THE DRIVER DOOR ALWAYS SAYS ITS OPEN AND THE LIGHT ON THE INSIDE TO THE CAR STAY ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT A CERTAIN SPEED, THE ALARM ALSO RANDOMLY COMES ON. THE CAR BATTERY STAYS DEAD BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL BE OFF AND THE ALARM WILL BE SET THE ALARM WILL SOUND SO I CANNOT LOCK MY DOORS.
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.
What owners actually said
578 reportsSTEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED! A SENSOR THAN CAME UP STATING SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC AND NOT EVEN 2 SECONDS LATER ANOTHER SENIOR COMES UP STATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER! I THEN READ CAR MANUAL STATING THAT THE SENSORS THAT WERE SHOWN HAVE TO DO WITH AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING THAT CAN BE RESET BY SHUTTING…
Read full complaint
STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED! A SENSOR THAN CAME UP STATING SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC AND NOT EVEN 2 SECONDS LATER ANOTHER SENIOR COMES UP STATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER! I THEN READ CAR MANUAL STATING THAT THE SENSORS THAT WERE SHOWN HAVE TO DO WITH AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING THAT CAN BE RESET BY SHUTTING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING 10 SECONDS LATER! I THEN BROUGHT IT TO KELLY FORD AND THEY ARE STATING THAT THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK MUST BE REPLACED! THEY STATED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY VIN AND THAT I HAD NO WARRANTY! I BEGAN RESEARCH AND THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 500,000 CARS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT REASON BUTVFORD INSIST THAT MINE IS NOT COVERED! I ALSO CONSTANTES FORD MOTORS AND THEY HAD ME FILE A CASE WHICH DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! THE DEALER QUOTED ME THAT THIS WAS A 2,000 DOLLAR JOB! MY ARGUMENT IS THAT THIS IS THE SAME EXACT THING THAT EVERY OTHER FORD HAS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED WHAT IS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT MINE! MY CAR WAS ALSO MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME AREA... I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND! THIS WILL BE MY ONE AND ONLY FORD AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ONE AGAIN! FORD DEALERSHIPS ARE ALSO HORRIBLE TO VISIT! EVERY SINGLE TIME I HAVE BEEN IN ANY OF THE 3 DEALERS CLOSE TO ME HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS! I NEVER FEEL AS IF THEY ARE BEING HONEST AND CAN NEVER HELP COME UP WITH A SOLUTION! AS SIMPLE AS MY CAR BEING DIAGNOSED! THE MAN MARK THAT WORK THERE QUOTED ME $159.00 AND THE WOMAN QUOTED ME $124.00 WHEN SHE QUESTIONED HIM IN FRONT OF ME! HE STATED OH THAT'S JUST AN EXTRA FEE SO THEY HAVE MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND WORK ON IT BUT IF SHE CHOOSES TO FIX IT HERE IT WILL BE WAIVED! THE WOMEN THEN STATED WELI HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT CHARGE BEFORE! MIND YOU I WAS JUST DROPPING OFF FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY COULDN'T BE HONEST AM I SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THE SHEET OF PAPER THAT ONLY HAS WHAT I CLAIMED TO SEE ON THE CARE SENSORS. *TR
WHEN I PUT GAS IN THE GAS EITHER FILL UP OR EVEN JUST A CAP OFF ON THE GAS TANK, STARTING THE ENGIN IS DIFICULT. IT HESITATES, WHEN TRYING TO START, AND HAS A ROUGH VERY ROUGH IDLE. ACCELARATION IS NOT A PROBLEM ONCE WE GET GOING, BUT IT IS THE INITIAL STARTING OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS A PROBLEM.
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 …
Read full complaint
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
SENSOR INDICATES ONE OF THE BACK SEAT DOORS IS AJAR, BUT IT APPEARS TO BE CLOSED. REPEATED CLOSING OF DOOR DOES NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. CAR ALARM SOUNDS WHEN VEHICLE THINKS DOOR IS AJAR. INSIDE LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER MO…
Read full complaint
SENSOR INDICATES ONE OF THE BACK SEAT DOORS IS AJAR, BUT IT APPEARS TO BE CLOSED. REPEATED CLOSING OF DOOR DOES NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. CAR ALARM SOUNDS WHEN VEHICLE THINKS DOOR IS AJAR. INSIDE LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED WHEN DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS, I'VE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM FLEX OWNERS ONLINE, AND I BELIEVE THE FLEX SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE FAMILY VEHICLES AND OFTEN (AS IN MY CASE) ARE USED TO TRANSPORT MULTIPLE CHILDREN. *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INTERFACE MODULE PART # 18A812 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPT FOR THE 2 1/2 MONTHS NOW AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHEN THE PART IS COMIN…
Read full complaint
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE INTERFACE MODULE PART # 18A812 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPT FOR THE 2 1/2 MONTHS NOW AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHEN THE PART IS COMING AND WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARRANTY SINCE IT IS CONSIDERED AN AIRBAG MODULE. I CAN NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT GUARANTEE THAT IT IS SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE SINCE THEY DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IF I AM IN A COLLISION OR JUST DRIVING AROUND. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A WARNING INDICATOR ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED BOTH THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE UNSECURED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IS WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE LINE WAS CORR…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A WARNING INDICATOR ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED BOTH THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE UNSECURED. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IS WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE LINE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 01/10/2017*CT CONSUMER STATED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT PASSENGER DOORS IN BACK DOES NOT CLOSE RIGHT. UPDATED 7/9/18*JB *TR
BOTH FRONT DOOR SENSORS INDICATE THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT, AND THIS PREVENTS THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS FROM BEING ENGAGED. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN THE DOOR SENSOR SAYS THAT IT IS OPEN. THIS HAPPENS WITH THE CAR IS IN MOTION AS WELL AS WHEN IT IS OFF. WHEN IT IS OFF AND THIS HAPPENS THE ALARM SOUNDS.
DRIVER DOOR SHOWS AJAR WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. CAUSES DINGING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. AND ALARM TO GO OFF RANDOMLY WHEN UNATTENDED. MAKES DRIVING AT NIGHT DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED. DOOR WILL NOT LOCK CORRECTLY BECAUSE OF CONDITION. THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE
DOOR LATCH FALSE SENSOR. CAR DOES NOT PROPERLY REGISTER MY PASSENGER DOOR AS CLOSED. AS A RESULT, MY AUTOMATIC LOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND I START OUT DRIVING WITH MY INSIDE LIGHTS ON. SAFETY CONCERN GIVEN HAT I LIVE IN THE CITY. ALSO, THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED MY PARKED CAR ALARM TO FALSELY GO OFF AND DRAINED MY BATTERY. I HAD TO…
Read full complaint
DOOR LATCH FALSE SENSOR. CAR DOES NOT PROPERLY REGISTER MY PASSENGER DOOR AS CLOSED. AS A RESULT, MY AUTOMATIC LOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND I START OUT DRIVING WITH MY INSIDE LIGHTS ON. SAFETY CONCERN GIVEN HAT I LIVE IN THE CITY. ALSO, THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED MY PARKED CAR ALARM TO FALSELY GO OFF AND DRAINED MY BATTERY. I HAD TO PAY $300 FOR A NEW BATTERY WHEN THE CAUSE IS A MANUFACTURER ERROR THAT I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT FOR OVER A YEAR AND HAVE NOW BEEN ADVISED THAT I MUST PAY OVER $300 TO REPAIR.
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.
Illustration