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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.

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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.

9 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine complaints

30 reports
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151,000 miles · Dec 18, 2015
Engine

WHILE WAITING AT A LIGHT IN MY 2010 FORD FLEX THE ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGH, AFTER THE SIGNAL TURNED GREEN THE POWER SEEMED LOW AND SLUGGISH AS I ACCELERATED. WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE POWER RETURNED AND SEEMED MORE NORMAL, SUDDENLY WITHOUT NOTICE THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND ALL DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I WAS ABLE TO PUL…

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WHILE WAITING AT A LIGHT IN MY 2010 FORD FLEX THE ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGH, AFTER THE SIGNAL TURNED GREEN THE POWER SEEMED LOW AND SLUGGISH AS I ACCELERATED. WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 45 MPH THE ENGINE POWER RETURNED AND SEEMED MORE NORMAL, SUDDENLY WITHOUT NOTICE THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND ALL DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A DRIVE WAY BUT WAS VERY HARD AS THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP SAFELY. ONCE STOPPED THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT ON RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH IS INTERNAL TO THE TIMING CHAIN COVER AND THEREFORE DUMPED A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT INTO THE CRANKCASE WHICH THEN CONTAMINATED THE ENGINE OIL AND OVER FILLED THE OIL PAN. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. ON FURTHER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES. THE ENGINE IN QUESTION IS THE CYCLONE ENGINE AND IS FORDS LATEST V6 FAMILY OF GASOLINE ENGINES INTRODUCED IN 2006, AND IS KNOWN AS THE DURATEC 35 WHICH DISPLACES 3.5 L, THE DURATEC 37 WHICH DISPLACES 3.7L AND THE ECOBOOST 35 WHICH IS A TWIN TURBO CHARGED VARIANT OF THE DURATEC 35, THESE ENGINES ARE INSTALLED IN THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES, 2007'PRESENT FORD EDGE, 2010'2012 FORD FUSION SPORT, 2011'PRESENT FORD MUSTANG, 2009'PRESENT FORD FLEX, 2010'PRESENT FORD TAURUS SHO, 2013'PRESENT POLICE INTERCEPTOR SEDAN, 2011'PRESENT FORD EXPLORER, 2013'PRESENT FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY, 2011'PRESENT FORD F-150, 2015'PRESENT FORD EXPEDITION/EXPEDITION EL, 2014'PRESENT FORD TRANSIT, 2015'PRESENT LINCOLN NAVIGATOR/NAVIGATOR L, 2010'PRESENT LINCOLN MKS, 2010'PRESENT LINCOLN MKT, 2007'PRESENT LINCOLN MKX, 2007'PRESENT MAZDA CX-9(MZI).

NHTSA ODI #10811218

47,000 miles · Sep 29, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER 3 AND 2 AND THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER 3 AND 2 AND THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10778539

90,000 miles · May 27, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

AS INDICATED BY A NUMBER OF FLEX OWNERS, MY FLEX SIMPLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH. NO WARNING - LIGHTS ON DASH WENT ON, LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING. AFTER MUSCLING THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER, PUTTING IN PARK AND SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT STARTED BACK UP. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND …

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AS INDICATED BY A NUMBER OF FLEX OWNERS, MY FLEX SIMPLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH. NO WARNING - LIGHTS ON DASH WENT ON, LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING. AFTER MUSCLING THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER, PUTTING IN PARK AND SITTING FOR A FEW MINUTES, IT STARTED BACK UP. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. HOW MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE NEED TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM BEFORE FORD AND NHTSA TAKE ACTION.

NHTSA ODI #10721761

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

2010 FORD FLEX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE THROTTLE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH OR IT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE FIX WOULD …

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2010 FORD FLEX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE THROTTLE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH OR IT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE FIX WOULD COST $550. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10609377

37,500 miles · Dec 19, 2013
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train

ORIGINAL OWNER 2010 FORD FLEX, ECOBOOST ENGINE: SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH SHUDDERING AND STALL IN FAST LANE; UP HILL WHILE PASSING AT SPEED, 60MPH TO 20MPH IN SECONDS CAUSING NEAR COLLISION FROM BEHIND. ENGINE WOULD NOT RECOVER, 20MPH IN FAST LANE WITH SEMI'S AND SPEEDING TRAFFIC, NO PULL-OFF AREA. CLEAR DRY DAY, TEMPERAT…

