← New search

2011 Ford Flex

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Flex do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 139.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

117 reports with mileage · 27 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 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Steering complaints

57 reports
Clear category filter
155,000 miles · May 24, 2019
Steering

WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING LOSES POWER. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. I LOOKED IT UP AND MY CAR ISNT COVERED IN THE RECALL. FIRST AND LAST FORD I WILL EVER OWN!!!! THERE IS A REASON THEY SAY FOUND ON ROAD DEAD!!!

NHTSA ODI #11209800

90,000 miles · Apr 30, 2019
Steering

I LOST STEERING ON HIGHWAY AND BARELY ESCAPED FROM A FATAL ACCIDENT. NO CODE IS APPEARING ON THE CAR. I CAN HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #11204730

130,000 miles · Apr 2, 2019
Steering

WHILE DRIVING UP A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEED, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING NOW COMES AND GOES AT RANDOM AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11193412

101,850 miles · Mar 25, 2019
Steering

DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT.. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. A SERVICE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE ADVANC TRAC SYSTEM CODE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. I BELIEVE THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11191324

118,000 miles · Mar 4, 2019
Steering

STARTED CAR POWER STEERING DEFAULT SIGN LIT UP ON DASH AND THERE WAS WAS NO POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY I WAS AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOME AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME.

NHTSA ODI #11183869

58,000 miles · Dec 26, 2018
Steering

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER CONFIRMED THE SAME EXACT TROUBLE CODES, SYMPTOMS, AND ISSUE AS THE EXISTING RECALL. MY FLEX IS THE SAME MODEL (ECOBOOST) AND MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME LOCATION AS THE RECALL. MY VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECA…

Read full complaint

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER CONFIRMED THE SAME EXACT TROUBLE CODES, SYMPTOMS, AND ISSUE AS THE EXISTING RECALL. MY FLEX IS THE SAME MODEL (ECOBOOST) AND MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME LOCATION AS THE RECALL. MY VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, HOWEVER, AS IT WAS MANUFACTURED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL DATE. THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND FOLKS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND GET THEIR UNSAFE CARS FIXED BEFORE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO THEM. MY FLEX HAD UNDER 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AT THE DEALER. LOCAL DEALER WHERE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE NEW, REGIONAL FORD REPRESENTATIVE, AND FORD CORPORATE IN DETROIT HAVE ALL NOT BEEN HELPFUL. FORD IN DETROIT REQUIRED THAT I GO THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF MAILING WRITTEN INFORMATION, FOLLOWING UP REPEATEDLY WITH SUPERVISORS, AND THEN DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING. THE REGIONAL FORD FOLKS ALSO ASKED THE LOCAL DEALER TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT DETAILS REGARDING THE FAULTY PART AND THEN ALSO DID NOTHING TO HELP COVER THE COST. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED. FORD HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT EVEN WHEN FACED WITH OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS ISSUE PUT MY FAMILY AT SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AND COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. NHTSA, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE OF THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11163492

150,000 miles · Dec 19, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOCATED DIAGNOSTIC TRO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOCATED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FOR THE STEERING AND RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING), ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #11162485

85,000 miles · Oct 8, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

MY CURRENT PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS IS THE STEERING. AS OF AROUND TWO YEARS AGO I HAVE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING LOSING THE POWER AND RESULTING IN A VERY HARD TO CONTROL STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ROUGHLY 6 TIMES IN TWO YEARS. THE PROBLEM WOULD USUALLY…

Read full complaint

MY CURRENT PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS IS THE STEERING. AS OF AROUND TWO YEARS AGO I HAVE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING LOSING THE POWER AND RESULTING IN A VERY HARD TO CONTROL STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ROUGHLY 6 TIMES IN TWO YEARS. THE PROBLEM WOULD USUALLY CORRECT WITHIN AROUND FIVE SECONDS OR SO. I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE MANY ISSUES ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS FORD PROBLEM THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE COMES WITHIN A MONTH OF THE RECALL SO NO HELP FROM THE DEALER. THEY WANT AROUND 3000-3500 FOR REPLACEMENT. WORD IS THEY HAVE DOUBLED THE COST OF THE PART TO MAKE UP FOR THE RECALL MONEY THEY ARE OUT. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND FORD NEEDS TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE. I AM TOLD THE STEERING IS ELECTRICAL. MY SECOND ISSUE IS AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AROUND TWO YEARS ALSO. THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT EACH AT DIFFERENT TIMES. IF I REACH DOWN AND TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN THEY WILL COME BACK ON AND CORRECT, BUT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. ONE MIGHT GO OUT AND THEN ONE STAY ON. A DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURS WHEN THEY BOTH FAIL. TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND OFF ALWAYS TURNS THEM ON. PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS. NEITHER ARE NOT FIXED AT THE MOMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11139001

140,000 miles · Sep 10, 2018
Steering

OUR 2011 FORD FLEX HAS EXPERIENCED A STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST STEERING, NOT POWER. BUT STEERING IS IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER FORCING IT BACK AND FORTH WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO GO AGAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS THE STEERING SHAFT BINDING UP. I SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING IN THIS VEHICL…

Read full complaint

OUR 2011 FORD FLEX HAS EXPERIENCED A STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST STEERING, NOT POWER. BUT STEERING IS IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER FORCING IT BACK AND FORTH WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO GO AGAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS THE STEERING SHAFT BINDING UP. I SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE. NO RECALL IS CURRENTLY ISSUED FOR THIS VIN

NHTSA ODI #11128579

110,000 miles · Aug 9, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #11118684

Official recalls

2

16V247000 · 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.

15V340000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Jun 2, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.