SUDDEN REPEATED INTERMITTENT STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING
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.
What owners actually said
139 reportsINTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE ADVANCE TRAK TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY PULL TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION ON VEHICLE SPEEDS ABOVE 20 MPH WITHOUT INDICATION FROM THE TELL-TALE TO THE OPERATOR TO INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM OR INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE TRACTION CONTR…
Read full complaint
INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE ADVANCE TRAK TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY PULL TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION ON VEHICLE SPEEDS ABOVE 20 MPH WITHOUT INDICATION FROM THE TELL-TALE TO THE OPERATOR TO INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM OR INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS UNEXPECTED PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT IS VIOLENT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER ACROSS THE CENTERLINE OF A LANE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A RISK TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WELL AS THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT INDICATION TO THE DRIVER UNTIL THE EVENT OCCURS FREQUENTLY ENOUGH DURING AN IGNITION CYCLE TO TRIGGER THE TELL-TALE TO INDICATE A FAILURE OF THE ADVANCE TRAK SYSTEM, BUT THIS TELL-TALE ON THE DASH ONLY STAYS LIT DURING THE CURRENT IGNITION CYCLE AND WILL NOT BE PRESENT ON THE NEXT IGNITION CYCLE, AGAIN FAILING TO INDICATE THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ADVANCE TRAK TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM VIA THE WARNING LIGHT TELL-TALE ON THE DASHBOARD.
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE STILL STATIONARY THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CAR IS VERY HAD TO STEER AFTER GETTING THIS ERROR MESSAGE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND RE-START THE CAR AND THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS NOT DISPLAYED AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE ER…
Read full complaint
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE STILL STATIONARY THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CAR IS VERY HAD TO STEER AFTER GETTING THIS ERROR MESSAGE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND RE-START THE CAR AND THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS NOT DISPLAYED AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE ERROR IS NOW HAPPENING EVERY 2-3 DAYS DEPENDING ON THE FREQUENCY IT IS DRIVEN. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH FLOODED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLANET FORD LOCATED AT (20403 I-45, SPRING, TX 77388 281-719-3700) AND THE CONTA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH FLOODED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PLANET FORD LOCATED AT (20403 I-45, SPRING, TX 77388 281-719-3700) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULD NOT BE SCHEDULED FOR 6-8 WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 20- 30 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RUBBING SOUND DETECTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 20- 30 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RUBBING SOUND DETECTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MEL HAMBELTON FORD 11771 W KELLOGG AVE, WICHITA, KS 67209 (316) 462-3673 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE RACK AND PINION AND POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE NHTSA HOTLINE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
THE CAR'S FUEL GAUGE WILL SUDDENLY DROP TO EMPTY AND THE CAR WILL RUN OUT OF FUEL. BY DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FLEX AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE MOST RECENT WAS THIS WEEKEND WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT DIED IN TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS
2010 FORD FLEX WITH DURATEC 3.5L ENGINE - SUDDEN WATER PUMP FAILURE CAUSES COOLANT TO FLOOD THE ENGINE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS ENGINE WHO HAVE…
Read full complaint
2010 FORD FLEX WITH DURATEC 3.5L ENGINE - SUDDEN WATER PUMP FAILURE CAUSES COOLANT TO FLOOD THE ENGINE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS ENGINE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP IS INSIDE THE ENGINE-- SEE E.G. HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/FORD/FLEX/WATER-PUMP-PROBLEMS.PHP AND HTTPS://WWW.KTMC.COM/FORD-LINCOLN-WATER-PUMP-ENGINE-FAILURE .
WE HAVE REPLACED THE TURBOS IN OR FORD FLEX ECOBOOST 5 TIMES WITHIN 2.5 YEARS!! THE FRONT AND REAR TURBOS BOTH JUST WENT AGAIN WITHIN ONE MONTH OF EACH OTHER!! WE WERE FINALLY TOLD BY A LINCOLN MECHANIC THE ISSUE IS A BAD/FAULTY OIL SEPERATOR MADE BY FORD. IT IS PUSHING TOO MUCH OIL INTO THE TURBOS CAUSING THEM TO LITERALLY BLOW…
Read full complaint
WE HAVE REPLACED THE TURBOS IN OR FORD FLEX ECOBOOST 5 TIMES WITHIN 2.5 YEARS!! THE FRONT AND REAR TURBOS BOTH JUST WENT AGAIN WITHIN ONE MONTH OF EACH OTHER!! WE WERE FINALLY TOLD BY A LINCOLN MECHANIC THE ISSUE IS A BAD/FAULTY OIL SEPERATOR MADE BY FORD. IT IS PUSHING TOO MUCH OIL INTO THE TURBOS CAUSING THEM TO LITERALLY BLOW UP!! SMOKE EVERYWHERE AND CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS!!
BLUE FLASHING LIGHT HAS COME ON LEFT SIDE DRIVERS SIDE ABOVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UNDERSIDE OF THE DASH. STAYS ON EVEN AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF.
WATER PUMP LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL, WHAT SHOULD BE A $500 AT MOST REPAIR IS GOOD TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF POOR WATER PUMP DESIGN.
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.
Illustration