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 DOOR WINDOW(S) OR SUNROOF ARE OPEN.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Ford Transit Connect visibility problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $350 · see visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
When does it fail?
Of the 6 visibility complaints filed for the 2011 Ford Transit Connect, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Visibility accounts for 25% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FORD: NEW AND IMPROVED, WIPER BLADE AND PIVOT ARM REPLACING OLD STYLE WIPER BLADE AND PIVOT ARM, WHICH FAILS PROPER WIPING AND/OR CLEARING, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND NOT COMPATIBLE WITH OLD STYLE BLADES AND PIVOT ARM. MODELS 2011-2012 TRANSIT CONNECT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The windshield wipers run all the time.
We had a windshield wiper fly off while driving in a storm. When we brought it to repair shop the other wiper fell off. We did research online and showed some vehicles for that issue were recalled but ours was not. Obviously this is a defect and Ford will not pay.
Re: safety recall notice 12s36/NHTSA recall 12v-374. While at my dealership mac haik Ford, 7201 s ih35. Georgetown tx on 8/6/12, I was notified of this safety recall for my windshield wipers at which time the part(s) were ordered for this repair. My last communication with my dealership was yesterday, wednesday 9/12/12 and their response: "still on back order". This is upsetting as I have…
While driving in the down pouring rain the vehicle wipers came off causing me to have to come to a sudden stop. *tr
Driving on highway I-95 on a rainy night the windshield wiper on the driver's side went off the windshield and got stuck on the driver's side rear view mirror. Extremely poor visibility! Lucky that there was no accident. Was in familiar territory, so I pulled off into highway service area and moved the arm back onto the windshield. Proceeded to continue home, but driver's side arm malfunctioned…
Had visibility trouble with your 2011 Ford Transit Connect?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2011 Ford Transit Connect?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 57,426 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Transit Connect.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.