What breaks most · 2009 to 2019 model years
FORD FLEX problems by year
Owners have filed 1,906 safety complaints with NHTSA about the FORD FLEX across model years 2009 to 2019. Three years stand out: 2013 for electrical system complaints, 2014 for steering complaints and 2019 for backup camera and sensors complaints. The quietest years are 2012, 2016 and 2015.
- Years to check closely: 2013, 2014, 2019
- Fewest complaints: 2012, 2016, 2015
- Complaints on file
- 19062009 to 2019, all trims
- Worst year
- 2013578 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 6411 fires · 56 injuries · 1 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 65kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 34Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 181 | 7 | 1 | Engine (36) | |
| 139 | 9 | 1 | Steering (32) | |
| 144 | 5 | 2 | Steering (57) | |
| 64 | 4 | 2 | Steering (24) | |
| 578 | 11 | 6 | Electrical system (200) | |
| 249 | 11 | 4 | Steering (66) | |
| 105 | 0 | 4 | Backup camera and sensors (24) | |
| 98 | 4 | 3 | Backup camera and sensors (26) | |
| 42 | 2 | 4 | Unknown or other (13) | |
| 63 | 7 | 3 | Body and structure (18) | |
| 243 | 4 | 4 | Backup camera and sensors (135) |
What fails on the 2013 FORD FLEX
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 35% |
200 | 1 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2013 FORD FLEX |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 26% |
149 | 7 | Shop steering parts for the 2013 FORD FLEX |
| Unknown or other | 13% |
78 | 2 | — |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 12% |
69 | 1 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2013 FORD FLEX |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 10% |
59 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2013 FORD FLEX |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 6% |
36 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2013 FORD FLEX |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 6% |
32 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2013 FORD FLEX |
| Stability controlABS and wheel speed sensors | 4% |
24 | 0 | Shop stability control parts for the 2013 FORD FLEX |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
The backup camera went out, but first it went upside down. Not inverted, just upside down. It's definitely a safety issue as I can't see fully behind me. I've seen the later models have the same issue and recall for them but not the older models with the same issue.
-
I was driving down a main road going 45 MPH when my steering wheel locked up and I got a message on my dash to service advanced steering. I was unable to turn my steering wheel in any direction and had to pull over in order to not be involved in a collision.
-
Rear view camera under Ford recall 25SA9 has been malfunctioning for months 3 separate Ford dealers tell me they do not have parts even though it's been 2 months since the recall notice. Ford 1-800 number does not recognize the recall number.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which FORD FLEX years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2013, 2014, 2019 carry the most filings on the FORD FLEX. The 2013 alone has 578 complaints, led by electrical system.
What is the most common FORD FLEX problem?
On the 2013 model year, the most-reported component is electrical system with 200 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do FORD FLEX problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all FORD FLEX complaints that include mileage is about 65,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.