2021 Ford Transit Connect Shift Linkage Recall (22V413)
Ford Motor Company · 2,925,968 vehicles · Reported June 10, 2022
Ford Motor Company is recalling 2,925,968 2021 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. 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, 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. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V413 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V413000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 22S43 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 10, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford Transit Connect |
| Units affected | 2,925,968 |
| Component | Power Train > Shift Linkage / Cable / Rod |
| Safety risk | 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. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford Transit Connect in recall 22V413?
The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Transit Connect with recall 22V413?
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, 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.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: 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.
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 22V413?
Recall 22V413 covers 2,925,968 vehicles: 2021 Ford Transit Connect.
NHTSA lists 2,925,968 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 under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 22V413 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 22V413 to NHTSA on June 10, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 27, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 10, 2022 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V413000. |
| July 1, 2022 | Interim owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
| October 27, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 52 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 22V413?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V413 is open on your Transit Connect, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V413000 is open on your Transit Connect, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 22S43. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Transit Connect owners do about recall 22V413?
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 22V413000 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 22V413 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 22V413 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.
Recall 22V413000 does not automatically make your Transit Connect a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (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.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same shift linkage and cable and rod again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Ford Transit Connect has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 21V376000.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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 22V413
Is the 22V413000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed October 27, 2022.
How do I know if my Transit Connect is part of recall 22V413000?
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.
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 22V413000 (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.