NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
11 reportsClear category filter126,828 miles · Jul 20, 2021
Engine
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired however, the failure recurred and persisted. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The…
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The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired however, the failure recurred and persisted. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 126,828.
NHTSA ODI #11425717
95,000 miles · Sep 26, 2020
Engine
THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED ON MY 2012 FORD FLEX. LOOKING AT VEHICLE HISTORY, THE SAME THROTTLE BODY HAS RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT MODELS. YESTERDAY, 9/252020, I HAD MY FLEX DIE ON ME THREE TIMES ON THE INTERSTATE DURING TRAFFIC. THE MILAGE IS UNDER 100K MILES. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE DIES IS WHEN IM UNDER 30 MPH.
NHTSA ODI #11361256
116,000 miles · Nov 17, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System
10/15/2019 CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH WRENCH SHOWING. TURNED THE CAR OFF AD BACK ON TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP AS IT DID THIS WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON A CITY STREET. IT PROCEEDED TO RETURN TO LIMP MODE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THE CODES THROWN WERE FOR A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. …
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10/15/2019 CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH WRENCH SHOWING. TURNED THE CAR OFF AD BACK ON TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP AS IT DID THIS WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON A CITY STREET. IT PROCEEDED TO RETURN TO LIMP MODE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THE CODES THROWN WERE FOR A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FOR A SECOND TIME ALONG WITH THE PCM. ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN AND THIS TIME SOME WIRING WAS REPLACED AND WE ARE WAITING ON THE ECM. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE WHEN THIS OCCURS AND WE ARE FEARFUL THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE FIXED SINCE IT HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOUR TIMES NOW; WE ARE ALSO AFRAID TO TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY FOR FEAR THE CAR WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE DROPPING FROM 65 MILES PER HOUR TO 5 ALSO IMMEDIATELY. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES ACCORDING TO COMMON REPAIR COMPLAINTS BUT ESPECIALLY FORD. COSTS OF REPAIR AND TROUBLE SHOOTING IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC. A COMPLAINT IS ALSO BEING FILED WITH FORD.
NHTSA ODI #11280606
159,657 miles · Nov 4, 2019
Engine
BAD THROTTLE BODY. STALL WHEN DRIVING AND JERKY MOTION, BOTH WHEN GOING SLOW AND WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RED WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD SHUT OFF AND TURN BACK ON AND DRIVES FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. I HAD IT REPLACED W/ BRAND NEW PART AT A SHOP AND IT IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING.
NHTSA ODI #11277966
88,000 miles · Mar 31, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System
WE HAVE A 2012 FORD FLEX NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. STARTING IN AUGUST, WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH OUR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WHICH CAUSED OUR CAR TO SHUT DOWN. WE HAD THE PART REPLACED, SHORTLY AFTER A SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP FRYING THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS REPLACED, BY THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER CALLI…
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WE HAVE A 2012 FORD FLEX NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. STARTING IN AUGUST, WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH OUR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WHICH CAUSED OUR CAR TO SHUT DOWN. WE HAD THE PART REPLACED, SHORTLY AFTER A SIMILAR PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP FRYING THE COMPUTER. THIS WAS REPLACED, BY THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER CALLING FORD DIRECTLY. IN FEBRUARY, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILED AGAIN. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED LAST NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. ALL SIGNS POINT TOWARD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AGAIN. EVERY TIME THIS ISSUE ARISES, THE CAR GOES INTO A SAFE MODE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN BUSY STREETS. THIS RESULTS IN SPEEDS OF AROUND 5 MILES PER HOUR AND CAN CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE AND THE PART INSTALLED ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED SAFE TO DRIVE ANY DISTANCE GREATER THAN FIVE MILES FROM OUR RESIDENCE, IN CASE WE NEED TO GET HOME. TO CLARIFY, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION .
NHTSA ODI #11192816
108,300 miles · Jul 19, 2018
EnginePower Train
OIL SEPERATOR
NHTSA ODI #11112462
110,000 miles · Dec 1, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE ENCLOSED GARAGE ATTACHED TO HIS HOME, A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR WAS NOTICED. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED FLAMES SURROUNDING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BETWEEN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AND WIN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE ENCLOSED GARAGE ATTACHED TO HIS HOME, A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR WAS NOTICED. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE GARAGE AND NOTICED FLAMES SURROUNDING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BETWEEN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT NOTIFIED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HIS AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHOM DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS BEING RELATED TO THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TOWED TO CAPITAL FORD LINCOLN OF ROCKY MOUNT (2012 STONE ROSE DR, ROCKY MOUNT, NC 27804 (252) 977-1234) WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, NOR WAS THERE A KEY IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. UPDATED 9/13/18*JB
NHTSA ODI #11051705
127,000 miles · Jun 7, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
DRIVING UP AN ON RAMP TO AN INTERSTATE, SUDDENLY ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. I COULD NOT SEE ANY SPEED OR DRIVING INFORMATION. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, DASHBOARD LIGHTS STILL FLASHED. CAR RE…
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DRIVING UP AN ON RAMP TO AN INTERSTATE, SUDDENLY ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. I COULD NOT SEE ANY SPEED OR DRIVING INFORMATION. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I TURNED THE KEY, DASHBOARD LIGHTS STILL FLASHED. CAR RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES AND I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT GRAPPONE FORD IN CONCORD, NH MY DEALERSHIP THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE AGAIN FLASHING AND I COULD NOT SEE ANY DATA.
NHTSA ODI #10993774
8,000 miles · Jun 23, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. (1) WHILE TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN THE A/C WILL SHUT DOWN. (2) THE CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTS WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. (3) CAR HAS DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO HIG…
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THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. (1) WHILE TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN THE A/C WILL SHUT DOWN. (2) THE CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTS WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. (3) CAR HAS DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO HIGHWAY. (4) A/C WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF AND BLOW ON MAXIMUM EVEN WHEN POWER SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. (5) WHEN CAR LOSES POWER, ALL CODES ARE RESET SO DEALER IS UNABLE TO GET A CLEAR REASON WHY CAR IS DOING THIS. WE HAD A BLACK BOX INSTALLED FOR TWO WEEKS WITH SOME RESULTS PINPOINTED BUT AFTER IT WAS "FIXED" WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. DEALER CONNECTED A COMPUTER WHILE WE DROVE AROUND BLOCK AND THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT WE WERE PUSHING THE BRAKE AND GAS AT SAME TIME...NOT POSSIBLE! THE READING WAS THAT THE BRAKE HAD BEEN TOUCHED MORE THAN 2000 TIMES WHILE DRIVING 20 MILES. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN REPAIR SHOP 8 TIMES AND NO RESOLUTION YET. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT NO COST WHILE WE TRIED TO FIND PROBLEMS BUT NOW WARRANTY IS UP AND THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE WERE TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT IF WE APPLY FOR LEMON LAW THAT WE WOULD MOST LIKELY LOSE THE CASE AND IT WOULD ONLY COST US MONEY. ACCORDING TO TEXAS LAW...THIS CAR DEFINITELY QUALIFIES~ WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM OUR ATTORNEY. I HOPE NO ONE ELSE BUYS THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE~ *TR
NHTSA ODI #10521258
8,200 miles · Feb 27, 2013
Engine
MY 2012 NEW FORD FLEX HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE 3 TIMES 1-27 DRIVING..COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. I CRUISED TO CURB. RESTARTED QUICKLY 2-01 SAME INCIDENT 2-02 REPEAT ON MAJOR STREET DEALERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THEY HAVE HD MY VEHICLE SINCE 2-02. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10500705
Official recalls
2Apr 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.
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 ↗