WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST STOPS. NO POWER, CANNOT TURN WHEEL, GAS NOR BRAKE PEDAL WORKS. HAVE TO RESTART BY PUSHING IGNITION BUTTON. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES ALREADY AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
78 reportsTAKATA RECALL , I TOOK MY CAR TO MEL HAMBELTON FORD, FOR A VEHICLE HEALTH INSPECTION AND NEVER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FSA TITLE SYNC WITH MYFORD MYLINCOLN TOUGH WZARRANTY EXTENSION COVERING ACCESSORY PROTOCOL INTERFACE MODULE APIM , BUT WAS UNDER PRIMARY CONCERNS DIAG. AND REPLACE APIM FOR BLANK SCREEN, YET WHEN I GET ON FORD P…
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TAKATA RECALL , I TOOK MY CAR TO MEL HAMBELTON FORD, FOR A VEHICLE HEALTH INSPECTION AND NEVER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FSA TITLE SYNC WITH MYFORD MYLINCOLN TOUGH WZARRANTY EXTENSION COVERING ACCESSORY PROTOCOL INTERFACE MODULE APIM , BUT WAS UNDER PRIMARY CONCERNS DIAG. AND REPLACE APIM FOR BLANK SCREEN, YET WHEN I GET ON FORD PASS I LEARN OF THIS ISSUE, NEVER THE DEALER THAT SOLD MY THE CAR OR THE FORD DEALERSHIP OFFER TO ASSIST ME ARE CHECKED THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE12/13/18
2013 FORD FLEX - DOOR SENSOR KEEPS THINKING IT IS OPEN. IT PREVENTS US FROM LOCKING THE DOORS, BOTH PARKED AND IN MOTION. IT ALLOWS OUR CHILDREN TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE IN MOTION BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH. ISSUE IS STILL OCCURRING. IT STARTED A MONTH AGO (START OF NOVEMBER 2018), HOWEVER NOW DOES IT EVERY TIME WE ARE GETTI…
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2013 FORD FLEX - DOOR SENSOR KEEPS THINKING IT IS OPEN. IT PREVENTS US FROM LOCKING THE DOORS, BOTH PARKED AND IN MOTION. IT ALLOWS OUR CHILDREN TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE IN MOTION BECAUSE THE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH. ISSUE IS STILL OCCURRING. IT STARTED A MONTH AGO (START OF NOVEMBER 2018), HOWEVER NOW DOES IT EVERY TIME WE ARE GETTING INTO OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ISSUE WHILE DRIVING: WHEN THE SENSOR IS SENSING THE DOOR AS "OPEN", THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE STAY ON FOR OVER 3 MILES OF DRIVING BEFORE THEY WILL TURN OFF - DAY OR NIGHT CAUSING A BACK LIGHT (GLARE) ISSUE DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. ISSUE WHILE STOPPED, BOTH SITTING IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE: THE LIGHTS DO NOT TURN OFF AND RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY OF MY VEHICLE. I TIMED THE LIGHTS AFTER GETTING HOME AND AT 30 MINUTES I STOPPED THE TIMER - AS IT WAS TOO COLD TO CONTINUE. I HAD TO SHUT THE DOOR 12 TIMES BEFORE THE SENSOR FINALLY SENSED A "CLOSED" DOOR AND SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF.
THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS ARE SHUT ALL THE WAY, BUT THE CAR SENSES THEM AS OPEN AND KEEPS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON WITH A DOOR AJAR WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A TSB PERFORMED ON MY CAR FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE ISSUE HAS RETURNED. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. I HAVE TO TRY OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR TO GET IT TO SHOW A…
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THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS ARE SHUT ALL THE WAY, BUT THE CAR SENSES THEM AS OPEN AND KEEPS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON WITH A DOOR AJAR WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS A TSB PERFORMED ON MY CAR FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE ISSUE HAS RETURNED. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. I HAVE TO TRY OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR TO GET IT TO SHOW AS SHUT. IT CAN CAUSE THE CAR ALARM TO GO OFF AT TIMES. THE WARNING CAN COME ON WHILE I'M DRIVING, LONG AFTER I SHUT THE DOOR.
THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COME ON THE DASH EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE DOOR UNLOCKS AFTER LOCKING DUE TO THE CAR THINKING THE DOOR IS OPEN. THIS IS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY GO OFF AND ON WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE DOOR.THIS ALSO CAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON WHICH IS NOT SAFE WHEN DRIVING AT …
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THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COME ON THE DASH EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE DOOR UNLOCKS AFTER LOCKING DUE TO THE CAR THINKING THE DOOR IS OPEN. THIS IS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY GO OFF AND ON WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE DOOR.THIS ALSO CAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON WHICH IS NOT SAFE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.
