BOTH OF THE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE WATER INTRUSION ABOUT 3 0Z OF WATER WITHIN THE CHAMBER. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES.SHORTENING OUT WHICH HAS CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH SAFETY AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
2013 Ford Flex
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Flex years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Flex are substantially higher than the model-year median of 139.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Flex years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
435 reports with mileage · 143 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 149 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
36 reportsTHE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS SHOWING THAT IT IS OPEN RANDOMLY WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. (DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED) THE LIGHTS AND ALARM WILL COME ON AND MAKES IT UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DOOR SENSOR IS A ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE F…
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THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS SHOWING THAT IT IS OPEN RANDOMLY WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. (DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED) THE LIGHTS AND ALARM WILL COME ON AND MAKES IT UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DOOR SENSOR IS A ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SENSOR/LATCH/ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. DOOR IS AJAR WARNING DOES NOT TURN OFF. DOORS CANNOT LOCK WHEN DRIVING. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR KIDS IN BACK SEATS. ALARM GOES OFF ANYTIME RANDOMLY. DRAINS BATTERY AND AFFECTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FAULTY BACK UP CAMERA. 2. WATER PUMP FAILURE UNDER ENGINE. COVE…
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1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SENSOR/LATCH/ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. DOOR IS AJAR WARNING DOES NOT TURN OFF. DOORS CANNOT LOCK WHEN DRIVING. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR KIDS IN BACK SEATS. ALARM GOES OFF ANYTIME RANDOMLY. DRAINS BATTERY AND AFFECTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FAULTY BACK UP CAMERA. 2. WATER PUMP FAILURE UNDER ENGINE. COVERED BY 6YR/60K WARRANTY, FAILED AT 62K MILES. REPLACEMENT COST IS AN EXTREME HIGH COST OF $2700.
MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS COME ON OFTEN WHEN I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE CAR AT NIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THEY DO GO OFF AFTER I DRIVE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS VERY DANGEROUS.
PASSENGER SIDE DOORS GIVE FALSE DOOR AJAR NOTIFICATIONS. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS REPAIRED JUNE 2017. REAR PASSENGER DOOR NOW SHOWS THE NOTIFICATION AS OF NOVEMBER 2017. FALSE NOTIFICATION LEADS TO DOME LIGHTING AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON. BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND REPLACED IN JUNE 2017. DOORS FAIL TO LOCK USING AUTOMATIC DOOR LOC…
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PASSENGER SIDE DOORS GIVE FALSE DOOR AJAR NOTIFICATIONS. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS REPAIRED JUNE 2017. REAR PASSENGER DOOR NOW SHOWS THE NOTIFICATION AS OF NOVEMBER 2017. FALSE NOTIFICATION LEADS TO DOME LIGHTING AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON. BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND REPLACED IN JUNE 2017. DOORS FAIL TO LOCK USING AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WHILE IN MOTION. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY WHICH SEEMS TO BE IMPACTING OTHER FORD VEHICLES.
DRIVER DOOR SENSOR FAILURE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, DOOR IS CLOSED AND LATCHING, BUT SYSTEM DOESN'T THINK IT IS. UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS, INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS STAY ON CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES AT NIGHT. PLUS ANNOYING DINGING ALERTS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC
THE DOORS ARE ALWAYS SAYING THEY ARE AJAR AND THEY ARE NOT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOOK OUT ONE SENSOR ON MY DOOR AND THEN AFTER THAT TWO OTHERS WENT OFF AND NOW THEY CONTINUE TO GO OFF. MY LIGHTS WILL STAY ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEY WILL FINALLY SHUT OFF AND SOMETIMES THEY SHUT OFF TURN BACK ON AND THEN MY…
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THE DOORS ARE ALWAYS SAYING THEY ARE AJAR AND THEY ARE NOT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOOK OUT ONE SENSOR ON MY DOOR AND THEN AFTER THAT TWO OTHERS WENT OFF AND NOW THEY CONTINUE TO GO OFF. MY LIGHTS WILL STAY ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEY WILL FINALLY SHUT OFF AND SOMETIMES THEY SHUT OFF TURN BACK ON AND THEN MY ALARM GOES OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT MOST OF THE TIME. I'LL SHUT IT OFF LOCK IT MAKE SURE ALL THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND THEN I WILL GO BACK OUT AND THE ALARMS ARE GOING BACK OFF. AGAIN ALL THE DOORS ARE SHUT THE CAR'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 3 TO 4 HOURS AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THE LIGHTS KEEP GOING ON AND OFF AFTER A WHILE THE ALARM STARTS GOING OFF. IT IS DRAINING MY BATTERY MY BATTERY IS GOING BAD BECAUSE OF IT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I NEED THIS FIXED. I WORK AT THE HOSPITAL AND WE HAVE TO PARK OUR CARS A COUPLE MILES AWAY SO IF MY CARS GOING OFF I HAVE NO IDEA THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD TO GET MY CAR BOOSTED BECAUSE MY BATTERY WAS DEAD.
