2004 Ford Transit Connect T230 LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

Passenger door has locked permanently closed.

Side sliding door would not lock.

The ‘battery’ dash light has come on and stayed on. (Common fault due to alternator loom rubbing and shorting against chassis)

Heated windscreen failed once.

High-level brake light fails regularly.

This T230 LX high top long wheelbase van is OK, I say OK because that’s all it is. It gets you from A to B and carries stuff in the back and not a lot else. It should be said however that most commercial vehicles share the same limited attributes.

I cover many miles per week, 85% motorway, 10% A and B roads and 5% city driving.

If I were looking to buy this vehicle, I would be searching for personal reviews like this one, hoping to find many satisfied customers… Sorry, but you won't find one here.

So what’s wrong with it I hear you say, well firstly the lack of manufacturer research into driver comfort and seat ergonomics. This van has to be the most uncomfortable vehicle I have ever driven. I am 6 ft 2 INS tall and no matter how much I try to get a comfortable driving position, it just doesn’t exist. This is not helped at all by the ill designed fitted metal bulkhead option that restricts seat adjustment even more. The only way I can get anywhere near comfortable is by loosening the bulkhead to allow more rearward movement, and by sticking foam pads strategically placed on the seat backrest for added lower back support and by heightening the front of the seat using spacer washers under the seat frame. The seat need’s at least 3 more inches of rear travel on the sub frame to accommodate taller drivers. Ford has also amusingly fitted what they call a lumbar support. This is a strange contraption that simply pokes a horizontal bar into the middle of your back at the turn of a knob. The only useful purpose I can imagine for this device is to stop you falling asleep at the wheel.

In short, a cheap crappy drivers seat that does not live up to its multi adjustable advertising hype. You might be lucky if you are between 5ft and 5ft 7ins tall, but the bottom line is this is a budget seat that won't suit everyone.

Similarly the fold-able small passenger seat is a joke, but if you enjoy playing with deckchairs you will love it!! Personally I wouldn’t sit in it for journeys over 5 miles and luckily I very rarely have passengers, but if I did, I would be embarrassed asking them to sit on such an uncomfortable plank. It is not a seat, more a puzzle to keep you amused if to decide to fold it down.

To top it off, this is not a quiet van. At motorway speed, road noise is enough to give you a headache; engine noise again is far too loud. Just a little more insulation would have made quite a difference to comfort levels. Not the loudest in its class, but still room for improvement.

Equally if you looking for performance, forget it. It’s a struggle to maintain high motorway speeds and if you want to overtake on a country road just push the accelerator pedal through the floor and pray!! Very poor for a turbo diesel.

Economy is also poor. I obtain around 36 miles per UK gallon of diesel and the vehicle is not even heavily loaded or worked hard.

The steering I can only describe as vague. There is very little feedback or feel, and the van does tend to wonder rather than sticking to a staight line. The van will also prematurely eat front tyres, especially the inner edges, and, maybe its just me, but even the steering wheel feels too thin and does not allow for a firm solid grip.

The sound system is garbage, very harsh and tinny sounding, mainly let down by poor door speakers. Even a bespoke head unit sounds terrible through these speakers. Replace the door speakers and add over-head speakers and you will get a decent sound, plus some bass as well... No, I’m not a boy racing sub bass addict, but I do believe that a factory fitted radio plus CD unit should be at least pleasing to the ears and fit for purpose.

Handling again is vague - The suspension is not firm enough for my tastes, but it works. The ABS braking on the other hand is very good, and will stop you quickly if the need arises.

Gear change is slick, the clutch is not too heavy, and overall vision is good. The mirrors provide good rearward vision especially with the incorporated lower blind spot mirrors. Interior storage is just about adequate and on the whole practical. The headlights are OK, as are the fog lamps, but don’t expect exceptional road illumination. Interior lighting is fine, but you can’t dim the instrument lighting. Luckily enough it’s not too bright to distract you.

The adjustable steering column works well for rake and reach and the pedals are nicely spaced with enough room to stretch your leg into to foot well while you're not changing gear or on long journeys.

Load space is very good and has some useful tie points to secure your load with straps if required.

Reliability has been very good; it always starts whatever the weather and has never let me down. On the other hand, the passenger door has locked permanently closed and the side sliding door would not lock. The ‘battery’ dash light has come on and stayed on. (Common fault due to alternator loom rubbing and shorting against chassis) Heated windscreen failed once. High-level brake light fails regularly. Other than that the vehicle has been trouble free.

I am struggling to find something else positive to say about this vehicle, but in its favour, it is reasonably well built. The dash plastics and switchgear is solid and the overall interior design and layout is pleasing. The long parcel shelf above the windscreen is useful, but could have been made just a tad deeper to stop your paperwork from flying off. Oh yes, the optional air-conditioning works well and keeps you cool.

