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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

578 reports
66,000 miles · Nov 9, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. WHILE VEHICLES LIKE MINE ARE PART OF A RECALL FOR THE SAME REASON, FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION, MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OF ANY ISSUES. I DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I RETURNED TO DRIVE HOME THAT EVENING. WILL CO…

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MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. WHILE VEHICLES LIKE MINE ARE PART OF A RECALL FOR THE SAME REASON, FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION, MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OF ANY ISSUES. I DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I RETURNED TO DRIVE HOME THAT EVENING. WILL COST NEARLY $1K TO REPAIR FOR THIS FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE. WHEN ASKED IF THERE IS SOMETHING I DID TO CAUSE, I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS JUST HAPPENS. DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.

NHTSA ODI #10925209

58,000 miles · Nov 4, 2016
Electrical SystemSeat Belts

DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE. DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. RESULTS IN CONSTANT DINGING OF DOOR AJAR ALARM AND DOME LIGHTS ON. SEAT BELTS BECOME UNBUCKLED SPONTANEOUSLY IN MIDDLE BENCH SEAT WHILE IN MOTION. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF THEM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR OUR KIDS.

NHTSA ODI #10924374

38,310 miles · Oct 30, 2016
Electrical System

PASSENGER DOOR SENSOR SHOWS THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN, EVEN WHEN DOOR IS SECURELY CLOSED. THIS CAUSES SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL AS A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY AND THE INABILITY TO ENABLE THE THEFT ALARM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AS MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY…

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PASSENGER DOOR SENSOR SHOWS THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN, EVEN WHEN DOOR IS SECURELY CLOSED. THIS CAUSES SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL AS A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY AND THE INABILITY TO ENABLE THE THEFT ALARM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AS MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY FORD.

NHTSA ODI #10920075

69,000 miles · Oct 25, 2016
Unknown Or Other

HAVE REPLACED 3 OF 4 DOOR LATCHES. FAULTY LATCHES SHOWS THE DOOR IS AJAR, KEEPS THE INTERIOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WON'T ALLOW THE DOORS TO BE LOCKED WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, CAR ALARM CANNOT BE SET, CAR ALARM GOES OFF RANDOMLY,.

NHTSA ODI #10918737

63,387 miles · Oct 24, 2016
Electrical System

CAR REPORTS THAT THE DRIVER DOOR IS AJAR WHEN CLOSED. APPARENTLY A COMMON ISSUE WITH SEVERAL FORD MODELS, SOME HAVE BEEN RECALLED. DEALER IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE LATCH. THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10918580

138,000 miles · Oct 18, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR SWITCHES. THE SWITCHES FAIL, TELLING THE CAR THAT A DOOR IS OPEN, CAUSING THE DOME LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AT NIGHT AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS ON. THIS ALSO CAUSES A CONSTANT DRAIN ON THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AS THE SENSOR IND…

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RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR SWITCHES. THE SWITCHES FAIL, TELLING THE CAR THAT A DOOR IS OPEN, CAUSING THE DOME LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AT NIGHT AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS ON. THIS ALSO CAUSES A CONSTANT DRAIN ON THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AS THE SENSOR INDICATES THE DOOR IS OPEN, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10917226

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2016
Seat Belts

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR BACKSEATS' SEATBELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. THEY CONSTANTLY GET STUCK, DON'T CLICK IN, DON'T RETRACT, AND MORE RECENTLY, PLASTICS PARTS FELL OFF. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO COCONUT POINT FORD IN ESTERO, FL NUMEROUS TIMES COMPLAINING OF SEATBELT ISSUES. LAST WEEK, THEY TOLD US …

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WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR BACKSEATS' SEATBELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. THEY CONSTANTLY GET STUCK, DON'T CLICK IN, DON'T RETRACT, AND MORE RECENTLY, PLASTICS PARTS FELL OFF. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO COCONUT POINT FORD IN ESTERO, FL NUMEROUS TIMES COMPLAINING OF SEATBELT ISSUES. LAST WEEK, THEY TOLD US THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE TWO REAR SEATBELT MECHANISMS (FOR $870.06!). A DAY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS DONE, WE FOUND THREE PLASTIC PARTS TO THE SEATBELTS (SEE PHOTO) ON THE SEAT. I AM QUITE CONCERNED THAT THE SEATBELTS IN THE CAR ARE DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT PROTECT US AND OUR FOUR CHILDREN IN THE EVENT OF IMPACT. THIS CAR IS A 2013, AND THE SEATBELTS SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING!!!!

