2010 FORD FLEX SECOND ROW PASSENGER CENTER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR STUCK. CHILD RELEASED STUCK SEAT BELT, LOWER CENTER SEAT WHICH IS NOW ALSO IN A STUCK POSITION. NO WAY TO GET TO RETRACTOR OR RAISE SEAT. *TR
2010 Ford Flex
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Flex do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 139.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Flex years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
113 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
139 reportsMY WIFE AND I WERE PREPARING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, OUTSIDE OF AN APPLEBEE'S RESTAURANT. WHEN SHE TAPPED ON THE GAS PADDLE TO PULL INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD EXTREMELY FAST, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CURB. HERE IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL I…
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MY WIFE AND I WERE PREPARING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, OUTSIDE OF AN APPLEBEE'S RESTAURANT. WHEN SHE TAPPED ON THE GAS PADDLE TO PULL INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD EXTREMELY FAST, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CURB. HERE IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE RESTAURANT. THANKFULLY THERE WERE NOT ANY CIVILIANS WALKING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY PERSON THAT WAS INJURED IS MY WIFE. THE LANDSCAPE AND THE BUILDING WAS DAMAGED; ALONG WITH OUR VEHICLE. OVER $7,500 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR
AFTER WORK ON THE VEHICLE AT TWO FORD AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FACILITIES FOR ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON SINCE. I HAD THE CODE READ SINCE THEN AND IT COMES BACK AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE RH FRONT AIR BAG. I REALIZE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WA…
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AFTER WORK ON THE VEHICLE AT TWO FORD AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FACILITIES FOR ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON SINCE. I HAD THE CODE READ SINCE THEN AND IT COMES BACK AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE RH FRONT AIR BAG. I REALIZE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT AS A FORMER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER A FORD I PRESUME THAT AN INOPERATIVE RH FRONT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE GOING FORWARD AND WOULD HOPE THAT NHTSA WOULD PROTECT ME FROM THE FACT THAT FORD'S OWN RECALL SITE IS TELLING ME THERE IS NO ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND ANY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MUST BE WITH THE DESIGN AND/OR THE MANUFACTURING OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTS. *TR
THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WE HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY TWO TIMES THE GAUGE WILL SAY 70 MILES TO EMPTY AND 30 SECONDS LATER GOES TO ZERO THE CAR RUNS OUT IF GAS IN THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR I HAVE ALSO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE STREET I TOOK IT AND PAY $200 TO A MECHANIC WHO IS NOT ABLE T…
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THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WE HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY TWO TIMES THE GAUGE WILL SAY 70 MILES TO EMPTY AND 30 SECONDS LATER GOES TO ZERO THE CAR RUNS OUT IF GAS IN THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR I HAVE ALSO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE STREET I TOOK IT AND PAY $200 TO A MECHANIC WHO IS NOT ABLE TO FIX IT THE FORD DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT RECOMMENDED A $700 FUEL SENDING UNIT HOWEVER THEY WERE UNSURE IF THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE A TIME HASSLE AND VERY STRESSFUL ON A FOUR-YEAR-OLD CAR THAT I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I GO TO FILL UP THE TANK THE GAS TANK ISN'T ACTUALLY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS IT IS AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. *TR
HEARD NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKES, LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE WHEN BRAKING. TOLD THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE CALIPERS WERE NOT CORRECT AND THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. WAITED FOR PARTS TO COME IN AND HAD REPLACED. NO OTHER ISSUES WITH FRONT BRAKES. JUST HAD FRONT REPLACED AT 75,000 MILES. REAR BRAKES I HAVE HAD IN AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS TO H…
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HEARD NOISE FROM FRONT BRAKES, LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE WHEN BRAKING. TOLD THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE CALIPERS WERE NOT CORRECT AND THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. WAITED FOR PARTS TO COME IN AND HAD REPLACED. NO OTHER ISSUES WITH FRONT BRAKES. JUST HAD FRONT REPLACED AT 75,000 MILES. REAR BRAKES I HAVE HAD IN AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS TO HAVE EVALUATED OR WORKED ON. HEARD SQUEALING NOISE FROM REAR PASSENGER BRAKES AND ROTOR WOULD GET HOT. I THOUGHT THE CALIPER WAS FREEZING. I KEPT TAKING IT IN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE METALLIC PADS UNTIL FINALLY I STOPPED IN AND SHOWED THE RED HOT ROTOR. REPLACED BOTH REAR ROTORS, CALIPERS AND PADS. HAD TO REPLACE AGAIN AFTER 6 MONTHS AND THEN 1 YEAR LATER. I AGAIN THOUGHT THE CALIPERS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEY "CLEANED" MY SLIDERS AND TURNED MY ROTORS. