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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.

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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

Wheels complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2025
Power TrainService BrakesWheels

My brakes locked up suddenly on the rear end causing me to get stuck in the middle of the road and unable to move it, even to tow it. I had to take 2 days almost to fix it in the middle of the road, since yesterday morning. They also began locking up suddenly on the front end, the wheel bearing, CV Joint, Tie Rods, CV Axles, CV …

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My brakes locked up suddenly on the rear end causing me to get stuck in the middle of the road and unable to move it, even to tow it. I had to take 2 days almost to fix it in the middle of the road, since yesterday morning. They also began locking up suddenly on the front end, the wheel bearing, CV Joint, Tie Rods, CV Axles, CV Boots, and sway bars began failing out of nowhere as well. The brakes may or may not be able to be replicated, as they are partially fixed and yes my entire front end can be replicated. The danger is my brakes locked up as I was driving, in the middle of the road at that. I have not been able to get the front end fixed as it is expensive, however the danger of this is the tires falling off or the front end failing all together. ALL of the other people who drive these that I have talked to and met have had the same problem and yes they are factory parts! Even the people who have only 30 to 60000 miles on their 2011 Ford Flex Titaniums have these issues! Not only this but also the sensors go bad almost immediately off the lot, which can cause the car to brake without warning, stop running out of nowhere, make the power steering module fail, make your vehicle stutter because ALL of the sensors are bad. These vehicles need to be recalled and fixed, or recalled and replaced with better vehicles (from $60,000 up to $95,000) with any mileage any year. Please recall these and please help! I just got mine, this isn't right!

NHTSA ODI #11694344

104,000 miles · Nov 24, 2015
Wheels

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO WEAR OUT BRAND NEW TIRES EVERY 5 TO 10K MILES. I HAVE KEPT UP ON ALIGNMENT, TIRE ROTATING AND TERMS THIS PROBLEM CONTINUE. I HAVE READ A GREAT DEAL OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. THE MANAGER OR EMPLOYEE AT THE TIRE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD FLEX. HE SAYS THAT HE GETS QUITE A NUMBER OF THEM COMING IN…

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VEHICLE CONTINUES TO WEAR OUT BRAND NEW TIRES EVERY 5 TO 10K MILES. I HAVE KEPT UP ON ALIGNMENT, TIRE ROTATING AND TERMS THIS PROBLEM CONTINUE. I HAVE READ A GREAT DEAL OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. THE MANAGER OR EMPLOYEE AT THE TIRE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD FLEX. HE SAYS THAT HE GETS QUITE A NUMBER OF THEM COMING IN WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS CAN BECOME A DANGEROUS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #10806611

40,000 miles · Oct 2, 2015
Wheels

WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE REAR END SLIDES AS IF DRIVING IN RAIN OR SNOW.IT REALLY SWAYS WHILE BRAKING. KNOW INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON TO SUGGEST SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. I HAD THIS SCARY PROBLEM CHECK OUT BY PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS. THEY FELT THE WOBBLY SENSATION WHEN DRIVING 40 MILES HR. THEY ONLY NOTED A COMBINATION OF MI…

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WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE REAR END SLIDES AS IF DRIVING IN RAIN OR SNOW.IT REALLY SWAYS WHILE BRAKING. KNOW INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON TO SUGGEST SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. I HAD THIS SCARY PROBLEM CHECK OUT BY PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS. THEY FELT THE WOBBLY SENSATION WHEN DRIVING 40 MILES HR. THEY ONLY NOTED A COMBINATION OF MINOR CONDITIONS LIKE TIRE THREADS,OIL LEAK FROM A SHOCK AND A SMALL ROD THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE LEFT BACK TIRE THAT HAD A LITTLE MOVEMENT.. THESE ISSUES HOWEVER SHOULDN'T CAUSE THIS VERY DANGEROUS SLIPPERY EXPERIENCE ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS.

NHTSA ODI #10779435

52,000 miles · Sep 3, 2015
Wheels

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, WHILE JACKING UP THE CAR IT BECAME DIFFICULT. I STOPPED, AND LOWERD THE CAR. THEN EXAMINED THE JACK AND FOUND THAT THE THREADED NUT THAT THE UP AND DOWN ADJUSTING ROD THREADS THRU WAS CRACKED OPEN.THIS NUT LOOKS TO BE OF SOME TYPE OF POT METAL, UNLIKE THE REST OF JACK WICH IS STEEL.…

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I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE TIRE, WHILE JACKING UP THE CAR IT BECAME DIFFICULT. I STOPPED, AND LOWERD THE CAR. THEN EXAMINED THE JACK AND FOUND THAT THE THREADED NUT THAT THE UP AND DOWN ADJUSTING ROD THREADS THRU WAS CRACKED OPEN.THIS NUT LOOKS TO BE OF SOME TYPE OF POT METAL, UNLIKE THE REST OF JACK WICH IS STEEL. I TALKED TO FORD MOTOR CO AND THEY SAID THE MOST THEY MIGHT DO IS REPLACE THE JACK. THAT JACK IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WANT A SAFE JACK .

NHTSA ODI #10761321

48,000 miles · May 30, 2015
Wheels

I PURCHASED A 2011 FORD FLEX NEW. AT 24000 MILES MY TIRES WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER HAD ME PAY HALF PRICE. AT 48 K THE NEW TIRES ARE AGAIN BAD AND NEED REPLACING. MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF FORD FLEX OWNERS WITH SUBSTANDARD TIRES. FORD MUST BE AWARE OF THIS WHEN 7 OUT 10 PEOPLE COME …

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I PURCHASED A 2011 FORD FLEX NEW. AT 24000 MILES MY TIRES WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER HAD ME PAY HALF PRICE. AT 48 K THE NEW TIRES ARE AGAIN BAD AND NEED REPLACING. MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF FORD FLEX OWNERS WITH SUBSTANDARD TIRES. FORD MUST BE AWARE OF THIS WHEN 7 OUT 10 PEOPLE COME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM. OWNERS SHOULD BE GIVEN NEW TIRES OF A DIFFERENT MAKE AT FORDS EXPENSE. MY CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY A TIRE REPAIR SHOP TIRE KINGDOM WHO EXPLAINED THE TIRES FORD PROVIDES FOR THE FLEX ARE NOT INTENDED FOR A VEHICLE OF THAT MAKE AND WEIGHT GVW.

NHTSA ODI #10722413

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.