2013 Ford Transit Connect Review
Price Estimate: $8,900





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Easy to park and maneuver in tight spaces
- above average fuel economy
- large, versatile cargo area
- clever business-oriented electronics features.
Cons
- Glacial acceleration
- limited 1,600-pound payload capacity
- subpar crash scores.
What’s new
The Ford Transit Connect is unchanged for 2013.
Edmunds says
As long as you're OK with its limitations, the 2013 Ford Transit Connect is an attractive alternative to larger, thirstier and more expensive cargo vans.
For sale nearby
136 listings
- 205,092 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use
- 2 Seats, 21 City / 27 Hwy MPG
- Soloma Auto Sales (358 mi away)
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Stability Control
- Aux Audio Inputs
- Audio and cruise con...
Close
Located in Grand Island, NE
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (21 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: NM0LS7BN2DT154798
Stock: 154798
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-19-2024- 128,205 miles
- 2 accidents, 1 owner, corporate fleet vehicle
- 2 Seats, 21 City / 27 Hwy MPG
- JYD Enterprises Inc. (502 mi away)
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Stability Control
- Aux Audio Inputs
- Audio and cruise con...
Close
Located in Kansas City, KS
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
23 Combined MPG (21 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: NM0LS7BNXDT176628
Stock: 3607
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-13-2024
Vehicle overview
Trucks and vans are undoubtedly the prime workhorses for countless businesses across the country. Besides the obvious advantages in cargo and towing capabilities, they also cater to a wide swath of buyers. But for some people, these big and thirsty vehicles are overkill for their more modest commercial needs. For them, Ford offers the 2013 Transit Connect.
Unlike conventional trucks and vans, the 2013 Ford Transit Connect provides easy maneuverability thanks to its modest size and good fuel economy from its four-cylinder engine. As a city-based work van, it's pretty ideal. Yet the petite Transit Connect still provides a lot of utility. Its boxy shape -- which is perfect for displaying company graphics and signage -- allows for a truly impressive number of versatile cargo solutions and access. Ford also offers some unique high-tech features, including an in-dash computer, Internet access, vehicle tracking and monitoring and tool inventory systems that nearly any business should find useful.
The Transit Connect does have some drawbacks, however. Since it has a car-based platform, it can't handle a whole lot of payload, and the four-cylinder engine's meager output results in equally meager acceleration. In contrast, the minivan-based Ram C/V has about the same cargo space and payload capacity as the Ford, yet its V6 engine provides superior performance with fuel economy that's still pretty decent.
For those who require more maximum utility, the antiquated Chevrolet Express represents the last of the traditional domestic vans -- the Ford Econoline is going to be replaced by a forthcoming, European-based full-size Transit -- while the more up-to-date Nissan NV is also worth consideration. But for the commercial user just needing a light-duty workhorse, the 2013 Ford Transit Connect should be a good fit.
Performance & mpg
Every 2013 Ford Transit Connect features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 136 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic sends that power to the front wheels. In Edmunds performance testing, a Transit Connect went from a standstill to 60 mph in a very sluggish 12.6 seconds -- with an empty cargo bay. On the upside, EPA-estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on every Transit Connect includes four-wheel antilock brakes (front discs, rear drums), traction and stability control and front side airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the Transit Connect came to a stop from 60 mph in 135 feet, which is pretty good for a commercial vehicle.
In government crash tests, the Transit Connect received only two out of five stars for overall crash protection, with three stars for overall frontal protection and two stars for overall side-impact protection.
Driving
The 2013 Ford Transit Connect's tall and narrow dimensions make it easy to maneuver through tight urban streets that would leave an Econoline driver double-checking that his company's insurance is paid up. At 39 feet, its turning circle is incredibly small for something that can lug about 135 cubic feet of stuff. But while agility is good, quick it is not. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that used to be stressed just motivating the old, 2,642-pound Ford Focus is completely zonked in the 3,470-pound Transit Connect. And imagine how slow it would be loaded up with its maximum payload of 1,600 pounds.
Interior
Inside, the Transit Connect's cabin offers a carlike driving position. The overall look is utilitarian, though patterned upholstery fabric adds a nice touch. Climate and stereo controls are simple and straightforward.
When it comes to cargo capacity, the Transit Connect Van offers a healthy 135 cubic feet, which is about 100 cubic feet less than a full-size van. However, the space is made more usable by a much lower step-in height, a flat load floor that measures 6 feet long and 4 feet wide, and a ceiling height of just under 5 feet. Maximum payload is a modest 1,600 pounds.
For ferrying people, the Wagon's rear seats offer a firm seat bottom and reasonable elbow room. They can best be compared to the seats you'd find in a cut-rate commuter plane, which is to say, as basic as you'll find. You're essentially sitting on a bench bolted into the cargo hold, however, and when you consider the lack of amenities, the Transit Connect is certainly better suited to work crews than families.
