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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.

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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.

11 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

Power Train complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 8, 2026
EnginePower Train

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? INTERNAL WATER PUMP/ TIMING CHAINS/ VVT SOLENOIDS/ CAM PHASERS/ CAM SENSORS/ RELATED SEALS How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ENGINE FAILURE - SUDDEN STOP OF VEHICLE Has the problem been reproduced or confi…

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What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? INTERNAL WATER PUMP/ TIMING CHAINS/ VVT SOLENOIDS/ CAM PHASERS/ CAM SENSORS/ RELATED SEALS How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ENGINE FAILURE - SUDDEN STOP OF VEHICLE Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? YES, IS AWARE AND HAS ACKNOWLEDGED VIA SERVICE AND TECH BULLETINS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND REPEATED ISSUE. ISSUE IS KNOWN AND COMMON WITH ALL 3.7L AND 3.5L FORD ENGINES. MANUFACTURER HAS HAD PETTY AND CLASS ACTION SUITS RELATED TO THIS FAILURE AND IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO REMEDY ASIDE FROM A "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR CERTIAN COUNTRIES BUT SAID WARRANTY DOES NOT HELP THOSE WHO PURCHASED VEHICLES USED AND HAVE NO VEHICLE HISTORY TO SEE IF THE "SERVICE INTERVALS" WERE MET LEAVING THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH REPAIR BILLS THAT COST AT MINIMUM OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? YES. MULTIPLE TECHNICIANS ON MY VEHICLE AD WELL AS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE WORLD. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO LAMPS. ONLY POSSIBLE WAY YOU CAN EVEN TELL IS BY THE TIME ITS TOO LATE AND THE COOLANT AND OIL MIX RESULTING IN MILKY LIKE MIXTURE ON DIPSTICK OR IN OIL PAN OR ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #11736541

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2024
Power TrainSteeringSuspensionCrashInjury

Steering locked up lower control arm snapped at the ball joint where it's connected to cv axel. Sent my car into the rails and nearly.killed me and my passenger.

NHTSA ODI #11594309

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2022
Power Train

Wrench light came on and car felt like it was losing power and began to shake. I pulled over and it went dead.

NHTSA ODI #11478041

67,000 miles · Nov 2, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC AND APPROACHING A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TO DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND DECELERATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC AND APPROACHING A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TO DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND DECELERATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. ADDITIONALLY, THE BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CREST FORD OF NIANTIC (218 FLANDERS RD, NIANTIC, CT 06357, (860) 739-5403) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FUEL SENSOR AND ACL MODULATOR WERE REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #11372760

50,122 miles · Apr 11, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GARY SMITH FORD (1 BEAL PKWY NW, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548, (888…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GARY SMITH FORD (1 BEAL PKWY NW, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548, (888) 814-7437) WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AND THE PCM WAS UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,122. .*BF *TR

NHTSA ODI #11195631

80,000 miles · Mar 6, 2019
EnginePower Train

THERE IS CURRENTLY AN ISSUE WITH OUR ECOBOOST V6 TURBO CHARGER. THERE IS A OLD DRAIN TUBE LEAK THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH FORD AND IS A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE 2014 AND 2015 FORD FLEX WHICH IS IDENTICAL PARTS AS OUR VEHICLE BUT NEVER RECALLED. WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GET RECALLED BEFORE HARM …

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THERE IS CURRENTLY AN ISSUE WITH OUR ECOBOOST V6 TURBO CHARGER. THERE IS A OLD DRAIN TUBE LEAK THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH FORD AND IS A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE 2014 AND 2015 FORD FLEX WHICH IS IDENTICAL PARTS AS OUR VEHICLE BUT NEVER RECALLED. WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS GET RECALLED BEFORE HARM IS HAD. THIS IS AN ONGOING LEAK THAT HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11184538

35 miles · Oct 9, 2017
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

AS I'M DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AND IT SLOWS DOWN MY CAR TO TWO MILES PER HOUR ONCE I TURN IT BACK OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN BUT AS SOON AS I DRIVE FOR A COUPLE OF MILES OR NOT EVEN A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND MY CAR GO STRAIGHT TO DRIVING TO MILES PER HOUR I WANT TO KNOW WHAT COU…