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, I TOOK TO MY TIRE DEALER FOR TIRE ROTATION AND THEY STATED MY BACK PASSENGER CALIPER WAS FROZEN AND UNEVEN WEAR ON MY PADS WERE NOTICED. I TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY DENIED THE CALIPERS WERE BAD. CHANGED PADS AND TURNED ROTORS AGAIN. PADS ON EACH REAR WHEEL HAD ONE PAD THAT LOOK LIKE IT CAME BRAND NEW OUT OF THE BOX AND THE OTHER WAS DOWN TO METAL.THEY TOLD ME THE SLIDERS NEED TO BE CLEANED ON A REGULAR BASIS AS PART OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR. I STATED WHERE IN MY OWNERS MANUAL IS THIS AND DIDN'T YOU JUST DO THAT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO? ALSO HAD TO HAVE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING REPLACED TWICE WHEN CALIPERS WERE REPLACED AND I HEAR THE NOISE AGAIN WITH THIS LAST ISSUE BUT THEY ARE CALLING IT "TIRE NOISE" WHICH IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME THE OTHER TIMES. DRIVER SIDE BACK WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE CHANGED WITH A CALIPER ISSUE - THEY TRIED TO TELL ME AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A WEEK THAT IT WAS TIRE NOISE. I TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOSED IMMEDIATELY THE BAD BEARING. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY ADMITTED IT WAS THE BEARING AND REPLACED. *TR
GOT IN MY CAR AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND TO REPLACE IT WILL COST 900.00. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED AS IT DIRECTLY CONTROLS TH…
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GOT IN MY CAR AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND TO REPLACE IT WILL COST 900.00. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED AS IT DIRECTLY CONTROLS THE SIR BAGS AND THE SEAT BELTS. SO BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE 900.00 LAYING AROUND I G=HAVE TO HOPE I AM NOT IN A COLLISION UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH THE RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE A PLUG IN MODULE THAT COSTS LESS THAN 100.00 TO MANUFACTURE. *TR
CAR WAS EXITING ROUTE I90 ONTO A TOLL EXIT RAMP. POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL. INITIAL REPORT FROM REPAIR SHOP IS THAT THE CAR'S POWER STEER LEAKED COMPLETED OUT AND DAMAGED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATIONS THAT THIS WAS OCCURRING UNTIL THIS IN…
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CAR WAS EXITING ROUTE I90 ONTO A TOLL EXIT RAMP. POWER STEERING FAILED AND CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL. INITIAL REPORT FROM REPAIR SHOP IS THAT THE CAR'S POWER STEER LEAKED COMPLETED OUT AND DAMAGED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATIONS THAT THIS WAS OCCURRING UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. *TR
2010 FORD FLEX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE THROTTLE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH OR IT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE FIX WOULD …
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2010 FORD FLEX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE THROTTLE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH OR IT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE FIX WOULD COST $550. *JB
THE POWERSTEERING WAS INTERMITTENT TIGHT AT TIMES FOR A WEEK AND THEN BECAME VERY TIGHT AND ALMOST COULDN'T STEER NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ARE REPLACING THE RACK AND THE POWERSTEERING SHAFT FOR OVER $1000 ON A CAR THAT IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAY 29TH RECALL …
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THE POWERSTEERING WAS INTERMITTENT TIGHT AT TIMES FOR A WEEK AND THEN BECAME VERY TIGHT AND ALMOST COULDN'T STEER NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ARE REPLACING THE RACK AND THE POWERSTEERING SHAFT FOR OVER $1000 ON A CAR THAT IS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAY 29TH RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER FORD SUV'S.
I HAVE A 2010 FORD FLEX ECO BOOST. THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SPORADICALLY AND THEN BECAME MORE PREVALENT. IT USUALLY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN IT GOES OUT IS RIDICULOUS. IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. INITIALLY, THE POWE…
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I HAVE A 2010 FORD FLEX ECO BOOST. THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SPORADICALLY AND THEN BECAME MORE PREVALENT. IT USUALLY OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL WHEN IT GOES OUT IS RIDICULOUS. IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. INITIALLY, THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE (LESS THAN 1 MILE) AND THEN COME BACK. THEN, IT REMAINED OUT FOR A 3 MILE PERIOD BEFORE COMING BACK. THERE ARE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I JUST WENT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY QUOTED $2,200 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. HOWEVER, THEIR DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT DIDN'T RAISE ANY WARNINGS EITHER. SO, THIS WAS JUST A GUESS ON THEIR PART. I TOOK THE FLEX IN TO ADDRESS SOME TSBS, AFTER WHICH THE POWER STEERING WORKED AGAIN FOR ABOUT 1,000 MILES. SIX MONTHS LATER, IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO HOOKED IT UP TO THE LATEST DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT, AND AGAIN EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD - NO CODES. THE POWER STEERING IS COMPLETELY GONE. HOWEVER, ON START-UP IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME BACK FOR ONE TURN OF THE WHEEL. *TR
Official recalls
116V247000 · Air Bags:frontal
Apr 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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