2013 Ford Transit Connect models
The 2013 Ford Transit Connect is a compact work van available in XL Van, XLT Van, XLT Wagon and XLT Premium Wagon trim levels. The primary difference between Van and Wagon trims is the presence of a second-row seat. All versions come with dual sliding side doors, but these can be deleted, as can the rear door glass.
Standard equipment on the XL Van includes 15-inch steel wheels, an integrated blind-spot mirror, rear privacy glass, air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat with an armrest and lumbar adjustment, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a two-speaker radio. The XLT gains body-colored bumpers, a rear window defroster, heated mirrors, map lights, full power accessories, cruise control, a 12-volt cargo area power point, a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.
The Wagon version of the XLT gets foglights, chrome grille trim, a three-person split-folding rear bench seat, rear-seat carpeting and a four-speaker audio system. The XLT Premium gets special exterior trim, rear cargo door pocket storage and flip-open glass windows in the cargo area.
Other Transit Connect options include a compressed natural gas (CNG) Engine Prep package, rear doors that open to 255 degrees, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, the Sync voice command phone and audio player interface, and the Ford Work Solutions Crew Chief vehicle tracking system.

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Compare 2013 Ford Transit Connect trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$168/mo for Transit Connect Cargo Van XL
Transit Connect Cargo Van XL
vs
$151/mo
Avg. Compact Minivan
Reliability
The 2013 Ford Transit Connect has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 4 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3 out of 5, ranks it #3 out of 24 among Commercial Vans. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
3 out of 5 stars3/5Average
#3 out of 24 among Commercial Vans
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$740/yr
vs. $851/yr
for Average Commercial Van
for Average Commercial Van
Frequency
1.78x/yr
vs. 1.96x/yr
for Average Commercial Van
for Average Commercial Van
Severity
14.8%
vs. 17.8%
for Average Commercial Van
for Average Commercial Van
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
4 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 22V413000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 22S43
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 2925968
- Defect Description:
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
- Defect Consequence:
- A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
- Recall Number:
- 21V376000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 21S24
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 192080
- Defect Description:
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2021 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
- Defect Consequence:
- A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, causing the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
- Corrective Action:
- Dealers will replace the underhood shifter cable bushing, and add a protective cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 29, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S24.
- Recall Number:
- 17V209000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 17S09
- Manufactured from:
- 2012-02-15 to 2014-06-03
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 208584
- Defect Description:
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
- Defect Consequence:
- If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Corrective Action:
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed April 18, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available, currently expected to be in late-2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S09.
- Recall Number:
- 14V706000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 14E-041
- Manufactured from:
- 2006-01-01 to 2014-10-08
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 34
- Defect Description:
- Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
- Defect Consequence:
- If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
- Corrective Action:
- Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
Warranty
3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty- Basic Warranty
- 3 years / 36,000 miles
- Drivetrain Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
- Rust Warranty
- 5 years / unlimited miles
- Roadside assistance Warranty
- 5 years / 60,000 miles
Ford Transit Connect Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Poor performer
2.88 out of 5 starselevatorman79, 07/01/2011
2011 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van XLT 4dr Minivan w/Side & Rear Glass (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
Handles well at slow speeds but be careful at high speeds a quick lane change could be a problem . If you dont need the hight this is not a vehicle for you I am still not sure how to use the interior hight for anything.
The biggest problem is the horse power . I have to tach 6500 rpm in the first 3 gears in order to enter the parkway at 40 mph . From a standing start it is the slowest … vehicle I have ever driven . I drive alone and only cary 300 lbs of tools and supplies . I have 5000 miles on it and its not getting any better .
Exactly right for dealing with city traffic.
4 out of 5 starsTom Bright, 04/30/2016
2012 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van XLT 4dr Minivan w/Side & Rear Glass (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
Okay, so the radio's hands-free robot lady is laughably, pathetically clueless. Hope Ford got a freebie, since a Microsoft badge is glued to the dash like a commercial.
Cabin noise on California's crumbling roads has reached 109 dB on my meter, about as loud as standing behind a jet taking off. I buy earplugs by the case, but then I have for 40 years anyway.
Lots of positives, thanks … to the designers. The standard door lock-unlock sequence protects me in crummy neighborhoods (unlocks the cargo doors while leaving the driver door locked, and vice versa, and it's programmable). If I leave the doors open in the garage for extended loading time, the interior lights go out after a few minutes. Very thoughtful. Power points are always on but the entertainment USB only powers up with the ignition, so that conveniently runs the dash cam.
Astounding 1,600-lb payload includes me and gas — my big pickup is only rated for 1,100 lbs, and weighs 3,050 lbs wet, the same as this little Ford, to the pound. Don’t know how they did it. Does not jitter on tippy-toes when empty, does not wallow when loaded to the limit. Many SUVs have a load limit of only 900 pounds -- so you would be overloaded if you fill the tank and only take three friends with you.
Spec Continentals kept picking up nails: eight in 15,000 miles. Ran two sets of Federal, an exact Taiwan copy of the Continental. Great tires, half the price. Michelin finally makes a Defender in this spec, so installed a set 50,000 miles ago. More expensive, somewhat quieter.