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AS I'M DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AND IT SLOWS DOWN MY CAR TO TWO MILES PER HOUR ONCE I TURN IT BACK OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN BUT AS SOON AS I DRIVE FOR A COUPLE OF MILES OR NOT EVEN A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND MY CAR GO STRAIGHT TO DRIVING TO MILES PER HOUR I WANT TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THIS AND WHY IS IT DOING IT

NHTSA ODI #11032580

79,000 miles · Feb 15, 2017
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "DRIVER DOOR AJAR" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND BEEPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, A "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND SEIZED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "DRIVER DOOR AJAR" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND BEEPED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, A "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND SEIZED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ODI #10954886

100,000 miles · Dec 6, 2016
Power Train

MY FLEX PTU SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT FELL APART WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM THEN SEVERE GRINDING WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS SO OFTEN WITH FORD AWD SYSTEMS THAT THEY KEEP THEM IN STOCK. I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY TO COMPLAIN AND FIND WHAT THEY WERE DOING ABOUT IT. I WAS …

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MY FLEX PTU SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT FELL APART WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM THEN SEVERE GRINDING WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS SO OFTEN WITH FORD AWD SYSTEMS THAT THEY KEEP THEM IN STOCK. I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY TO COMPLAIN AND FIND WHAT THEY WERE DOING ABOUT IT. I WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU. THE COST TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE WILL BE $1500. THAT IS NOT A MINOR FIX AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10930238

36,000 miles · Jun 1, 2015
Electrical SystemPower Train

ON APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 15, 2013 WE WERE DRIVING OUR SON TO SCHOOL WHEN CHIMES CAME ON STATING THAT OUR DOORS WERE OPEN. WE STOPPED, CHECKED ALL DOORS. NONE WERE AJAR. WE CONTINUED ON DRIVING AT WHICH TIME OUR SON OPENED THE DOOR. HAD HE NOT BEEN IN A CAR SEAT HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT. WE WERE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORH…

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ON APPROXIMATELY AUGUST 15, 2013 WE WERE DRIVING OUR SON TO SCHOOL WHEN CHIMES CAME ON STATING THAT OUR DOORS WERE OPEN. WE STOPPED, CHECKED ALL DOORS. NONE WERE AJAR. WE CONTINUED ON DRIVING AT WHICH TIME OUR SON OPENED THE DOOR. HAD HE NOT BEEN IN A CAR SEAT HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT. WE WERE IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND WERE ONLY GOING ABOUT 15- 20 MPH. OUR CHIMES CONTINUED TO GO OFF AND STILL TO THIS DAY WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DID TELL US THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSORS BUT THAT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY RECALLS. THEY DID CHANGE ONE OF THE SENSORS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AT OUR OWN EXPENSE, HOWEVER IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS GOING OFF STILL AND NOW THE DRIVER FRONT ONE IS STARTING AS WELL AS A "SHIFT TO PARK" SENSOR. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF INSIDE THE CAR. AS FAR AS THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM GOES. IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AS YOU ARE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED MAY TIMES AND IT IS GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT. YOU HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO BACK INTO DRIVE. WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIPS ATTENTION HOWEVER EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT INTO THERE THEY SAY THEY CANT SEE OR FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE MAKE A CAR PAYMENT EVERY MONTH ON A VEHICLE WE DON'T DRIVE. WE HAVE A 2009 FLEX THAT WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH WHICH IS WHY WE PURCHASED A NEWER ONE WITH A LOT LESS MILES! UNFORTUNATELY WE OWE MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH ON OUR 2013 FLEX OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF IT BY NOW. WE HOPE YOU WILL REALLY LOOK INTO THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE ENDS UP REALLY HURT! WE NOTICE THERE WAS A RECALL WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT SUPPOSEDLY.

NHTSA ODI #10722545

Official recalls

6

20V072000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.