I am writing to report a serious safety concern involving our 2023 Ford Transit Connect (VIN [XXX]) van that resulted in an unintended vehicle movement and collision. While the incident resulted in only minor property damage and a minor injury, we believe the circumstances warrant review due to the potential for a much more severe outcome. The vehicle had been exhibiting operational issues prior to the incident. Employees reported that it was running and shifting noticeably rough and, after being parked, would not move when placed in either Drive or Reverse. The engine RPM would increase to approximately 2,000 RPM with throttle input but the vehicle remained stationary. The following witness statements document the sequence of events: Witness #1: [XXX] started the van to verify whether the issue from the previous day remained. The van still would not move. He placed the transmission in Neutral, turned the engine off, and we were able to push the van by hand. Based on this, he concluded the brakes were not preventing the vehicle from moving. He then reached into the van and restarted the engine. Immediately upon startup, the van accelerated forward unexpectedly at a high rate of speed, jumped the curb, and struck the hangar wall. [XXX] attempted to stop the vehicle, and I also attempted to intervene, but the event occurred so quickly that neither of us was able to prevent the collision. Witness #2: I went to the van to diagnose the reported issue. I had been informed the van h
2023 Ford Transit Connect
Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the transmission. No safety recall has been issued.
Not among the Ford Transit Connect years to avoid. Which Ford Transit Connect years to avoid →
Most common 2023 Ford Transit Connect problems
1 of the 1 complaints (100%) are about the transmission.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train · transmission | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsAll 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2014Reading this record
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.