FordTransit Connect2018Overview/ford/transit-connect/2018/base/

2018 Ford Transit Connect

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Transit Connect.

Body VANTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2018 Ford Transit Connect is a van that calls for 5.7 quarts of 5W-20 engine oil and an Automatic (S6) transmission while carrying EPA ratings of 20/27/23 mpg. Reliability records show 22 total owner complaints, with steering identified as the top area of concern, and six recalls on record. That total sits well below the 2014 peak of 127 across the 2011–2021 span and much closer to the 2021 low of 8, marking 2018 as one of the more stable years in the model’s reliability history.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162015

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque148 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/27/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 40R · 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 40R · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.4 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height70.5 in
Wheelbase120.5 in
Curb weight3580 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 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
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
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

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.7 qt of 5W-20 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 148 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.0
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine Coolant Capacity8.5
Engine Oil5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity5.7 qt
Power Steering FluidEPS

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)4.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)4.4 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)8.8 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)35.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)14.75 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13.3 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsInstall New Studs: 12.5 ft-lbs;
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts148 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap.051 in
Spark Plug Torque9 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number40R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance590 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum51.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum73.0 psi
RPM51.0-73.0 rpm

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque21
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 129; Rear: 81
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .906; Rear: .354
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
159.0 ft. lbs., 90 degrees Do not re-use old hub nut. Refer to installation procedure for proper installation. Failure to install properly will result in damage to hub and bearing.59 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages
162.0 inch lbs.62 in
2142.0 inch lbs.142 in
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
160
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
189.0 inch lbs.89 in
221.0 ft. lbs.21 ft. lbs
390.0
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9074 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages
137.0 ft. lbs.37 ft. lbs
259.0 ft. lbs.59 ft. lbs
383.0 ft. lbs.83 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
144.0 inch lbs.44 in
218.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
390.0
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages
189.0 inch lbs.89 in
2180.0 inch lbs.180 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 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 10,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
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 2018 Ford Transit Connect sits in a notably quieter stretch of its federal record, with 22 complaints, 6 recalls, no open investigations, and 63 technical service bulletins, and it is a clear improvement over the 2014–2016 model years when complaints spiked to 127 (2014) and 103 (2016) alongside 15 and 10 recalls respectively. It is also meaningfully better than its immediate successor, the 2019, which logged 51 complaints, 8 recalls, and 109 TSBs, while tracking slightly cleaner than 2017 (27 complaints, 95 TSBs) on the same recall count of 6. Steering dominates the complaint picture at 5 of 22 filings, with service brakes a distant second at 2, though the data does not specify a root cause for either cluster. The 2018's recall tally of 6 is mid-pack for the generation—tied with 2017 and well below the 8–15 range of 2014–2016 and 2019–2020—and zero crash or fire complaints were filed against it. For a used purchase, 2018 represents one of the more defensible years in this generation, landing in a relative valley of complaint and TSB volume between the earlier troubled cohort and the 2019 uptick; a pre-purchase inspection should still confirm the steering and brake items have been resolved, but the overall federal footprint is favorable.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
63
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
22
Owner complaints
0 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 22 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering5
Service Brakes2
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Service Brakes1
Visibility1
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Power Train1
Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 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…

19V229000SeatsReported 22/03/2019

TransitWorks is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit, 2018 Ford Transit Connect, and 2016 Dodge Ram ProMaster vehicles modified to be equipped with Freedman Seating GO-ES seats. When the back seat cushion is rotated… Remedy: TransitWorks has notified owners and instructed them to contact Freedman seats for a repair kit. The recall began December 19, 2019. Owners may contact Freedman Seating customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 63 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
25N15 S12026-04-20Electrical SystemCustomer Satisfaction Program 25N15 - Supplement #1 Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple…
25N172026-03-25Unknown Or OtherAdvance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year…
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
TSB 25-25702025-11-26Electrical SystemThis article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles…
SSM 543662025-11-11Power TrainSome 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic…

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 2018 Transit Connect take?

5.7 qt of 5W-20 Meeting Ford Specification WSS-M2C945A or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Transit Connect have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Transit Connect get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 27 highway / 23 combined mpg.