2013-2016 FIESTA, ESCAPE, TRANSIT CONNECT AND 2013 FUSION VEHICLES WITH A 1.6L GASOLINE TURBOCHARGED DIRECT INJECTION (GTDI) ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE OIL LEVEL READING THAT IS UP TO 8 MM ABOVE THE MAXIMUM MARK ON THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK WHEN THE ENGINE IS FILLED WITH THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL. THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS ENGINE. DO NOT LOWER THE OIL LEVEL TO THE MAXIMUM MARK ON THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK IF THE ENGINE CONTAINS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF OIL. ADDING OIL IS NOT REQUIRED IF THE LEVEL IS ABOVE THE MINIMUM MARK ON THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK. REFER TO THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR PROPER ENGINE OIL CAPACITY.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Ford Transit Connect engine problems
moderate 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 5 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Transit Connect, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 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 engine 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.
TO HELP DIFFERENTIATE ENGINE OIL LEAKS FROM OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES, A NEW WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT ENGINE OIL DYE IS AVAILABLE. WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM), SECTION 303-00 HAS BEEN REVISED TO REFERENCE THE NEW WHITE-COLORED DYE. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE PROVIDES A DISTINCT WHITE GLOW TO IDENTIFY ENGINE OIL LEAKS. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE REQUIRES A PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP. THE WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT DYE AND PURE UV LAMP ARE NOW IN THE ROTUNDA CATALOG. DYE AND LAMP PART NUMBERS. GASOLINE ONLY DYE: 1 OUNCE BOTTLE 164-TP-33200601. DIESEL ONLY DYE: 8 OUNCE BOTTLE: 164-TP-3320-0008. PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP 164-TP8695 OR 164-R3748.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer to historical DTCs and the PC/ED, Section 3 No DTCs Present Index chart for further information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: SOME MODEL VEHICLES MANUAL FOR POWERTRAIN CONTROL/EMISSION DIAGNOSTIC (PC/ED) HAS BEEN UPDATED REGARDING IMPROVED COOLING FAN CIRCUIT DUE TO A LACK OF AIR CONDITIONING, A MALFUNCTIONING INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND OVERHEATING.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Takata recall - cooling system, overheating , danger - could cause fire due to over heating ! Coolant level keeps dropping , no warning !! Always while driving ! Can't go far ! Can't drive vehicle !!
3/19 the temperature gage went hot quickly. Checked coolant, although full in 2/19 now empty. Garage could not find the problem and contacted davidson's Ford who advised to install a new radiator and thermostat. In 7/19 transit began to stall after short drive, then engine got so hot it stalled in traffic at a busy intersection and would not start. I kept trying to start it many times. Had…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford transit connect. While driving various speeds, the cooling gauge went to hot without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that coolant needed to be added. The contact called davidson Ford (18621 us-11, watertown, ny 13601, (315) 873-3388) where it was diagnosed that the radiator and thermostat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
My transit's gauge went to hot very quickly, I checked the coolant and it was empty. It was full a month ago. I added coolant and the gauge still went to hot. I took it to my mechanic and they could not find the problem. They called the Ford dealer and told them the problem. They told my mechanic to put in a new radiator and thermostat. Which they delivered to my mechanic. But the gauge…
Had engine trouble with your 2013 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 engine problem on the 2013 Ford Transit Connect?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 46,675 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2013/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.