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2013 Ford Flex

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Flex years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Flex are substantially higher than the model-year median of 139.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

435 reports with mileage · 143 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 149 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

578 reports
1,000 miles · Jul 29, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

MY 2013 FORD FLEX HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE FORD EXPLORER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM SANDERSON FORD IN GLENDALE AZ AND NOTICED AFTER A HARD ACCELERATION WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SET TO RECIRCULATE. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND I TOOK IT BACK HOME. YEARS PAST AND IT WAS TAKEN BACK AGAIN AND …

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MY 2013 FORD FLEX HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE FORD EXPLORER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM SANDERSON FORD IN GLENDALE AZ AND NOTICED AFTER A HARD ACCELERATION WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SET TO RECIRCULATE. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND I TOOK IT BACK HOME. YEARS PAST AND IT WAS TAKEN BACK AGAIN AND SAME THING THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE DUE TO THERE WAS NO MECHANIC THAT COULD DRIVE IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I INCLUDED A FORD FLEX FORUM THAT EXPLAINS THE ISSUE AND SHOWS THAT IT DOES EXIST OUT THERE. PLEASE ADD THE FORD FLEX TO THE "RECALL" FIX OF THESE ISSUES. IN THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS UNDER 49 CFR 393.83 THE EXHAUST SHALL NOT LEAK / DISCHARGE SO THAT IT ENTERS A SLEEPER COMPARTMENT OF A TRUCK TRACTOR. WE HAVE THE SAME THING HERE THE EXHAUST LEAKS INTO THE COMPARTMENT OF WHERE THE DRIVER IS AT. HTTPS://WWW.FORDFLEX.NET/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=17923

NHTSA ODI #11240399

75,000 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP FOR MY MODEL YEAR BUT NOT MY VIN. I HAD THE SAME STALLING ISSUE. IT WAD STATIONARY WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE FINAL TIME, WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND JUST WOULDNT START.

NHTSA ODI #11232694

78,000 miles · Jul 15, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #11231975

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2019
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND ADVANCETRAC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. TOMBALL FORD (22702 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77375, 281-351-3060) REPLACE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND ADVANCETRAC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. TOMBALL FORD (22702 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77375, 281-351-3060) REPLACED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY, CORE, CORE RETURN, A BOLT AND PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11231899

786,475 miles · Jul 13, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AS IF VEHICLE HAD NO GAS. GAS TANK WAS FULL AND VEHICLE SHOWED ME A WRENCH SIGN AS I WAS LOOKING AT MY DASHBOARD

NHTSA ODI #11231651

85,104 miles · Jul 3, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteering

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND THE FUEL DELIVER ON MY FLEX. IN BOTH CASES I FOUND RECALL NOTICES THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS NOTED IN THE RECALLS. IN THE CASE OF THE POWER STEERING THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NOW I'M…

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I HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND THE FUEL DELIVER ON MY FLEX. IN BOTH CASES I FOUND RECALL NOTICES THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS NOTED IN THE RECALLS. IN THE CASE OF THE POWER STEERING THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BUT THE DEALER STILL SAYS MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES THAN ORIGINALLY DETERMINED THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER IN THIS CASE IS VILLAGE FORD, 23535 MICHIGAN, DEARBORN, MI. 48124. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING WHILE I WAS WORKING (9 HOURS) AND WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START.

NHTSA ODI #11229135

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2019
Electrical System

APIM FAILED OVER A YEAR AGO. THIS IS A LARGE VEHICLE TO NOT HAVE A BACKUP CAMERA, NO NAVIGATION OR RADIO ADJUSTMENTS. I WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I REACHED OUT TO FORD TO SEE WHY AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE SYSTEM. I HAVE 2 FLEX AND A LINCOLN MKT AND THE DEALERS ARE TERRIBLE ABOUT DOING ANYTHING WITHOUT CHARGING.…

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APIM FAILED OVER A YEAR AGO. THIS IS A LARGE VEHICLE TO NOT HAVE A BACKUP CAMERA, NO NAVIGATION OR RADIO ADJUSTMENTS. I WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I REACHED OUT TO FORD TO SEE WHY AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE SYSTEM. I HAVE 2 FLEX AND A LINCOLN MKT AND THE DEALERS ARE TERRIBLE ABOUT DOING ANYTHING WITHOUT CHARGING. 89.9O TK CHECK A RECALL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11228587

100,380 miles · Jun 27, 2019
Steering

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR FORD FLEX WHEN THE POWER STEERING GAVE OUT. NOT ONLY DID IT GIVE OUT IT BECAME VIOLENTLY HARD TO STEER. LUCKILY IT WAS AT LOW SPEED PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE DID HAVE THE NEIGHBORS VEHICLES BEHIND HER, BUT WAS ABLE TO BRAKE SAFELY AND AVOID A COLLISION. IN DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE NOTED THAT FO…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR FORD FLEX WHEN THE POWER STEERING GAVE OUT. NOT ONLY DID IT GIVE OUT IT BECAME VIOLENTLY HARD TO STEER. LUCKILY IT WAS AT LOW SPEED PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY. SHE DID HAVE THE NEIGHBORS VEHICLES BEHIND HER, BUT WAS ABLE TO BRAKE SAFELY AND AVOID A COLLISION. IN DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE NOTED THAT FORD ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES BY A RECALL. MY VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF RANGE AND NOW MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FORD CAN ARBITRARILY PICK A DATE AND CUT OFF WHEN THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL PROBLEMS WITH THIS STEERING SYSTEM. MY MECHANIC HAS ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE POWER STEERING MODULE. THE SAME MODULE COVERED UNDER FORD RECALL 15V340000.

NHTSA ODI #11223067

85,000 miles · Jun 26, 2019
Electrical System

2 DOOR LOCK/SENSORS REPLACED TO DATE (6/2019). DOOR SENSORS SAY IT IS OPEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL DECIDE THE DOOR IS OPEN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ALL LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE TO GO ON. HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN THE DARK. DOORS DO NOT LOCK AT ALL WHILE DRIVING IF SENSOR SAYS DOOR IS OPEN. WAS ALSO UNABLE TO LOCK…

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2 DOOR LOCK/SENSORS REPLACED TO DATE (6/2019). DOOR SENSORS SAY IT IS OPEN WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL DECIDE THE DOOR IS OPEN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ALL LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE TO GO ON. HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN THE DARK. DOORS DO NOT LOCK AT ALL WHILE DRIVING IF SENSOR SAYS DOOR IS OPEN. WAS ALSO UNABLE TO LOCK THE CAR WHILE THE SENSOR ISSUE WAS ONGOING BECAUSE THE ALARM WOULD GO OFF MULTIPLE TIMES A NIGHT. BATTERY DRAINED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ON ALL NIGHT AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THE 2013 MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #11222754

90,000 miles · Jun 26, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 90,000 MILES. EXACT ISSUE WAS RECALLED ON SOME MODELS IN THE SAME YEAR, JUST NOT MY VIN. PUMP IS IN HIGH DEMAND, PRICES ARE THUS HIGHER THAN USUAL AND ALSO UNAVAILABLE THRU ANYONE BUT FORD DIRECTLY. MY CAR WAS, THANKFULLY, IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED AND WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP.

NHTSA ODI #11222750

Official recalls

6

20V072000 · Suspension:rear

Feb 10, 2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.

16V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Aug 25, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

15V812000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Dec 2, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.

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.

14V393000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Jul 2, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.

13V227000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

May 31, 2013

Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.

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.