Recall 23V502 affects 112,225 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles for front door latch pawls that crack. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 112,225 2014-2016 Transit Connect vans because the front door latch pawl can crack and stop the door from latching. An unlatched door can open while driving and increase injury risk, and Ford dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front door latch on the 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect is the mechanism that catches the door striker and holds the door closed. Inside that latch, the pawl is the small locking piece that keeps the door secured after it shuts.
On affected vehicles, the latch pawl spring tab is susceptible to cracking as the latch ages. Ford identified production and material variability, higher ambient temperatures, and solar loading as contributing factors. When the tab cracks or fails, the pawl does not hold the latch correctly, so the front door can fail to latch or open unexpectedly.
Owners can notice this before a full failure. The door can be hard to latch, rebound when closing, or take repeated attempts to shut. If a door is not latched while driving, the driver can see a door ajar light, hear a chime, notice the dome light, or hear more wind noise.
Who's affected?
Covers the Transit Connect across 3 model years, all tied to the same front passenger door latch component.
| 2014 Ford Transit Connect | Latch |
|---|---|
| 2015 Ford Transit Connect | Latch |
| 2016 Ford Transit Connect | Latch |
| Units affected | 112,225 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
An unlatched front door can open while driving, increasing injury risk. Trouble getting the door to latch, a door that rebounds when shut, repeated closing attempts, a "door ajar" light, a chime, dome light, or wind noise means the latch needs service. Schedule the inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free front door latch inspection and replacement that fixes a cracked latch pawl that leaves the door unlatched.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 23V502 when you call.
- Check that the front doors latch fully before each trip, and avoid driving with any door that does not close and latch securely.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician inspects the front door latches and replaces any latch covered by the recall that does not meet Ford's repair standard. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. If you've already paid for a related front door latch repair before the owner notice, Ford's standard reimbursement plan covers documented costs. Bring repair paperwork to the service desk or contact Ford customer service for claim instructions.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 21, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 25, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| July 25, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 28, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 28, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 5, 2024 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V502?
Recall 23V502 covers 112,225 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles with front door latch pawls that can crack and prevent the door from latching. An unlatched door can open while driving, increasing injury risk. Ford dealers inspect and replace the front door latches for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 23V502. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the front door latch inspection and replacement. Reference recall number 23V502 or Ford recall 23S36 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford says dealers will inspect and replace the front door latches as needed free of charge at a franchised Ford dealer.
Is it safe to drive my Ford Transit Connect before the latch repair?
Ford has not told owners to stop driving under recall 23V502. The risk is that a front door that does not latch can open while the vehicle is moving, increasing injury risk. If a door will not latch securely, contact a Ford dealer before driving it.
When were owners notified about recall 23V502?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on February 2, 2024. If you bought the Transit Connect used or never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your vehicle is included, then call a franchised Ford dealer for the free repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V502000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V502 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V502000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →