulence noise, similar to an helicopter noise, at highway speeds when the rear…
44863 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 1, 2015
Ford: the radiator side tank seams, either right or left, is leaking coolant due to gasket between tank and radiator core. Model 2012 transit connect. *pe
TSB-14-0110 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 22, 2014
Ford: transmission in vehicle may have burnt fluid and failure of direct clutch along with no 3rd or 4th gear and a flare upshift of 2-3 or 2-4. *pe updated 3/10/14. *pe
TSB-12-6-15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 7, 2014
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2012 Ford Transit Connect has 1 NHTSA recall campaign — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2012 Ford Transit Connect?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.