IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
2011 Ford Flex
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 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
200–25K
1525–50K
2550–75K
1075–100K
35100–150K
12150K+
117 reports with mileage · 27 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 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
Power Train complaints
19 reportsWHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WITH THE ECOBOOST SYSTEM , THE CAR WILL ALMOST STALL, THEN SPEED UP WITH OUT YOUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL. IT BLOWS BLACK SMOKE AND THEN IT WILL BE FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CAR HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN WHICH THIS SHOWED UP. WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON I HAVE HAD …
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WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP WITH THE ECOBOOST SYSTEM , THE CAR WILL ALMOST STALL, THEN SPEED UP WITH OUT YOUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL. IT BLOWS BLACK SMOKE AND THEN IT WILL BE FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CAR HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN WHICH THIS SHOWED UP. WHILE THIS WAS GOING ON I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT BECAUSE IT LOCKED UP, THEN THE CAR WOULD ONLY WORK IN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE THE CAR RADIATOR FAN SYSTEM BURNED UP AND THEY REPLACED. THEY HAVE RE-FLASHED MODULES AFTER THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, HOWEVER IT STILL DOES IT. I AM WORRIED AS THE CAR HAS SPEED UP TO 2000 RPM WHILE DRIVING AND STAYED THERE WITH OUT THE GAS PEDAL BEING PRESSED.
BOTH FRONT AXLE HALF SHAFTS WORN, DEALER REPAIRED.
FROM A STOP, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, BANGED INTO 1ST (OR 2ND GEAR), DID IT AGAIN AROUND 50 MPH, FELT LIKE THE TRANNY SLIPPED AND THEN BANGED INTO GEAR. THE BANGING INTO GEAR IS A VIOLENT LURCH. TOOK IT TO FORD TOLD NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE (EVEN THOUGH I HAD PRIOR TSB'S ON SAME TRANNY ISSUES IN 01/2011 BUILD CARS). STARTED IN 20…
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FROM A STOP, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, BANGED INTO 1ST (OR 2ND GEAR), DID IT AGAIN AROUND 50 MPH, FELT LIKE THE TRANNY SLIPPED AND THEN BANGED INTO GEAR. THE BANGING INTO GEAR IS A VIOLENT LURCH. TOOK IT TO FORD TOLD NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE (EVEN THOUGH I HAD PRIOR TSB'S ON SAME TRANNY ISSUES IN 01/2011 BUILD CARS). STARTED IN 2012, WAS INTERMITTENT UNTIL RECENTLY AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER PAST MONTH. *TR
LUNGING AND STALLING AT START UP AND WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
TRANSMISSION ON FLEX OFTEN HESITATES AND THUNKS WITH A LURCH. THE LURCH IS SO BAD IT NOW FEELS LIKE WE ARE BEING HIT. IT HAS HAPPENED IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE. TRIED TO GET IT REPAIRED TWICE AT DEALER - HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX. ONLINE FORUMS WITH OWNERS AND SERVICE BULLETINS DESCRIBE SIMILAR PROBLEM. FORD NOT ACKNOWLEDGING I…
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TRANSMISSION ON FLEX OFTEN HESITATES AND THUNKS WITH A LURCH. THE LURCH IS SO BAD IT NOW FEELS LIKE WE ARE BEING HIT. IT HAS HAPPENED IN BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE. TRIED TO GET IT REPAIRED TWICE AT DEALER - HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX. ONLINE FORUMS WITH OWNERS AND SERVICE BULLETINS DESCRIBE SIMILAR PROBLEM. FORD NOT ACKNOWLEDGING ISSUE OR HELPING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, FUMES WOULD EMIT INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE VENTS CLOSED AND THE WINDOWS OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT WOULD EXPERIENCE NAUSEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, FUMES WOULD EMIT INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE VENTS CLOSED AND THE WINDOWS OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT WOULD EXPERIENCE NAUSEA AND BURNING OF THE EYES WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BEFORE DETERMINING THAT THE TRANSMISSION FILLER CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE O-RING WAS TOO BIG FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO H…
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MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL, AND HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS FORD HAS LOOKED, BUT NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEM OR SOLUTION. *TR
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE T…
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MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
216V247000 · 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.
15V340000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Jun 2, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
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.