Diagsheet

2014 Ford Transit Connect · symptom sheet

Doors, latches or locks fail

  • 25owner reports
  • 86,000median miles
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Apr 3, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

38 of the 124 complaints on this car are about the structure. 25 of those describe door latch, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2014 Transit Connect.

Tick what matches of 25 reports

2
1
25
8
13

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (24 reports).

Recalls and investigations

4 recalls on the structure cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

23V-502Jul 21, 2023
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Transit Connect vehicles. The front door latch pawl may crack and prevent the door from latching.

Risk and remedy
Risk: An unlatched door can open while driving, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front door latches as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 2, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S36.
20V-331Jun 8, 2020
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
16V-643Sep 6, 2016
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
14V-777Dec 5, 2014
Structure:Body:Door

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Transit Connect cargo vans manufactured August 9, 2013, to September 20, 2014. The affected vehicles are equipped with sliding door panels that may have an improper bond strength between the plastic panel and paint primer. This could cause the door panel to separate from the vehicle while driving.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the plastic sliding door panel separates while driving, it can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reinstall the panel with proper materials, free of charge. The recall began January 28, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S26.

NHTSA investigations into the structure on the Transit Connect

RQ19-005opened Dec 19, 2019
Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2014 to 2016

Door latch failures. Closed feb 7, 2022, led to recall 20V-177.

NHTSA summary
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. Some VOQs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other VOQs alleged a similar failure in vehicles not previously recalled. A latch with a fractured pawl spring tab typically results in a ?door will not close? condition, however in certain somewhat rare circumstances, may result in the door coming open while driving. In response to ODI?s investigation, Ford has announced three field actions, as discussed below.On March 23, 2020, Ford submitted Safety Recall 20V-177 (Ford 20S15), a regional recall campaign to address door latch failures in vehicles not previously recalled under Safety Recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 and 17V-210. The recall affects vehicles currently or ever registered in certain high ambient temperature states (see 20V-177 for affected states). As a remedy, Ford will replace all four door latches free of charge.On August 24, 2020, Ford issued a non-safety regional field action (Ford 20R01) to address door latch failures on the same model/MY vehicles not covered under 20V-177 (i.e., not currently/ever registered in affected states). Ac
PE16-001opened Jan 16, 2016
Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2014 to 2016

Door latch failure. Closed oct 29, 2016, led to recall 16V-643.

NHTSA summary
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer alleged an injury that occurred while driving when a door inadvertently opened and then closed on a child's arm.Another alleged that a door that inadvertently opened struck a parked vehicle.In response to ODI's information request, Ford Motor Company (Ford) provided 500 unique reports related to the alleged problem on the subject vehicles.Ford reported no injury or accident claims.Ford also submitted 1,513 warranty claims related to door latch failures.Many customers indicated that the affected door could not be latched at all and some of them decided to restrain the door by other means in order to operate the vehicle.Some customers also reported door latch failures occurring on multiple doors and at different times.Additionally, Ford stated that MY 2014-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape, 2013-2015 Ford C-Max, 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect, 2015 Ford Mustang, and 2015 Lincoln MKC, all use the same door latch as the 2012-2013 Ford Focus.On September 6, 2016, Ford notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (16V-643) to remedy the door latches in the MY 2

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 73,825 and 150,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.

319
520
321
422
623
224
125
126

What owners wrote

“The driver side door latch failed. The door would not close and latch. Dealer charged $578.42 for the repair and has not reimbursed the charges per safety recall 23V502. ~ 90 days has passed since the repair.”

Filed Nov 22, 2023

“In February 2022 the driver's side door stopped being able to latch. The door was unable to securely close. The driver's door was able to swing open on turns and the driver would be able to fall out of the vehicle during a crash.”

Filed Jul 29, 2022

“The drivers door is failing to latch. Ford Dealers have only said there were only recalls on the rear doors. My minivan has the door roped shut for the time being and it is dangerous having to unwrap the rope to exit. Also the smell of fuel inside the vehicle is pronounced and they won't repair the fuel line because I purchased the vehicle used and the previous owner didnt handle it.”

Filed Jul 9, 2022

“2014 Transit connect LH front door won't latch , this van has 44,000 miles on it I bought it new.. the door will fly open can not drive it like this.. the sliding doors had a recall but not the front doors. door latch fail”

Filed Jul 8, 2022 · 44,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 25 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.