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ORIGINAL OWNER 2010 FORD FLEX, ECOBOOST ENGINE: SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH SHUDDERING AND STALL IN FAST LANE; UP HILL WHILE PASSING AT SPEED, 60MPH TO 20MPH IN SECONDS CAUSING NEAR COLLISION FROM BEHIND. ENGINE WOULD NOT RECOVER, 20MPH IN FAST LANE WITH SEMI'S AND SPEEDING TRAFFIC, NO PULL-OFF AREA. CLEAR DRY DAY, TEMPERATURE AROUND 55 DEGREE. NOT THE FIRST TIME ENGINE SHUDDERING EXPERIENCED, BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS. ALWAYS OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION (PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR PASSING, ETC.). BEGAN TO NOTICE LOSS OF POWER, WHINING AND GRINDING NOISES FROM TURBOS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO; SUBSEQUENT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BOTH TURBO CHARGERS WITH BILLOWING BLACK SMOKE AND OIL DRIPPING FROM EXHAUSTS. 38K MILES, GARAGE KEPT, ALL SERVICE POINTS MAINTAINED, DRIVEN LIKE GRANDMOTHER SINCE NEW. FIST THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT 18K MILES, NOW ENGINE FAILURE AT 38K. DO SOMETHING NTSB BEFORE THESE VEHICLES KILL SOMEONE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556609

67,462 miles · Sep 9, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED THAT CYLINDER NUMBER 4 HAD FAILED WITHOUT COMPRESSION AND A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED THAT CYLINDER NUMBER 4 HAD FAILED WITHOUT COMPRESSION AND ALSO MISFIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,462.

NHTSA ODI #10542719

4,000 miles · May 28, 2013
EnginePower Train

V6 ECOBOOST ENGINE, HAS SAME ACCELERATION / STALLING SYMPTOMS AS THE F150 ECOBOOST HAPPENS SEVERAL TIME A WEEK, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HELP WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. STARTED WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE (NEW) IN 2010. HTTP://WWW.LATIMES.COM/NEWS/LA-FI-HY-FORD-F150-ECOBOOST-INVESTIGATION-20130526,0,2968753.STORY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513965

13,000 miles · May 28, 2013
Engine

2010 FORD FLEX ECOBOOST WE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER AND SHAKING UPON ACCELERATION. THE DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE OR DETERMINE ANY PROBLEMS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A TOLL BOOTH. THE CAR ENGINE LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER AND DIED SEVERAL TIMES. THE R…

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2010 FORD FLEX ECOBOOST WE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER AND SHAKING UPON ACCELERATION. THE DEALERSHIPS WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE OR DETERMINE ANY PROBLEMS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A TOLL BOOTH. THE CAR ENGINE LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER AND DIED SEVERAL TIMES. THE RESULT AFTER THIS INCIDENT WAS A DEAD ENGINE THAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513798

53,431 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AS THE TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN, AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. FIRST THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN ALL LIGHTS WITHIN THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER CAME ON. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO PICK BACK UP AND I WAS GOING UP HILL, YET I WAS MERELY COASTING AT THE SPEED I WA…

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WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AS THE TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN, AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. FIRST THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN ALL LIGHTS WITHIN THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER CAME ON. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO PICK BACK UP AND I WAS GOING UP HILL, YET I WAS MERELY COASTING AT THE SPEED I WAS BEFORE I STOPPED AND SLOWING DOWN. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE SPEED WAS BECAUSE I WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT I SHOULD DO. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND NOT ABLE TO GET OVER. WITH MY WIFE AND TWO TODDLERS IN THE CAR, I THOUGHT QUICKLY AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WORKED, AND I WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE WITHOUT EVEN MAKING A TRAFFIC BACKUP. ALL THIS HAPPEN SO FAST. I DROPPED EVERYONE OFF AND TOOK IT TO A FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO SO FAR HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ERRORS IN THE COMPUTER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ERROR. THEY TOLD ME "I" WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE IT MORE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON. SO IN ORDER FOR FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ERROR, (THAT I HAVE FOUND ALL OVER THE WEB (ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN) REGARDING THE FORD FLEX), MORE WITH THE 2009 MODELS; I HAVE TO GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. (THIS IS MY INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME). THAT IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET FORD TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM SERIOUSLY. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, BUT I WAS COMING TO A STOP THE FIRST TIME. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503415

23,500 miles · May 14, 2012
Engine

VEHICLE BOGS DOWN DURING ACCELERATION. NO TROUBLE CODES SHOWN. NOT SPEED SPECIFIC. MPG HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, FROM 24 HIGHWAY MPG, TO 14 HIGHWAY MPG. JUST HAD TRANSFER CASE REPLACED. FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE IS FIGHTING ITSELF AGAIN. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10458332

Official recalls

1

16V247000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.