2 ISSUES 1) THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR THOUGH CLOSED IS READ AS A WARNING "DOOR AJAR". THE WARNING STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY AND I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY ONCE SINCE OWNING THE 2013 FORD FLEX WHEN PURCHASED IN 2016 WITH JUST UNDER 20,000 MILES ON IT. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FROM STARTING THE ENGINE UNT…
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2 ISSUES 1) THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR THOUGH CLOSED IS READ AS A WARNING "DOOR AJAR". THE WARNING STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. IT DRAINS THE BATTERY AND I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY ONCE SINCE OWNING THE 2013 FORD FLEX WHEN PURCHASED IN 2016 WITH JUST UNDER 20,000 MILES ON IT. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FROM STARTING THE ENGINE UNTIL ACCELERATED SPEED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AFTER PARKED STAY ON FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 MINUTES THOUGH IT COULD BE LONGER CONTRIBUTING TO DRAINING THE VEHICLE BATTERY. 2) THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL AS IF IT IS PULLED WHILE IN COMMUTE. NOT STARTING RIGHT AWAY OR SHUTS DOWN/STALLS. IT HAS STALLED AND NOT TURNED OVER THOUGH THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WORK. FORTUNATELY THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY PARKING SPOT. IT WILL NOT TURN OVER, BUT THE NEXT MORNING IT WILL START. AFTER READING ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUES FOR OTHER FORD FLEX VEHICLES LAST WEEK WITH MY VEHICLE DOING THE ABOVE ACTION I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY MODULE. WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER AREA BETWEEN REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND FURTHEST REAR WINDOW WHERE THE SEAT BELT PULLS FROM I FELT I HAD RESOLVED THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, A WEEK EXACTLY LATER I ATTEMPTED TO START MY VEHICLE WHEN THE EXACT SCENARIO HAPPENED ALL OVER AGAIN. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BUT LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED. LEFT ALONE OVERNIGHT I WENT TO START IT THIS MORNING AND IT STARTS. THROUGH OUT THE DURATION OF THIS ISSUE OF STALLING, NOT STARTING, PULLING WHILE IN MOTION AS IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS BEING JERKED THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR WHEN CHECKING SYSTEM THE ONLY WARNING IS PASSENGER SEAT AJAR.
THE CAR REPORTS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AS BEING OPEN/AJAR. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE CAR ALARM ACTIVATES RANDOMLY AS WELL. THE FORD DEALER'S CERTIFIED REPAIR TECHNICIANS CHARGE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, BUT I HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE DEFECT CONTINUES …
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THE CAR REPORTS THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AS BEING OPEN/AJAR. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE CAR ALARM ACTIVATES RANDOMLY AS WELL. THE FORD DEALER'S CERTIFIED REPAIR TECHNICIANS CHARGE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, BUT I HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE DEFECT CONTINUES TO OCCUR.
THE VEHICLE INCORRECTLY BELIEVES THE DOORS ARE OPEN WHEN THEY ARE SHUT. THIS PREVENTS THE DOORS FROM LOCKING AT ALL SPEEDS, WHICH IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. IF AN OCCUPANT TRIES TO LOCK THE DOORS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKS THE DOORS. THE ISSUE ALSO CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ILLUMINAT…
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THE VEHICLE INCORRECTLY BELIEVES THE DOORS ARE OPEN WHEN THEY ARE SHUT. THIS PREVENTS THE DOORS FROM LOCKING AT ALL SPEEDS, WHICH IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. IF AN OCCUPANT TRIES TO LOCK THE DOORS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKS THE DOORS. THE ISSUE ALSO CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES AN APPROPRIATE SPEED WHEN IN USE. THE OPEN/CLOSED STATE OF THE DOOR CHANGES AT RANDOM (WITHOUT THE ACTUAL DOOR BEING OPENED OR CLOSED) AND CAUSES THE ALARM TO RANDOMLY GO OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THE COMBINATION OF THE LIGHTS STAYING ILLUMINATED AND THE ALARM GOING OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED DRAINED AND RUINED THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE. JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK AND THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED.
THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR STAYS ON EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS SHUT. TWO DOORS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPAIRED ALREADY IN THE PAST, NOW A PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED DOOR AND ANOTHER DOOR ARE COMING UP ON THE DASH SCREEN AS DOOR AJAR. THIS CAUSES THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TO COME ON, WHICH DRAINS THE BATTERY AND THE ALARM TO RANDOMLY GO OFF AT NIGHT …
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THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR STAYS ON EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS SHUT. TWO DOORS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE REPAIRED ALREADY IN THE PAST, NOW A PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED DOOR AND ANOTHER DOOR ARE COMING UP ON THE DASH SCREEN AS DOOR AJAR. THIS CAUSES THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TO COME ON, WHICH DRAINS THE BATTERY AND THE ALARM TO RANDOMLY GO OFF AT NIGHT WHILE THE ALARM IS SET AND THE DOOR "OPENS AND CLOSES" AS THE CAR CAR IS THINKING IS HAPPENING WITHOUT DISARMING FIRST. THE DOME LIGHT ALSO STAYS ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH IS DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. THE DOORS WILL NO LONGER AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHILE DRIVING EITHER SINCE THE CAR THINKS THE DOORS ARE OPEN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEYOND FORD.
FAULTY DOOR SENSORS. DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS SHUT. MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AS THE DOME LIGHT REMAINS ON FOR MINUTES AFTER DRIVING MAKING REDUCING VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. WITH THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DOOR IS OPEN OR CLOSED. DUE TO THE DOOR…
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FAULTY DOOR SENSORS. DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS SHUT. MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AS THE DOME LIGHT REMAINS ON FOR MINUTES AFTER DRIVING MAKING REDUCING VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. WITH THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DOOR IS OPEN OR CLOSED. DUE TO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT, THE DOME LIGHT CONSTANTLY REMAINS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BATTERY. FIXED ONE SENSOR ALREADY, NOW ANOTHER DOOR SENSOR IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, ALONG WITH MY TRUNK SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING EVERY TIME I HIT ANY LITTLE BUMP. THE LIGHTS COME ON AS SOON AS WE START THE CAR, WHETHER MOVING OR PARKED.
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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