2010 Ford Transit Connect: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2010 Ford Transit Connect
On the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, the failure owners report most often is parking brake failure, with 6 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 52,500 miles. Overall it scores 69 out of 100, high risk for a 2010.
High risk for a 2010 — 186th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. 56 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 21 named failure modes on the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, and the three most-reported carry 32% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Parking brake failure leads with 6 reports and about 0.2 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other brake problem follows with 6 reports, median 5,000 miles.
Other body or interior problem follows with 6 reports, median 70,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into brakes (13), body (6) and transmission (6).
At what mileage it happens
46 of the reports on the 2010 Ford Transit Connect came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 52,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 48% by 50,000 miles, 78% by 100,000 miles and 93% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 3 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 10,000 and 20,000 miles, which alone holds 20% of the dated reports.
41% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 21. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 3 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 7 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 3 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.38, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: parking brake failure at $250–$1,300, other brake problem at $300–$1,800, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000 and other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
25% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 6 | 5 | — | 109k | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 6 | 5 | — | 5k | — | 0.2 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 6 | 6 | — | 68k | — | 0.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 4 | 3 | — | 56k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 16k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 3 | 2 | — | 133k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 3 | 2 | — | 80k | — | 0.1 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 3 | 2 | — | 23k | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 3 | 2 | — | 141k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 3 | 3 | — | 18k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 32k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 21k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Cooling fan failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 120k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 66k | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 15k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 77k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 90k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 3 | 3 | — | 80k | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect draws about 1.7 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 83rd percentile of complaint rates among 2010 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 33,728 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2010 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Parking brake failure
While driving on dry street at 35-40 MPH had car in front of me come to a sudden stop. I applied brakes and they did not stop car. Pedal felt hard and there was no activation of ABS. Steered van towards curb and reached for emergency brake but struck rear of other vehicle. No skid marks. Extensive damage to van. Insurance company totaled vehicle. State safety inspection was current and brakes had been checked by a mechanic within the last few months. Have had prior issues with brake wear. Had to replace first set of brakes at about 8000 mikes. Dealer states that it was "normal wear and tear". Have also had issues with fuses for electric windows blowing and signal and brake light bulbs failing constantly. All occupants were restrained but 13 year old female in rear seat struck head on b post and suffered concussion.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 ford transit connect. While the vehicle was stationary, the driver's door would not open. As a result, the contact had to climb over the emergency brake and exit through the passenger door. The contact, an independent mechanic, stated that the generic electronic module that controlled all of the locking mechanisms in the vehicle failed to lock and unlock on more than one occasion while inside or outside of the vehicle. Furthermore, both of the rear sliding doors experienced intermittent failures. A dealer was not made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 116,000.
Other brake problem
Front brake pads completely worn down to the metal at 5000 miles. Rear brakes dealer mechanic first told me had 15% left, then they "reinspected" and said they had 50% left and were "fine" after I complained. Dealer finally replaced front brakes under warranty, after first telling me were "normal" wear and tear and thus were not covered. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 ford transit connect. The contact stated that the front brakes were worn prematurely. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they replaced the brakes and rotors. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. The current mileage was 28,000. The approximate failure mileage was 10.
Other body or interior problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 ford transit connect. The contact stated that the keyless entry fob failed. The contact had to use the key to manually open the doors and start the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that they were unable to correct the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 6,000 and the current mileage was 7,000.
The vehicle was parked in a security enclosure by early evening on saturday sept. 29. At approximately 1:30 am on sunday morning, a neighbor living adjacent to our office facility called 911 reporting that the vehicle was on fire. Sacramento metro fire responded and put out the flames. A fire investigator was called out to look at the scene. It was the investigator,s opinion that the fire was not arson related as there were 3 other company vehicles parked in very close proximity and were not themselves damaged by separate incidents of fire. No forensic investigation was pursued. *tr
Recalls on the 2010 model year
NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 2010 Ford Transit Connect, affecting an estimated 33,732 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover equipment adaptive/mobility and structure:body:roof and pillars. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
34 vehicles 2012-04-17- Defect
- Main mobility is recalling certain conversion vans built on model year 2008-2010 chevrolet express, 2009 gmc savana, and 2010 ford transit connect chassis, and fitted with certain braun wheelchair lifts. Over time and with frequent use, the roll stop latches on the wheelchair lifts outer barrier may become bent or misaligned.
- Consequence
- A wheelchair occupant may defeat or ride over the insufficiently latched roll stop. If this occurs when the lift platform is in an elevated position, the wheelchairs occupant could fall and sustain injury.
- Remedy
- Main mobility is working with braun to notify owners, and braun dealers will repair the vehicles, free of charge. Main mobility has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact main mobility at 1-716-759-6811.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
33,728 vehicles 2010-07-07- Defect
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2010 transit connect vehicles manufactured from december 5, 2008 through may 31, 2010 for failing to meet the minimum requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during vehicle testing the vehicle exceeded head injury criteria requirements set by the standard. The headliner retention pushpin located on the headliner above the b-pillar trim on both the left and right side of the vehicles needs to be replaced.
- Consequence
- In the event of a vehicle crash, an occupant could be at an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on july 19, 2010. Owners may contact ford motor company at 1-866-436-7332.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2010 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2010 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2010 — 186th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 11 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2017 comes out best at 59 and 2020 worst at 76, with 2010 itself at 69.
If the model year is negotiable, 2017, 2015, 2018, 2014 and 2016 score lower than 2010 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2010–2012 generation specifically, 2011 is the strongest year at 68 and 2010 the weakest at 69.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2010-2012 generation, 2011 Ford Transit Connect scores best at 68 and 2010 Ford Transit Connect worst at 69.
What this page cannot tell you
56 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 56 reports, 46 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 82% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Transit Connect?
The most-reported failures are parking brake failure (6 reports, median 110,000 miles), other brake problem (6 reports, median 5,000 miles) and other body or interior problem (6 reports, median 70,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2010 Ford Transit Connect reliable?
It scores 69 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 186th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2010 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Ford Transit Connect is best?
Within the 2010–2012 generation, 2011 scores best at 68 out of 100 and 2010 worst at 69. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed