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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 →
144Owner complaints

Model-year median: 139

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
181
2009139
2010144
201164
2012578
2013249
2014
Compare all Flex years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Steering
57Engine
25Power Train
19Unknown Or Other
11Electrical System
9
All reported categories
Service Brakes
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Seats
7Fuel/propulsion System
5Wheels
5Structure
4Tires
3Air Bags
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Equipment
2Exterior Lighting
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility/wiper
2Child Seat
1Fuel System, Diesel
1Seat Belts
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Tires complaints

3 reports
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60,000 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H426 TIRES, SIZE: 255/45R20. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH TIRES BEGAN TO SHRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH TIRES WERE REPLACED BY FORD, BUT THE FAILURE RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H426 TIRES, SIZE: 255/45R20. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH TIRES BEGAN TO SHRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH TIRES WERE REPLACED BY FORD, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. TIDELANDS FORD LINCOLN (9387 OCEAN HIGHWAY, PAWLEYS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA 29585, (843) 237-3673) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER (HANKOOK) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECURRING FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COSMETIC. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED UPON THE SECOND OCCURRENCE. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENTS. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #11122733

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2015
Tires

BF GOODRICH ADVANTAGE T/A TIRES SIZE 23560R17. I HAD WEAR ON TIRES AFTER 18000 MILES. REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER SET. AFTER ONLY 23000 MILES I HAVE WEAR ON TIRES AND THEY NEED REPLACING. THIS TIRE IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR OVER 36K MILES. THEY ARE SUBSTANDARD AND DEFECTIVE AND BE GOODRICH AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE AWAR…

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BF GOODRICH ADVANTAGE T/A TIRES SIZE 23560R17. I HAD WEAR ON TIRES AFTER 18000 MILES. REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER SET. AFTER ONLY 23000 MILES I HAVE WEAR ON TIRES AND THEY NEED REPLACING. THIS TIRE IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR OVER 36K MILES. THEY ARE SUBSTANDARD AND DEFECTIVE AND BE GOODRICH AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE 7 OUT OF 10 OWNERS COMPLAIN OF DEFECTS AND NOTHING IS DONE OF CHANGED.

NHTSA ODI #10722429

350 miles · May 19, 2011
Tires

HANKOOK OPTIMA 19" TIRE SIDEWALL FOR FORD FLEX. I PURCHASE A BRAND NEW 2011 FORD FLEX ON 5/5/11 WITH 19" HANKOOK OPTIMA TIRES. 2 DAYS AGO, MY SIDEWALL BUSTED AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH RAISED, BUT THAT I HAVE DRIVEN OVER HUNDREDS OF TIMES WITH MY INFINITY FX35 TIRES WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THE BRAND NEW SIDEWA…

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HANKOOK OPTIMA 19" TIRE SIDEWALL FOR FORD FLEX. I PURCHASE A BRAND NEW 2011 FORD FLEX ON 5/5/11 WITH 19" HANKOOK OPTIMA TIRES. 2 DAYS AGO, MY SIDEWALL BUSTED AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH RAISED, BUT THAT I HAVE DRIVEN OVER HUNDREDS OF TIMES WITH MY INFINITY FX35 TIRES WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THE BRAND NEW SIDEWALL SHOULD BUST IF YOU GO OVER A BUMP WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402075

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.