IllustrationUPON ENTERING AND STARTING VEHICLE DISPLAYS DOOR AJAR WHEN IT IS CLEARLY CLOSED AND LOCKED. REQUIRES SEVERAL HARD CLOSES OF THE DOOR TO DEACTIVATE SENSOR. ALSO RANDOMLY TRIGGERS CAR ALARM. APPEARS TO WORK PROPERLY IN COOLER WEATHER. DEALER RECOMMENDS A DOOR LATCH REPLACEMENT FOR AN ESTIMATED OF $500
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
290–25K
9925–50K
13150–75K
8375–100K
72100–150K
21150K+
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
What owners actually said
578 reportsWE SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR...2013. THE DEALER FIXED IT BUT WE ARE SMELLING THEM AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE STEP ON IT OR ARE CLIMBING A STEEP GRADE. CONSIDERING THE FORD EXPLORER PROBLEMS, WE THINK THIS MAY ALSO BE SOMETHING HAPPENING WITH THE FLEX.
FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AJAR SENSOR NOT WORKING. DOOR REPORTS BEING OPEN WHEN IT'S NOT. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON, DRAINING BATTERY, INTERFERING WITH DRIVING. HAPPENS WHEN 1ST GETTING INTO CAR, BUT ALSO DURING OPERATION. HAPPENING NEARLY ALL THE TIME NOW.
THE ELECTRIC STEERING IS MAKING A CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. (CAN'T REALLY HEAR IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS) THAT IS AN EARLY WARNING OF AN EPAS FAILURE. (ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING) EVENTUALLY THE STEERING WILL WHINE AND FAIL WHEN DRIVING GOING INTO MANUAL MODE. THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! SINCE MY WIFE IS DRIVING THE …
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THE ELECTRIC STEERING IS MAKING A CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. (CAN'T REALLY HEAR IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS) THAT IS AN EARLY WARNING OF AN EPAS FAILURE. (ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING) EVENTUALLY THE STEERING WILL WHINE AND FAIL WHEN DRIVING GOING INTO MANUAL MODE. THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! SINCE MY WIFE IS DRIVING THE CAR WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER IT HAS ME NERVOUS AND WORRIED.
2013 FORD FLEX DOOR AJAR SWITCH KEEPS DOOR LOCKS FROM LOCKING. WHEN MANUALLY LOCKING DOORS THEY IMMEDIATELY POP BACK UP. ALSO THE DOME LIGHT STAYS LITE, MAKING NIGHT TIME DRIVING DANGEROUS. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE.
I PARKED MY CAR TO GO FOOD SHOPPING AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO LEAVE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED AND IT WOULD NOT TURN
I WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STALLED OUT OF NOWHERE. HAD CAR TOWED HOME AND MECHANIC SAID IT IS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL MODULE. NOW CAR ONLY STARTS SOMETIMES AND WILL TURN OFF. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL. I TRIED CALLING FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT THEY SAY THAT MY VIN. IS CLEAR DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE AS MY CAR IS DOING S…
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I WAS DRIVING CAR AND IT STALLED OUT OF NOWHERE. HAD CAR TOWED HOME AND MECHANIC SAID IT IS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL MODULE. NOW CAR ONLY STARTS SOMETIMES AND WILL TURN OFF. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL. I TRIED CALLING FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT THEY SAY THAT MY VIN. IS CLEAR DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE AS MY CAR IS DOING SAMETHING AS MANY OTHER FORD FLEXS ON THE ROAD HOW DO I GET THEM TO ADD MY VIN. TO RECALL LIST PLEASE AS MY CAR IS DOING SAMETHING AS THE CARS ON RECALL LLIST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING AND ASSIST TRAX WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BOB WONDRIES FORD 400 S ATLANTIC BLVD, ALHAMBRA, CA 91801 (626) 289-3591) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED REPLACE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING AND ASSIST TRAX WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BOB WONDRIES FORD 400 S ATLANTIC BLVD, ALHAMBRA, CA 91801 (626) 289-3591) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED RECALLS ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
2013 FORD FLEX SE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR AJAR SENSOR FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR ALARM SOUNDS EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND WOULD NOT LOCK. DUE TO THE DOORS NOT LOCKING, THE INTERIOR LIGHT DO NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. ALL DOORS MUST BE LOCKED MANUALLY. *JS
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…
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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 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. WHAT OWNERS SHOULD DO 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. I HAD THIS PART SUDDENLY GO OUT ON ME ON 6/22/2017 AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY DEALERSHIP. I HAD RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE AT OUR LOCAL WALMART AND WHEN THEY WENT TO PULL IT OUT OF THE GARAGE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SO I HAD IT TOWED. I HAD THIS PART REPLACED 6/23/2017 AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT ISSUED FOR THE RECALL. EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WHERE THE RECALLS CAME FROM AND THE DATES OF PRODUCTIONS OF THE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE MET THOSE CONDITION BUT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST SO THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR MY PART OR LABOR TO REMOVE AND REPLACE IT.
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.