NHTSA ODI #10917203

55,283 miles · Oct 17, 2016
Electrical System

VEHICLE DISPLAYS REAR RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR IS AJAR. THE DOOR IS ACTUALLY CLOSED. DOES NOT MATTER IF VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN MOTION. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION FOR A LITTLE BIT. INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON RANDOMLY WHILE VEHICLE…

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VEHICLE DISPLAYS REAR RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR IS AJAR. THE DOOR IS ACTUALLY CLOSED. DOES NOT MATTER IF VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN MOTION. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION FOR A LITTLE BIT. INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON RANDOMLY WHILE VEHICLE IS UNATTENDED, EVEN WHEN GARAGED.

NHTSA ODI #10916450

95,000 miles · Oct 11, 2016
Electrical System

THE DRIVER DOOR AJAR MESSAGE WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSES ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON AS WELL. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND OPEN AND SHUT THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY IT RECOGNIZES THE DOOR IS ACTUALLY SHUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE YET FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT I…

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THE DRIVER DOOR AJAR MESSAGE WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSES ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON AS WELL. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND OPEN AND SHUT THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY IT RECOGNIZES THE DOOR IS ACTUALLY SHUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE YET FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #10915225

55,000 miles · Oct 4, 2016
Steering

FORD FLEX 2013 FAILED POWER STEERING ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND WHILE STEERING TO THE RIGHT (AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2013 FORD FLEX COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING ME TO ALMOST DRIVE OFF A HILL INTO THE EMBANKMENT BELOW. A POWER STEERING FAILURE MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD AS THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE CAR …

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FORD FLEX 2013 FAILED POWER STEERING ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND WHILE STEERING TO THE RIGHT (AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2013 FORD FLEX COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING ME TO ALMOST DRIVE OFF A HILL INTO THE EMBANKMENT BELOW. A POWER STEERING FAILURE MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD AS THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE CAR HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FORD. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND A RECALL #15V340000 WAS FOR THIS EXACT POWER STEERING PROBLEM FOR 2011, 2012 AND SOME 2013 FORD FLEXES. AFTER RUNNING TESTS AT RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FORD- A DIAGNOSIS OF DTC U3000:49 WAS FOUND SAYING POWER STEERING INTERNAL FAILURE. AFTER INITIALLY BEING LED TO BELIEVE (BY RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FORD) THAT FORD WAS HONORING IT UNDER THE RECALL, TO MY SURPRISE FORD HAS DECLINED MY 2013 FORD FLEX SAYING IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL RECALL(NUMBER ABOVE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE. I COULD HAVE DRIVEN OFF A CLIFF WITH MY 3 KIDS IF IT FAILED AT THE WRONG MOMENT OR HIT OTHER CARS AND CAUSED SOMEONE ELSE HARM OR EVEN DEATH. THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WITHOUT NOTICE. I WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I THINK OTHER OWNERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE IT TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD SO THEY ARE NOT AT RISK OR IN DANGER. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS AND REPLACING ALL DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING ISSUES. I HAVE ATTACHED PART OF THE INVOICE FOR YOU TO SEE THE DIAGNOSIS CODE. I OPTED TO NOT GIVE THEM ANOTHER $2,000 TO FIX THEIR DEFECTIVE ISSUE AND HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE. SO THAT IS WHY IT SAYS DECLINED REPAIRS FOR THAT SECTION. REFERENCE THE SECTION THAT SAYS LABOR 126.00 TO READ THE CODE.

NHTSA ODI #10913859

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.