2021 Ford Transit Connect Shift Linkage Recall (21V376)
Ford Motor Company · 192,080 vehicles · Reported May 24, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 192,080 2021 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. 5L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. 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. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V376 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V376000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21S24 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 24, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford Transit Connect |
| Units affected | 192,080 |
| Component | Power Train > Shift Linkage / Cable / Rod |
| Safety risk | 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. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford Transit Connect in recall 21V376?
5L engines.
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Transit Connect with recall 21V376?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: 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.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: 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.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Transit Connect shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the shift linkage and cable and rod, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V376?
Recall 21V376 covers 192,080 vehicles: 2021 Ford Transit Connect.
NHTSA lists 192,080 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | Transit Connect |
What is the fix for the Transit Connect shift linkage recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the underhood shifter cable bushing, and add a protective cap, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 21V376 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V376 to NHTSA on May 24, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 24, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V376000. |
| June 29, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 65 months ago. If your Transit Connect was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Transit Connect is part of recall 21V376?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V376 is open on your Transit Connect, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V376000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Transit Connect owners do about recall 21V376?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V376000 applies to your Transit Connect.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the shift linkage and cable and rod happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Transit Connect owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the transmission.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the transmission have been filed since recall 21V376 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 8 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford Transit Connect: 8 complaints in total, 4 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The transmission hasn't been working correctly for the last 2 years. It was constantly shifting incorrectly, lagging, stuttering, and making driving difficult. It finally just stopped in the middle of traffic and would not move.
2021 Ford Transit Connect owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11739453, filed May 22, 2026
This vehicle keeps flashing service engine soon light and malfunction indicator lamp. Dealer is keep saying that there are nothing to fix the issue. However, they have noted that it might be related to fueling hole and also fuel misfire.
2021 Ford Transit Connect owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11500742, filed January 8, 2023
My windshield is leaking and has been leaking since manufacturing. The windshield is flexing and is missing the adhesive along the top. Caused electrical damage to the car.
2021 Ford Transit Connect owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11577242, filed March 13, 2024
Can recall 21V376 make my Transit Connect a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this shift linkage and cable and rod recall means their Transit Connect qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Transit Connect went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Transit Connect been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Transit Connect recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V376
Is the 21V376000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Transit Connect is part of recall 21V376000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V376000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.