The air bag light is on stating that the code of b0001 driver frontal stage 1 deployment control and also code u0253. I have never in my life ever had an issue like this. No accidents either
2010 Ford Flex
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Flex do not stand out strongly from 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
113 reports with mileage · 26 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.
- Steering. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
8 reportsON MARCH 11TH, THE FORD FLEX COLLIDED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN AN EXPEDITION TURNED UNSAFELY LEFT IN FRONT OF THE WEST BOUND FLEX. ALTHOUGH THE AIR BAGS INFLATED, THEY QUICKLY DEFLATED BECAUSE OF TWO LARGE HOLES. SEE THE PHOTOS. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT- BELT BUT CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE CHEST PAIN.
SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER SIDE IMPACT. ONLY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AFTER THE OTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE IMPACT THE AIR BAGS S…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AFTER THE OTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE IMPACT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO FORCE THE DOOR OPEN IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CONTACT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS A SIGN THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT ADVISED THE POLICE AND THE DEALER THAT SHE THOUGHT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS SUPPOSE TO REMAIN ON TO INDICATE THAT IT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THEM REGARDING THE AIR BAG FAILURE AFTER SHE SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE CONSTANT PAIN. THE OTHER DRIVER IN THE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED THE CRASH WAS ALSO INJURED. THE CONTACT REQUIRED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A THIRD VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CONTUSION…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A THIRD VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED CONTUSIONS TO THE ABDOMEN AND A LEFT SHOULDER INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 12/22/14*LJ UPDATED 01/20/15
AFTER WORK ON THE VEHICLE AT TWO FORD AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FACILITIES FOR ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON SINCE. I HAD THE CODE READ SINCE THEN AND IT COMES BACK AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE RH FRONT AIR BAG. I REALIZE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WA…
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AFTER WORK ON THE VEHICLE AT TWO FORD AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FACILITIES FOR ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON SINCE. I HAD THE CODE READ SINCE THEN AND IT COMES BACK AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE RH FRONT AIR BAG. I REALIZE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT AS A FORMER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER A FORD I PRESUME THAT AN INOPERATIVE RH FRONT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE GOING FORWARD AND WOULD HOPE THAT NHTSA WOULD PROTECT ME FROM THE FACT THAT FORD'S OWN RECALL SITE IS TELLING ME THERE IS NO ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND ANY ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MUST BE WITH THE DESIGN AND/OR THE MANUFACTURING OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTS. *TR
GOT IN MY CAR AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND TO REPLACE IT WILL COST 900.00. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED AS IT DIRECTLY CONTROLS TH…
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GOT IN MY CAR AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND WAS TOLD IT IS THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND TO REPLACE IT WILL COST 900.00. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED AS IT DIRECTLY CONTROLS THE SIR BAGS AND THE SEAT BELTS. SO BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE 900.00 LAYING AROUND I G=HAVE TO HOPE I AM NOT IN A COLLISION UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH THE RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE A PLUG IN MODULE THAT COSTS LESS THAN 100.00 TO MANUFACTURE. *TR
WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A JEEP WAS THROWN INTO THE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE BY A FORD F-150, TOTALING OUR VEHICLE, AND OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NONE OF THEM. WE WERE AT A STOP SIGN AND ALL WALKED AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT, BUT THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALL SAID SOMETHING WAS WRONG FOR THE MET…
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WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE A JEEP WAS THROWN INTO THE FRONT OF OUR VEHICLE BY A FORD F-150, TOTALING OUR VEHICLE, AND OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NONE OF THEM. WE WERE AT A STOP SIGN AND ALL WALKED AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT, BUT THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALL SAID SOMETHING WAS WRONG FOR THE METAL IBEAM BEHIND THE BUMPER TO BE CRUSHED INTO THE RADIATOR AND FOR OUR AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAD ALREADY DEEMED OUR FLEX AS A TOTAL LOSS BUT MENTIONED THAT HAD WE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WE WOULD NEED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER WHY THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED AND HAVE IT FIXED. WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO INVESTIGATE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED AND TO ENSURE THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OR THAT A RECALL IS ISSUED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS SAFETY FEATURE MALFUNCTION HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR
Official recalls
116V247000 · Air Bags:frontal
Apr 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
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.
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