2015 Ford Transit Connect Safety Report

The 2015 Ford Transit Connect presents a mixed safety picture, characterized by a significant number of recalls addressing critical safety components, alongside a moderate volume of consumer complaints. With 10 recalls, this vehicle has seen more recall activity than typical, particularly concerning door latches and power train issues. NHTSA crash test ratings show a strong performance in side impact tests, earning 5 stars, and a respectable 4 stars in frontal crash tests. However, overall and rollover ratings are not available, which limits a complete understanding of its crashworthiness. Common complaint patterns, based on 65 total complaints, highlight issues with 'UNKNOWN OR OTHER' (11 complaints), 'STRUCTURE' (9 complaints), and 'POWER TRAIN' (7 complaints). Several complaints directly relate to recall issues, such as door latches failing to secure, leading to doors opening while driving, and shifter cable bushing degradation causing unintended vehicle movement. The 'ENGINE' component also accounts for 4 complaints, including reports of overheating and 'ENGINE FAULT' warnings. The recall history is extensive, with multiple recalls for 'LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH' (affecting 2014-2016 and other model years), addressing the risk of doors opening unexpectedly. Two significant recalls pertain to the 'POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)', where a degrading shifter cable bushing could lead to the vehicle not shifting into the intended gear, increasing crash risk. Other recalls cover issues like rearview camera malfunctions, panoramic roof panel separation, and engine fire risk due to oil leaks. The presence of 3 crashes and 4 injuries among the complaints underscores the real-world impact of these issues. In summary, while the 2015 Ford Transit Connect demonstrates solid performance in specific crash tests, its safety record is significantly impacted by a high number of recalls, particularly for door latches and transmission shifter components. The consumer complaints largely echo these recall concerns, indicating that these issues have manifested in real-world driving scenarios, leading to crashes and injuries.

Our recommendation: Given the high number of safety recalls, particularly for door latches and transmission shifter components, prospective buyers should verify that all 10 recalls have been completed. A pre-purchase inspection focusing on the power train, door mechanisms, and steering system is highly recommended.