MY VEHICLE'S "DOOR AJAR" SENSOR WILL NOT TURN OFF EVEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED. THIS IS RESULTING IN MY LIGHTS STAYING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THE WORST THING IS THAT MY DOORS WON'T STAY LOCKED AT ANYTIME. WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THAT WHEN I LOCK THE DOORS AFTER EXITING THE CAR, THE ALARM WILL GO OFF AFTER A CERT…
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MY VEHICLE'S "DOOR AJAR" SENSOR WILL NOT TURN OFF EVEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED. THIS IS RESULTING IN MY LIGHTS STAYING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THE WORST THING IS THAT MY DOORS WON'T STAY LOCKED AT ANYTIME. WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THAT WHEN I LOCK THE DOORS AFTER EXITING THE CAR, THE ALARM WILL GO OFF AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, THEREFORE, I HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED OR KEEP AN EAR OUT FOR IT. I HAVE TRIED MANUALLY LOCKING THE DOORS WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THE DOOR LOCKS WILL AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK THEMSELVES. I DON'T FEEL SAFE KNOWING THAT SOMEONE COULD JUST JUMP IN MY CAR OR OPEN ONE OF MY BACK DOORS WHERE MY TWO CHILDREN SIT. I'M ALSO FEARFUL OF MY BATTERY DYING AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY DOME LIGHTS STAYING ON FOR SUCH A LONG TIME EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M DREADING THE THOUGHT OF THIS HAPPENING WHILE WITH MY KIDS AND BEING LEFT STRANDED. I WISH FORD WOULD TAKE THIS ISSUE MORE SERIOUS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR SOMETHING TRAGIC TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
DRIVER SIDE DOOR WARNING KEEPS LIGHTING UP AND BEEPING. THE DOOR IS NOT AJAR, BUT CONSTANTLY GETTING THE MESSAGE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND RE-SHUT THE DOOR, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. INTERIOR LIGHTS NOW NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE THE CAR THINKS THE DRIVER DOOR IS CONSTANTLY AJAR. INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER COME ON WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR,…
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DRIVER SIDE DOOR WARNING KEEPS LIGHTING UP AND BEEPING. THE DOOR IS NOT AJAR, BUT CONSTANTLY GETTING THE MESSAGE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND RE-SHUT THE DOOR, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. INTERIOR LIGHTS NOW NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE THE CAR THINKS THE DRIVER DOOR IS CONSTANTLY AJAR. INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER COME ON WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR, ONLY WHEN KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. THEY TAKE 20-30 MINUTES TO SHUT OFF NOW AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. *TR
RIGHT FRONT SIDE DOOR IS SHOWN AJAR. INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON. VERY DANGEROUS DO DRIVE AT NIGHT. BATTERY WILL RUN DOWN SINCE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. ON LINE STRING INDICATES VERY HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAULTY DOOR SWITCHES.
Official recalls
620V072000 · Suspension:rear
Feb 10, 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
16V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Aug 25, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.
15V812000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Dec 2, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.
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.
14V393000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft
Jul 2, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.
13V227000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
May 31, 2013
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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