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2012 Ford Flex

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Flex are lower than the model-year median of 139.

About this comparison →
64Owner complaints

Model-year median: 139

2Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
181
2009139
2010144
201164
2012578
2013249
2014106
2015
Compare all Flex years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
24Engine
11Electrical System
10Service Brakes
8Fuel/propulsion System
5
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
5Power Train
4Structure
4Air Bags
3Suspension
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Wheels
2Exterior Lighting
1Visibility
1Visibility/wiper
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

46 reports with mileage · 18 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

2 reports
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45,000 miles · Mar 1, 2014
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE ENGINE POWER: PRESSING DOWN THE THROTTLE HAD NO EFFECT. FIRST I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE DID FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE I AM PASSING A CAR…

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VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE ENGINE POWER: PRESSING DOWN THE THROTTLE HAD NO EFFECT. FIRST I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE DID FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE I AM PASSING A CAR I AM LOSING A MAJOR CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566570

31,255 miles · Aug 3, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

JUNE 27: GET TO FLORIDA 6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE WE WILL BE STAYING AND NEW FORD FLEX GAS TANK RUPTURES LEAVING US WITH NO GAS TO GET OFF FREEWAY. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SINCE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CALLED A TOW TRUCK. JUNE 29: DROPPED OFF KEYS FOR FORD FLEX AT TROPICAL FORD AT 9AM. EXPLAINED TO JACK W…

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JUNE 27: GET TO FLORIDA 6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE WE WILL BE STAYING AND NEW FORD FLEX GAS TANK RUPTURES LEAVING US WITH NO GAS TO GET OFF FREEWAY. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SINCE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CALLED A TOW TRUCK. JUNE 29: DROPPED OFF KEYS FOR FORD FLEX AT TROPICAL FORD AT 9AM. EXPLAINED TO JACK WHAT WAS WRONG WITH GAS TANK. GOT A CALL FROM JACK A FEW HOURS LATER AND HE SAID THEY WERE ALL SET. I ASKED IF HE FOUND THE GAS TANK ISSUE AND HE SAID NO THEY LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT DIDN'T APPEAR ANYTHING WAS WRONG SO I CAN TAKE THE TRUCK. I THEN ASKED DID YOU POUR FUEL IN IT TO SEE IF IT IS LEAKING BECAUSE I HAVE PICTURES OF THE GAS LEAKING. HE SAID NO IT JUST LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FINE. THEN I ASKED WELL ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THE GAS TANK OFF AND CHECK IT. HE SAID THEY DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO. CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE: HTTP://M.USATODAY.COM/ARTICLE/NEWS/2384133 FORD FLEX GAS TANK ISSUES FORD RECALLS FLEX JUNE 31: PICKED UP FORD FLEX FROM TROPICAL FORD AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE FUEL TANK. WE SMELL FUEL WHILE FILLING TANK. NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT NOW SINCE DEALERSHIP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN OF VERY LITTLE HELP. WE HAVE PICTURES OF FUEL TANK LEAKING AND AUDIO RECORDINGS OF POOR FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533384

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.