Is the Ford Transit-Connect-Wagon more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz Metris-Passenger-VAN?

Yes, by a large gap. The Ford has a good standing and the Metris a mixed one. The Ford also has fewer recalls. Its weak point is the transmission, which draws most of its 103 owner complaints, while the Metris has only 25 complaints in total.

Which van has more recalls?

The Metris has more, with 32 recalls across five model years. The Ford has 27 across six model years. Several Metris owners say their recall repairs are stuck because parts are unavailable, which makes the open recalls a bigger problem than the count alone.

Why does the Ford have more complaints but still rank higher?

The ranking looks at more than complaint volume. The Ford has fewer recalls and a better overall standing. Many Metris complaints are about unrepaired recalls and missing parts, and its fuel system, wheel, and tire issues add safety risk. The Ford's complaints are concentrated in transmissions and brakes.

What goes wrong with the Ford's transmission?

Owners report rough shifts, jerking when slowing, and a van that won't move in drive or reverse. Several blame the torque converter clutch. Most failures come between about 80,000 and 95,000 miles, and dealers usually call for a full replacement. A few failed near 17,000 miles.

Do both vans have power steering problems?

Yes. Both have reports of power steering assist cutting out suddenly, sometimes at highway speed and with no earlier warning. The Ford has 5 such complaints, including fleet vans from 2018, with one rack failure costing $2,700. The Metris has 2, one at highway speed and one after hitting a bump.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Ford Transit Connect Wagon

Good

Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van

Mixed

On reliability, the Ford Transit-Connect-Wagon beats the Mercedes-Benz Metris-Passenger-VAN by a wide margin. Ford's standing is good; Metris is mixed. The Ford has fewer recalls across its run, but it draws far more owner complaints, led by transmission failures near 80,000 to 95,000 miles.

How Do the Ford Transit Connect Wagon and Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van Generations Compare?

All Ford model years from 2018 to 2023 belong to the second generation, which ran from 2014 through 2023. A facelift arrived in 2019, so 2018 is the pre-facelift year and 2019 onward is the updated van. The 2019 and 2020 years rank weakest. The Metris years from 2019 to 2023 all sit in the third generation, the W447, which began in 2016. A facelift was listed for 2024, so none of the used years you will see carry it. Both vans were at the end of their generations in these years.

Verdict

The Ford Transit Connect Wagon is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van, scoring 70/100 vs 58/100.

Reliability favors the Ford by a large margin. Its standing is good, while the Metris sits at mixed. The Ford also has fewer recalls, 27 against 32, despite covering one more model year. Owners complain about it more often, mostly over transmissions that fail around 80,000 to 95,000 miles. Many Metris complaints, by contrast, are about recall repairs that cannot be done because parts are missing. The Ford is still the safer pick, but check its transmission history.

Key Differences

1Ford Transit Connect Wagon scores 12 points higher in reliability
2Ford Transit Connect Wagon has 5 fewer total recalls
3Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van has 1.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Ford Transit Connect Wagon

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1Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Ford Transit Connect Wagon	Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van
Reliability Score	70/100	58/100
Years Tracked	6	5
Total Recalls	27	32
Complaints per 10k Sold	2	0.5
Year Wins	5	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Transit Connect Wagon and Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van?

Transmission trouble defines the Ford: harsh shifts, jerking when slowing, and a van that won't move in drive or reverse, usually fixed with a full replacement. One of those reports is crash-linked, with the van creeping forward in reverse and stalling at stops. Its brakes add a seized front caliper that keeps returning until the ABS module is replaced. The Metris profile is milder. Fuel system complaints describe sputtering and sudden power loss, but most are about a recall repair waiting on parts. Both vans have owners reporting power steering assist cutting out with no warning.

Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van common problem areas comparison
Component	Ford Transit Connect Wagon	Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van
POWER TRAIN	0.7Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.2Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.1Very Low	—None
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.1Very Low
TIRES	—None	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Ford Transit Connect Wagon	Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van	Edge
2023	78/1000R / 0C	70/1000R / 0C	Ford Transit Connect Wagon
2022	72/1001R / 4C	57/1005R / 9C	Ford Transit Connect Wagon
2021	69/1004R / 5C	55/1007R / 1C	Ford Transit Connect Wagon
2020	67/1008R / 27C	54/1008R / 7C	Ford Transit Connect Wagon
2019	65/1008R / 46C	52/10012R / 8C	Ford Transit Connect Wagon

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Ford Transit Connect Wagon scored 78/100 and the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van scored 70/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs the Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van?

Pick the Ford if you want the better overall standing and fewer recalls. Target 2022 or 2023, but remember those years have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2019 and 2020, the weakest years, and be careful with 2018, where fleet owners reported power steering failures. Ask for proof of transmission service, since failures cluster just after warranty ends, and have the brakes checked for a seized caliper. Pick the Metris if you want a van with far fewer owner complaints and can live with recall paperwork. Check for open recalls and whether parts exist before you pay, because several owners waited months on fuel system, wheel, and tire repairs. Skip 2019 and 2020 here too. Ask whether the electronic control unit has ever been replaced after moisture damage, since one owner paid about $2,700 out of pocket.

Ford Transit Connect Wagon vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van: Common Questions

Is the Ford Transit-Connect-Wagon more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz Metris-Passenger-VAN?: Yes, by a large gap. The Ford has a good standing and the Metris a mixed one. The Ford also has fewer recalls. Its weak point is the transmission, which draws most of its 103 owner complaints, while the Metris has only 25 complaints in total.
Which van has more recalls?: The Metris has more, with 32 recalls across five model years. The Ford has 27 across six model years. Several Metris owners say their recall repairs are stuck because parts are unavailable, which makes the open recalls a bigger problem than the count alone.
Why does the Ford have more complaints but still rank higher?: The ranking looks at more than complaint volume. The Ford has fewer recalls and a better overall standing. Many Metris complaints are about unrepaired recalls and missing parts, and its fuel system, wheel, and tire issues add safety risk. The Ford's complaints are concentrated in transmissions and brakes.
What goes wrong with the Ford's transmission?: Owners report rough shifts, jerking when slowing, and a van that won't move in drive or reverse. Several blame the torque converter clutch. Most failures come between about 80,000 and 95,000 miles, and dealers usually call for a full replacement. A few failed near 17,000 miles.
Do both vans have power steering problems?: Yes. Both have reports of power steering assist cutting out suddenly, sometimes at highway speed and with no earlier warning. The Ford has 5 such complaints, including fleet vans from 2018, with one rack failure costing $2,700. The Metris has 2, one at highway speed and one after hitting a bump.

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More Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van comparisons

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Decided between Ford Transit Connect Wagon and Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Ford Transit Connect Wagon and Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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