Don’t replace the wheels with cheapie boy-racer alloys, because aftermarket wheels may not be rated for this 1,600-pound payload.
22-24 mpg combined, 25 mpg on occasion. Getting 22 at 159,000.
I did okay in endurance racing back in the 70s, so I really appreciate the seats and view out front. This is the final English Ford design, I think, and shows off its performance heritage.
The Limeys built the high-level 3rd brake light into one of the cargo doors, so it's only six inches from precise vehicle center. Naturally, DOT made them blank it over and pierce the roof for a separate brake light unit. Thanks, guys. Do you even own cars in Washington?
Progressive-rate steering centers well and allows flicking 90º to full lock. Low center of gravity, low cargo floor. Antilock brakes stop on a dime, straight and true. Traction control light comes on when I overdo it on off camber onramps, so I know it’s watching and helping. All controls within easy reach. A clear jump-in/jump-out path through the door to the driver’s seat make it the perfect setup for long shifts of multiple stops.
Failures: Front brake caliper seized in a few months (warranty). On my 4th battery. A tiny plastic tab in the interior light assembly broke ($78). That high-level LED 3rd brake light assembly went dead ($120). Coolant reservoir cracked (warranty). One of the remotes failed (warranty). Sun visor is unraveling along one edge. Wheel covers break a lot (replaced two at $53 each, then gave up and got four Chinese phonies on eBay for $120. They dig into the wheels, but they stay on. Have removed them permanently.)
Wheel paint and primer have vanished, although always garaged out of the 120º Sacramento sun. Local car wash chain snapped off 4 rear wiper arms, so I’ve yanked rear wiper assemblies and rely on Rain-X. Vertical wiper arms park vertically and most robot car washes use horizontal brushes with hit-and-miss company attempts to tape them down or tube them with big baggies fails much of the time. Styling department designed a cheesy plastic cover over the rear wiper hinge that looks beefy, but under the cover it's the width of a pencil, and breaks a lot. New Ford shocks, and on my 5th windshield -- welcome to California's Gravel Emporium.
In close 70-mph evening freeway traffic, could not avoid a paving stone sliding off a truck that Nationwide Insurance insisted was a Fixed Object. NASCAR sponsor or not, could be time to consider switching insurance. 2 kinked steel wheels, 2 Michelins, no apparent suspension damage.
Following some windy rainstorms, a pine branch swung over an Armco and I hit it at 70. New power driver side mirror: $450 installed, not bad at all.
Engine gutless? Not really. Just set Cruise before the highway rises and let it rev it right out to 6,000. Transmission and engine smooth and reliable: My copier tech’s Focus with same motor needed a water pump at 235,000. He replaced his Focus with a Transit Connect a year after I did. If tech gurus like Connects, I take their advice.
Trade-in is astoundingly low -- at 108,713 miles, my spotless little runabout, maintained by the book, pothole-avoided van is worth FOUR thousand bucks. Only 14% of the purchase price remains after less than five years. Mercedes claims a better resale value, but their new $40,000 Metris is Spanish like the current Connect, so who knows how far it'll fall from its current $21,000 trade-in with high miles? To be fair, many tradesman vans get driven by guys who don't own them, so that paper-towel resale value is probably justified.
Would buy another, but the newer Spain-built version does not offer a high roof. The new motor is stronger, though -- drove one as a rental. Might as well order the most doodads, even leather if you can find it. Dealer lead time for custom builds has been as high as 6 months, so you may have to take whatever is on the lot, like I did.
Road Warrior
4 out of 5 starsGreg, 01/08/2017
2013 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van XL 4dr Minivan w/Rear Glass (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
Been very good. Putting over 70000 miles a year. I have 510000 miles using full synthetic oil. Engine running smooth. Transmission is still good. Still having problems with electrical.
Small, but cost effective
4.25 out of 5 starsendeavine, 06/23/2014
2012 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van XL 4dr Minivan w/o Side & Rear Glass (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
I was surprised to see the scathing reviews for the ford transit connect. My experiences were quite different from those mentioned before. I am a subcontractor with dish, and so far, I have nothing to complain about! On average, I get 25 miles to the gallon fully loaded (and I mean LOADED) with some very heavy equipment. This saves me $10,000 on gas a year versus most other chevy express … vans in my fleet. Yes, it may not be the best to drive or accelerate, but if you've bought a work van for comfort or acceleration, you might want to pick a desk job instead. Overall, great little reliable and efficient van, as long as you don't overload it of course. Going strong at 95,000 miles.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 Ford Transit Connect, so we've included reviews for other years of the Transit Connect since its last redesign.
2013 Transit Connect Highlights
Cargo Van XL
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $22,425 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $168/month |
Seating | 2 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 129.6 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Transit Connect include:
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
2 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall3 / 5Driver3 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall2 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall3 / 5Driver2 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat1 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover3 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover25.6%
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