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2016 Ford Flex

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Flex do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 139.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

49 reports with mileage · 49 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.

  • Back Over Prevention. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

8 reports
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154,500 miles · Jan 3, 2024
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

There is far to much to list

NHTSA ODI #11563389

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2023
Power Train

The power transfer unit otherwise referred to as a transfer case exploded from the inside with under 50k miles on the Flex resulting in the transmission cracking and breaking as well. AAA inspected and replaced both transmission and transfer case. They say they see a lot of them for these models and is a common issue. We kept ol…

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The power transfer unit otherwise referred to as a transfer case exploded from the inside with under 50k miles on the Flex resulting in the transmission cracking and breaking as well. AAA inspected and replaced both transmission and transfer case. They say they see a lot of them for these models and is a common issue. We kept old transfer case as proof. Car is not used for towing as it has no hitch and as stated before had under 50000 miles when it destroyed itself with myself and kids in the car driving 45 mph.

NHTSA ODI #11529654

75,000 miles · Mar 18, 2020
Power Train

I NOTICED ONE DAY WHEN I DROVE TO WORK AND GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE IT SMELLED LIKE TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FLEX THAT THE TRANS FLUID AND COOLANT WERE GETTING MIXED TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE A/C CONDENSOR ETC.... IF IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY HA…

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I NOTICED ONE DAY WHEN I DROVE TO WORK AND GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE IT SMELLED LIKE TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FLEX THAT THE TRANS FLUID AND COOLANT WERE GETTING MIXED TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE A/C CONDENSOR ETC.... IF IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY HASNT IT BEEN RECALLED? ON TOP OF THAT IT COST ME $900+ TO FIX AND I TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE IT STILL SMELLED LIKE TRANS FLUID WAS BURNING AND WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY STILL JUST BURNING OFF FROM WHAT HAD LEAKED. 5 ALMOST 6 MONTHS LATER IT STILL SMELLS?

NHTSA ODI #11318562

68,150 miles · Jul 5, 2019
Power TrainCrash

ON THE 4TH OF JULY MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. I HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN WHILE I WALKED UP MY DRIVEWAY TO CLEAR AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE GARAGE DOOR SAFETY EYES. WHEN I GOT TO THE GARAGE DOOR I TURNED BACK AND SAY MY FLEX REVERSING UP THE DRIVEWAY QUICKLY. I HAD…

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ON THE 4TH OF JULY MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. I HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN WHILE I WALKED UP MY DRIVEWAY TO CLEAR AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE GARAGE DOOR SAFETY EYES. WHEN I GOT TO THE GARAGE DOOR I TURNED BACK AND SAY MY FLEX REVERSING UP THE DRIVEWAY QUICKLY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY BACKED IN AND WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE GARAGE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE FLEX CONTINUED TO REVERSE UP THE DRIVEWAY (UPHILL) WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN. AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY THE OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR CONTACTED A BASKETBALL POST WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BENT THE CONCRETE FILLED POST AND FOLDED THE DRIVER'S DOOR INTO THE LEFT FENDER BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN I ORIGINALLY EXITED THE FLEX THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA HAD NO DASH DISPLAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO INDICATE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS OTHERWISE UNATTENDED AT THE TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE THE SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THEN REVERSE UPHILL AT A BRISK RATE OF SPEED WHILE UNATTENDED. AT THIS TIME THE FLEX IS SECURED IN MY GARAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR INSPECTED IN ANTICIPATION OF REPAIR OR APPRAISAL. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE PCM AND ACM IMAGED HOWEVER HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT DATA MAY BE ERASED IF THE VEHICLE IS RUN IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMAGE POTENTIAL DATA. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP YOUR WISHES AS I REQUIRE THE VEHICLE FOR MY BUSINESS.

NHTSA ODI #11229703

103,000 miles · Feb 26, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

ECOBOOST 3.5L VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND WHITE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPES WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY BUT STILL RAN. DROVE STRAIGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED LOW BOOST PRESSURE DTC AND FAILURE OF BOTH TURBOCHARGERS. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DUG DEEPER AND ARE NO…

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ECOBOOST 3.5L VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND WHITE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPES WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY BUT STILL RAN. DROVE STRAIGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED LOW BOOST PRESSURE DTC AND FAILURE OF BOTH TURBOCHARGERS. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DUG DEEPER AND ARE NOW TELLING ME THERE WAS A COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK WHICH WASHED OUT THE ENGINE OIL AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND THE TURBOS TO FAIL(LOCK UP). THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED ISSUES WITH COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKS AND OIL SUPPLY TO TURBOS CAUSING FAILURES/FIRE/OVERHEATING IN ECOBOOST ENGINES... DEALER IS NOW TELLING ME THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING THE TURBOCHARGERS IN THE BALLPARK OF $13,000.

NHTSA ODI #11182617

30,000 miles · Jan 21, 2019
Power Train

MY 2016 FORD FLEX I JUST BOUGHT LESS THEN 6MTHS AGO! AND I HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT! I WAS HEARING LOTS OF NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND ALSO I WOULD HEAR IT WHEN MY CAR WAS IN GEAR AND ALSO WHEN I WENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WERE TURNING YOUR STEERING WHEEL!! TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT…

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MY 2016 FORD FLEX I JUST BOUGHT LESS THEN 6MTHS AGO! AND I HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT! I WAS HEARING LOTS OF NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND ALSO I WOULD HEAR IT WHEN MY CAR WAS IN GEAR AND ALSO WHEN I WENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WERE TURNING YOUR STEERING WHEEL!! TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT WAS MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER HALF SHAFT! I GET IT BACK AND NOW I AM HEARING NOISES AGAIN!!

NHTSA ODI #11171265

39,000 miles · Apr 2, 2018
Power Train

FRONT WHEELS LOCK AS THE VEHICLE IS REVERSING. LOUD RATTLE NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #11082549

10,800 miles · Dec 27, 2016
Power Train

CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WARNING LIGHT WITH WRENCH AND "CHECK MANUAL" APPEARED. DEALER INDICATED RECALL 16B32 AND REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10937522

Official recalls

3

25V695000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

Oct 13, 2025

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

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.

16V925000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger

Dec 22, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

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.