2013 Ford Flex problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (138) · Electrical System (105) · Structure:body (54)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Flex model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
434 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Suspension:rear 2020-02-10 · campaign 20V072000 · 211,207 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 i
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2016-08-25 · campaign 16V621000 · 77,502 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2015-12-02 · campaign 15V812000 · 868 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2015-06-02 · campaign 15V340000 · 393,623 vehicles
Defect: 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 ste
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft 2014-07-02 · campaign 14V393000 · 83,250 vehicles
Defect: 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 out
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2013-05-31 · campaign 13V227000 · 390,783 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (71)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Unknown Or Other 2024-10-10 · SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
while performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Structure 2023-04-04 · SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2000-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. it is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (vin) from a different vehicle. most modules on these affe
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-09-25 · SSM 49210 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2009-2020 ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with turbochargers may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, o-rings or 6.7l pedestal gasket. although oil may collect on the turbocharger, it is very rare for a turbocharger to leak oil. to isolate the source of the l
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2019-08-14 · SSM 48135 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2013-2020 vehicles equipped with an evdc air conditioning (a/c) compressor may exhibit poor a/c performance/improper climate function. to support the proper diagnosis of this compressor, the evdc control valve tester has been provided to each u.s. dealership (339-evdc100). ensure the a/c system
Showing the 6 most recent of 71 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-28 · Engine“my car randomly over heated on xxx around 3:23 pm and when i pulled over to a parking lot there was antifreeze pouring out of the bottom front passenger side. i tried to allow it to cool down so that i could safely get it to the shop .5 mile away and the vehicle started to shake and stall and the check engine light came on. i had it towed and inspe…”
2026-09-24 · Exterior Lighting“unknown so we bought the car used from the dealer exactly how they received it, and it was working normally but then a few weeks or a month or two we were going somewhere and one of the headlights would go out and we'd have to turn the switch off and back on to get it to turn back on, and it was one for a few weeks but then it started turning them …”
2026-05-08 · Visibility/Wiper“what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? multiple driver aid funcations in-op. driver door locks will not lock or unlock, driver door lock and unlock switch will not operate any locks, passenger door mirror will not move, seat memory will not save, rear view mirror will not auto dim and ther…”
2026-05-08 · Power Train“what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? internal water pump/ timing chains/ vvt solenoids/ cam phasers/ cam sensors/ related seals how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? engine failure - sudden stop of vehicle has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or …”
2026-04-21 · Steering · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 ford flex. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, with the power steering fault warning light illuminated. the vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it …”
2026-03-03 · Suspension · 127,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 ford flex. the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a recall repair. the contact stated the dealer declined to perform the recall repair because the vehicle was unable to be started. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v072000 (suspension). the vehicle was currently at the dealer. the vehicle was not r…”
2026-02-25 · Seats“on sunday, february 22, 2026, i was driving my 2013 ford flex with the driver’s seat heater activated. after a period of use, i began to notice an unusual electrical burning smell inside the vehicle. there were no dashboard warning lights or system alerts. i turned the seat heater off immediately once i detected the smell. i did not initially noti…”
2026-02-05 · Visibility/Wiper“rear view camera has failed. the screen goes black and has a “contact dealer” message. …”
2025-12-22 · Steering“while driving, the power steering warning light illuminated and steering assist was lost. the steering became extremely hard, especially at low speeds. the vehicle makes grinding/whining noises when turning, and the car vibrates while in drive. this creates a serious safety concern, especially during turns and parking maneuvers. issue appears to be…”
2025-12-02 · Steering“power steering. while i was driving in my neighborhood the power steering went out and i could not make a turn. it locked up while driving. i could have got into a head on collision/accident becasue the road turns. yes, i reported it to ford and they told me my flex did not have a recall despite the ford website stating that some 2013 ford flex ar…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.