Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
1425–50K
950–75K
575–100K
8100–150K
6150K+
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
What owners actually said
98 reports
80,000 miles · Dec 6, 2021
Latches/locks/linkages
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front and rear door latches malfunctioned making it difficult to securely close the doors. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The approximate fai…
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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front and rear door latches malfunctioned making it difficult to securely close the doors. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #11442881
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2021
Seat Belts
The passenger side seat belt tightens on passenger while driving. It tightened on one passenger so tight; there became a need to cut the belt off! The second time it tightened on the passenger while driving, but did not tighten to the point of needing to cut the belt. When I took the vehicle to the dealership they didn’t seem t…
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The passenger side seat belt tightens on passenger while driving. It tightened on one passenger so tight; there became a need to cut the belt off! The second time it tightened on the passenger while driving, but did not tighten to the point of needing to cut the belt. When I took the vehicle to the dealership they didn’t seem to interested in the issue, however the service tech and the mechanical tech reportedly did drive the vehicle (saying the passenger pulled on the seat belt and it was working properly). However the tension tightens without notice on the passenger side front seat and today the alarm for no seatbelt didn’t even come on when the passenger was unbuckled when the vehicle was driven!!
NHTSA ODI #11432717
66,000 miles · Feb 9, 2021
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) AND HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT TUSCALOOSA FORD (5801 MCFARLAND BLVD E, TUSCALOOSA, AL 35405). MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE REAR END OF THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) AND HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT TUSCALOOSA FORD (5801 MCFARLAND BLVD E, TUSCALOOSA, AL 35405). MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, SHE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT TO THE RIGHT AND VICE VERSE. THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING AT A SLOWER SPEED. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND THEN CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED TO NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A FRACTURED TOE LINK, WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE PRIOR SERVICED RECALL. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
NHTSA ODI #11395387
62,155 miles · Feb 1, 2021
Back Over PreventionElectrical SystemStructure
REAR PARK ASSIST CAMERA DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN REVERSE. READ PASSENGER DOOR LOCK PAWL FRACTURE-NHTSA RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THIS DOOR HAS A FRACTURED PAWL LOCK/LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. CAR DOES NOT DETECT KEY. WE PAID ADDITIONAL FOR FOB ANNUAL REPLACEM…
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REAR PARK ASSIST CAMERA DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN REVERSE. READ PASSENGER DOOR LOCK PAWL FRACTURE-NHTSA RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THIS DOOR HAS A FRACTURED PAWL LOCK/LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. CAR DOES NOT DETECT KEY. WE PAID ADDITIONAL FOR FOB ANNUAL REPLACEMENTS, FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE THE FOBS EVEN WHEN ITS FAULTY. I RECORDED THIS CALL...AND EVERY OTHER CALL.
NHTSA ODI #11391013
35,000 miles · Jan 12, 2021
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. T THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD E…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. T THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MURRAY FORD STARKE (13447 US-301, STARKE, FL 32091) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11387776
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2021
Suspension
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 20V072. SAFETY ISSUE NEARLY A YEAR AFTER THIS RECALL FORD STILL HAS " REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE."
NHTSA ODI #11386505
3 miles · Nov 6, 2020
Electrical System
THE BACK UP CAMERA WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO.
NHTSA ODI #11373469
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2020
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11366394
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2020
Suspension
RECALL FROM FORD MARCH 2020 REAR TOE LINK SUSPENSION HAVE CALLED DEALER ABOUT REPAIR THEY ANSWER NO PARTS YET. THIS COULD INCREASE RISK OF CRASH. ITS BEEN 6 MONTHS AND NO PARTS . UNSAFE TO DRIVE . ONLY HAS 36000 MILES ON IT WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
NHTSA ODI #11350650
16,700 miles · Aug 4, 2020
Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR AJAR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT VEHICLE START-UP. ADDITIONALLY, THE MASTER DOOR LOCK BUTTON FAILED TO LOCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR AJAR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT VEHICLE START-UP. ADDITIONALLY, THE MASTER DOOR LOCK BUTTON FAILED TO LOCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY SHUT-OFF WHEN THE IGNITION WAS PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION. THE CONTACT CONTACTED ODANIEL FORD INC (631 LINCOLN HWY W, NEW HAVEN, IN 46774, (855) 973-4169) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,700.
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.
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.
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.
2016 Ford Flex Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year