As far as service is concerned, there are very good Ford service centres and bad ones too. The good one I use is excellent and very efficient; the bad one I have experienced is not so good and tends to treat its customers with disbelieving contempt. This is prevalent with any organisation though, so luck of the draw there.

To sum up, this vehicle would make an excellent round town runabout for a local tradesman, but for the more comfort dependent long distance driver I would shop around and test-drive a selection of vans for at least a day with each if possible.

To be fair, there aren’t that many commercial manufacturers that see creature comforts as a high priority. More often than not, load capacity hype and fleet managers budgets take over the sales agenda.

So come on you van manufacturers, think about the driver for a change!!!.

I didn’t have a choice, just like many company employees as to what vehicle I was supplied with, but had I the option, I would have taken my own advice and shopped around first before settling on the Ford Transit Connect.

I hope you find my personal opinion useful.

Very well written. I was considering buying the exact model in your review, but now obviously I will be looking elsewhere. Thanks very much for such a detailed review and I hope your company can supply you with a new van.

Hi I have just been given a transit connect t200 to use for my long haul driving to and from customer sites I cover upto nearly 1000 miles every three days and I happen to agree with everything you say. now I have just come from a vw caddy which to start off I didn't like, but it grew on me and to go from the comfort and what I think now is luxury is a bit of a culture shock because the connect is the most uncomfortable thing I've ever driven I mean even the go-cart I made when I was 11 was more comfy and that was wood and pram wheels. I think its the little things I miss the most like for example the speed adjust for the wipers and the fact that you don't look like a complete muppet when you wind down the window because the handle is too close to the seat so you have to bend in all manner of positions to do the job. overall I would drive it off a cliff and claim on the insurance if I owned it because that's where it belongs, but it just looks like I'm stuck for now. note to anybody reading this don't buy a transit connect unless you like uncomfortable seats, lack of cab storage, don't mind looking like a bit of a tit when trying to open the window and don't mind not listening to music because you ight as well not with the poor quality that insults me when turning on the stereo (at least vw made a bit of an effort with that). if anybody disagrees please come test drive mine and i'll convince you to my way of thinking.

I too have the 230LX 53 plate, And agree with every thing that has been said. The drivers seat is a joke so much so that I shelled out £500 for a Recaro sport trendline and made my own chassis for it which bolts to the OEM bottom seat sub frame, So now I can at least feel like I am sat in a seat, but still have an adjustment issue (Bulk head). I have covered 90.000 miles to date (nearing the end of 3 yr warranty) But my biggest gripe is rear tyre wear? On the outside edge?? I have replaced 4 sets of tyre's before Ford replaced my rear axle. Seems to me that the back end trys to overtake the front while cornering, the nearside rear is the worst (Roundabouts) But the wear still continues even after an axle change?? Also had to change full exhaust system too, Two sets of front brake pads, Its has only let me down once though. Flat battery (When I forgot to turn battery protection circuit on my cooler on, so the thing ran all night and drained the battery) OOPS, road noise is also so loud that when on a motorway journey I find it hard to hear my handsfree. Being the owner of the van and paying near 13K my next choice of van will not be a transit connect. A VW transporter will be my first test drive.

I completely agree with the comments about the drivers seat. I am a self employed owner driver and have never sat in such an uncomfortable seat out of 12 vans I have owned. I get bad neck pains and it all started when I got the van. I thought I was been silly saying to my family its the van, but now I am not so sure. When I bought it in 2004 as an ex-demo model I was all excited, but won't get another next year when I change it. I also agree with the handling comments. It always feels to me as if I am driving an half flat tires and power. What power. For a turbo diesel it really is totally rubbish.

I won't get another one the bad points far outweigh the good points, Good load space and reliability.

I have the t200 75bhp tddi. I wish I had the 110bhp tdci, but of course it's a company van and I just got the cheapest connect. No central locking, disgraceful stereo, Imagine in a 06 van with no c. d player only tape! I don't bother to even turn on the radio because the noise from the van is so loud the stereo is distorted. No van should come so underpowered it's dangerous! The 110bhp van would be more acceptable. And I too have the problem of inner tyre wear. Seems to be a common problem. It shouldn't happen after 9000 km! Gear change is good. So far no mechanical problems it does what it's suppose to! I agree with one post here that van manufacturer's should think more of the driver and comfort! But it's mostly company's that get the vans and employees don't have a choice, And who cares about van drivers, Right? Gone are the days when people are just happy with something that drives. For the long distance driver comfort is so important. After all the van is our office, office people get air conditioning why can't van drivers? The only thing I can complement ford on the connect van has to be the suspension. It's firm, but comfortable. It soaks up the poor Back roads of Ireland fairly well. It is better than the new model caddy. But the new caddy van tdi beats the transit connect in every other way! In my last job I had the caddy tdi dsg, with electric pack, climate control, heated seats. Fantastic! It was my own. I got paid for use of the van and free diesel. Pity more company's don't do this. So if you are self employed or have the option of choosing your van, get a caddy if this size of a van is all you need. Or at least get the 110bhp connect with full solid bulkhead. But again caddy dsg with electric pack and air conditioning has to be driven to be appreciated.

