FordTransit Connect2013Overview/ford/transit-connect/2013/base/

2013 Ford Transit Connect

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 Transit Connect.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2013 Ford Transit Connect is a van powered by a 4-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA fuel economy of 21 city, 27 highway, and 23 combined mpg, with a 4.5-quart oil capacity requiring 5W-20 API viscosity. In the model’s reliability history covering 2011 to 2021, this year recorded 32 owner complaints—most frequently in the Power Train area—and 4 recalls, placing it between the peak complaint year of 2014 (127 complaints) and the lowest of 2021 (8 complaints), indicating a moderate reliability record for this model year.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162013

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 96R · 590 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 96R · 590 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length181.1 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height79.1 in
Wheelbase115 in
Curb weight3984 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 27 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Transit Connect of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7–12.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 2014 XLT EcoBoost LWB Cargo Van
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2014XLT EcoBoost LWB Cargo Van 1.6L Turbo I-48.70 sec16.50 sec178 hpFWD
2014Titanium LWB Wagon (Passenger) 2.5L I-410.00 sec17.50 sec169 hpFWD
2014Titanium LWB Wagon (Passenger) 2.5L I-410.20 sec17.60 sec169 hpFWD
2010XLT Cargo Van 2.0L I-411.10 sec18.30 sec136 hpFWD
2010XLT Wagon (Passenger) 2.0L I-412.10 sec18.70 sec136 hpFWD
2017Titanium LWB Wagon (Passenger) 2.5L I-410.10 sec17.60 sec169 hpFWD
2019Titanium LWB Wagon (Passenger) 2.0L I-410.50 sec17.80 sec162 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14.7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsInstall new studs: 12.5 ft-lbs, Step 2:
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub207 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub251 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque9.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.85 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.00-6.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number96R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance590 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test21.7 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17.4-21.7 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F
RPM57-60 @ Idle rpm
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)57-60
Injector Primary Resistance1-2 na Direct Injected ohms
Engine Oil Pressure29-39 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle98 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.078; Rear: 0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.866 in
Drum Discard at-or-over9.062

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Tighten all bolts to finger tight. Step 25 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 100 ft. lbs., step 3: 90 degrees.74 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

13.7 ft. lbs.3.7 ft. lbs
211.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
333.0 ft. lbs.33 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590 degrees90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., Step 2: 59 ft. lbs., Step 3: 83 ft. lbs., Step 4: 9037 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18 ft. lbs., Step 3: 604 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 157 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAir Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Air Conditioning Refrigerant Line (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 10,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2013 Ford Transit Connect generated 32 complaints and 4 recalls, up from 26 complaints and 1 recall in 2012 but far below the 127 complaints and 15 recalls recorded for 2014. Federal data for this generation follows a sharp escalation that peaks from 2014 through 2016 before declining in later years, placing the 2013 model at the leading edge of that curve rather than at its highest-risk point. The top 2013 complaint categories are Power Train and Engine with five reports each, though the data does not specify root causes, alongside three crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints. Given that its complaint and recall counts sit well below the mid-generation peak, the 2013 is a relatively favorable year to buy provided all four recalls have been completed.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
31
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
32
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 32 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train5
Engine5
Structure3
Unknown Or Other2
Service Brakes2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)2
Exterior Lighting2
Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V376000Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)Reported 24/05/2021

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. Remedy: 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…

17V209000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 27/03/2017

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… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 31 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
SSM 530402024-10-10Unknown Or OtherWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…
TSB 22-20662022-04-26Power TrainSome 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2018 C-MAX, 2014-2019 Escape, 2014-2021 Transit Connect, and…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Transit Connect. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2013 Transit Connect take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 Transit Connect have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Transit Connect get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.