FordTransit Connect2016Overview/ford/transit-connect/2016/base/

2016 Ford Transit Connect

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Transit Connect.

Body VAN

The 2016 Ford Transit Connect is a van positioned roughly mid-stream in a model lineage whose owner-complaint record from 2011 through 2021 runs from a low of 8 in 2021 to a high of 127 in 2014. This particular year draws 103 owner complaints, led by visibility-related issues, and has accumulated 10 recalls — figures that together frame how a researcher should weigh its standing within the nameplate. Sitting between the trouble-plagued 2014 peak and the notably cleaner later years, the 2016 represents a transitional point: still carrying meaningful reliability questions, yet far from the worst the line has offered.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162015

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, OE oil filter FL910S. 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
Tire size215/55R16OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterFL910S

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

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

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
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
2019Titanium LWB Wagon (Passenger) 2.0L I-410.50 sec17.80 sec162 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 DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 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 Fluid Capacity9.0
Brake FluidDOT 4
Engine Coolant Capacity6.3 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity8.5 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity6.3
Engine Coolant Capacity8.5
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts1st step:
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts1st step:
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13.3
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsInstall new studs: 12.5 ft/lbs; 2nd step:
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap.031 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap.049 -.053 in
Spark Plug Torque9 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number40R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance590 cca

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum58-87 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)51-73 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 21; Rear: 21 /
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 129; Rear: 80 /; Front: 129; Rear: 81
ABS Sensor Torque6.6 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059 in
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., 9059 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45 degrees, Step 3: 4513 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.

15.17 ft. lbs.5.17 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
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 18 ft. lbs., Step 3: 22 ft. lbs., Step 4: 9011 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 37 ft. lbs., Step 3: 45 degrees, Step 4: 4522 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 74 ft. lbs

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) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (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 2016 model sits near the peak of the generation’s complaint and recall activity, with 103 complaints, 10 recalls, 2 investigations and 98 Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), markedly higher than the low‑teens complaint counts seen in 2011‑2012 and the modest dip to 27 complaints in 2017. While recalls rose sharply from 1 in 2011‑2012 to a high of 15 in 2014, they remained elevated at 10 in both 2015 and 2016 before falling to 6‑8 after 2017, indicating that the mid‑generation period experienced the most corrective action. The TSB count also peaks in 2016 (98), following a steep climb from 16 in 2011 to 66 in 2014, then tapering only slightly in later years. The top complaint areas for 2016—Visibility, Structure, Power Train, and Unknown/Other—reflect a spread of issues rather than a single dominant defect, and the data show only one crash‑related and one fire‑related complaint. Overall, 2016 is a high‑risk year within the generation, suggesting that a later model (post‑2017) would generally be a safer used‑vehicle choice.

10
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
98
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
103
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 103 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility11
Structure9
Power Train9
Unknown Or Other7
Engine7
Visibility/Wiper6
Wheels5
Service Brakes4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 10 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V305000Seat Belts:FrontReported 27/05/2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Transit Connect vehicles. The front driver and/or passenger seat belt pretensioner initiators could contain an improper generant mix ratio that may prevent the… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace seat belt assemblies as necessary, free of charge. This recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer…

20V331000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchReported 08/06/2020

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 98 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

Does the 2016 Transit Connect have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.