WE have 2-T230 connects plus 1-written off in accident accident, but have found them to be good reliable work horses the oldest 03 plate only 33,000 miles mainly short runs (Alarm Installers) had no major problems wipers corroded ford badge corroded gear gator burst fog lamps cloud up side door seal come loose batt went flat due to internal lights being on for most off the day at an Install.45 plate 3rd van needs new front wheel baring only 20,000 miles and belt squeaks a lot on tick over?? over all would consider another one as we need the room prev had Astra and escorts.

I've got a caddy tdi 06 plate, I had a choice of this or transit hallmark, looks like I chose the right van with the previous comments. when I test drove the connect I thought there was something wrong with the engine, no just the usual slow connect engine, my old fiesta 97 1.8 diesel was faster. The connect should be treated like a HGV on motorways cause it can't go much faster than 56mph!

We run a heating company and have three 75hp Tddi SWB Connects of 2003 and 2004 vintage.

Common failures across the piece have been spare wheel lifting device, drivers window winders, central locking actuator in side sliding door (£160 part). We have changed one or two clutches in the first 50K miles.

All our vans are fitted with aircon and full height bulkheads.

Every one of our drivers has liked the vans, some saying they are better than their own cars. Ride quality is exceptional, no-one has had any adverse comments about the seating.

We have just replaced one with a new 2007 model, the build quality seems stronger than other small vans and they have a very practical shaped loadspace.

No tyre wear defects have been noted, one van needed new front anti roll bar bushes after 50K.

In comparison, the five Merc Sprinters we run have been far less reliable, which is not what I'd have expected.

Just thought I would add a final conclusion to my first and opening post here. I have been made redundant since posting, and have now become self-employed. God, how I miss that Transit Connect... NOT.

Do I miss not seeing my trusty Connect sat there in the morning waiting patiently to deafen and cripple me all day?... NO I DON’T.

I too like one reviewer ended up shelling out a fortune on a Recaro seat. It was a question of having to before my back and neck gave in. The steering and handling became such an issue that I would get home on an evening with aching wrists after trying to correct the steering line all day. Ford eventually gave up trying to fix it.

I am pleased however that some have found comfort in the Connect, but the overall consensus appears to agree that the Connect is still an uncomfortable, gutless, noisy, tyre eating piece of junk.

As you can imagine the Connect was not on my shopping list for my new venture, but after some test-driving and limited budget, I have ended up with a 04 Astra Sportive van. Granted the load capacity is not there nor needed, but the driving experience is.

So, good luck to all you Connect owners and I thank you for following up on my opening post.

Keep posting readers!!.

concerning the alternators Can you please tell me how you know the wirig loom shorting on the chassis is a common fault on the transit connect? have you got anything to back this up as i;m in the middle of a small war with fords about this problem and they tell me it is not a common fault, i'd love to be able to come back at them with a bit of evidence, cheers.

With reference to loom wiring, I can only say that the information was passed to me by a Ford service mechanic so no firm evidence. I can however confirm that several of the fleet connects developed the same problem at the same time and at roughly the same mileage (about 45K)

Good luck!!

I've got the intermittent alternator warning light problem, can anyone tell me where to look to solve it?. Is it obvious to see?

Apart from that, I really like it. I had an escort van before and this soooo much better.

Speakers are rubbish though and do wish it did a little more to the gallon.

53 reg t220 1.8td.

I have a 2003 Ford Transit Connect T200.

All in all I am very happy with its all round performance.

Fuel economy is more than acceptable.

I find the driver seat comfortable.

Good storage compartments.

Passengers have commented on the lack of adjustment for their seat.

Starts every time.

Performance is good, the van pulls nicely.

The only thing that seems to have failed is the offside sliding door latch/lock mechanism. But since this is a van with 2 sliding doors - I have not got round to investigating.

The only regret I have, is that I chose a short wheelbase model.

All in all - I am happy with this van.

I have T 230 (LWB) version with tdci engine and has been very reliable so far (153.000 km). Very good car with very good engine (90 ps).

I in the reverse position of a previous poster: I am losing a Connect & gaining a VW Caddy.

My Connect has had 9 replacement tyres (11 in its lifetime), 8 of which went on the front, having been eaten away by the mystery tread-scoffer.

I did an average of 12K pa & found the seat not the worst, but not the best, either.

Roll on Caddy!