Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
200–25K
1525–50K
2550–75K
1075–100K
35100–150K
12150K+
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
What owners actually said
144 reports
4,550 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Power Train
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO H…
Read full complaint
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL, AND HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS FORD HAS LOOKED, BUT NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEM OR SOLUTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395999
8,000 miles · Mar 28, 2011
Power Train
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE T…
Read full complaint
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10393125
300 miles · Jan 27, 2011
SeatsInjury
A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2011 FORD FLEX. UPON BRINGING IT HOME WE DECIDED TO LET MY CHILDREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO "CHECK IT OUT" AS MY OLDER SON WOULD SAY. WHEN MY YOUNGEST SON, 18 MONTHS AT THE TIME ENTERED THE SECOND ROW OF THE CAR, HE WENT TO REACH FOR THE SEAT BELT( TRYING TO BE COOL LIKE HIS BROTHER WHO WAS AL…
Read full complaint
A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2011 FORD FLEX. UPON BRINGING IT HOME WE DECIDED TO LET MY CHILDREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO "CHECK IT OUT" AS MY OLDER SON WOULD SAY. WHEN MY YOUNGEST SON, 18 MONTHS AT THE TIME ENTERED THE SECOND ROW OF THE CAR, HE WENT TO REACH FOR THE SEAT BELT( TRYING TO BE COOL LIKE HIS BROTHER WHO WAS ALREADY BUCKLED AND ON A PRETEND ROAD TRIP)AND ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED AGAINST AN AUTOMATIC SEAT FOLD BUTTON WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BACK TO FLIP DOWN HITTING HIM IN THE FACE, KNOCKING HIM INTO THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR WHERE THE SEAT CONTINUED TO FOLD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES BEFORE MY FRIEND DECIDED TO DISCONNECT THE SWITCH HIMSELF. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES, ONLY A BITTEN TONGUE, A RED MARK ON HIS FOREHEAD AND AFTER THE SECOND TIME( WHICH WAS NOT AS FORCEFUL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SEATING FOLDING ONTO HIM THE FIRST TIME HAD WEEKEND THE MOTOR A BIT) HOWEVER NOW HE DOES HAVE A SLIGHT FEAR OF GETTING INTO THE CAR. I THINK THE AUTOMATIC SEAT FEATURE IS NOT WHAT CAUSED THIS, BUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE BUTTON ITSELF WHICH IS RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE 2ND ROW SEAT WHERE IT IS EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY PUSH IT, EASY ENOUGH FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD TO REACH WHILE SEATED AND BELTED IN(THE BUTTON CAN BE ACTIVATED WITH DOOR OPEN OR SHUT) IF THEY CAN'T CHANGE THE PLACEMENT OF THE BUTTON THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE OUTFITTED WITH SOME TYPE OF FLIP COVER YOU HAVE TO OPEN BEFORE THE BUTTON CAN BE PUSHED PREVENTING THINGS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10379252
40 miles · Oct 28, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BOTH TIMES POWER STEERING WAS GONE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE IT DID NOT LEAVE A SIGNATURE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. *TR
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.
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.
2011 Ford Flex Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration