2012 Ford Flex problems and recalls

Owners have filed 64 complaints on the 2012 Ford Flex, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Steering (24 complaints).

64
Complaints
2
Recalls
4
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
4
Injuries
70.1
Severity index

Severity index 70.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 70.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 52 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 60% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

SteeringSteering: 24 complaints (37.5%)24 38%EngineEngine: 11 complaints (17.2%)11 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 10 complaints (15.6%)10 16%Service BrakesService Brakes: 8 complaints (12.5%)8 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 5 complaints (7.8%)5 8%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 5 complaints (7.8%)5 8%StructureStructure: 4 complaints (6.2%)4 6%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (6.2%)4 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
STEERING2437.5%
ENGINE1117.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1015.6%
SERVICE BRAKES812.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER57.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM57.8%
STRUCTURE46.2%
POWER TRAIN46.2%

Complaints filed per year

0472012: 22013: 52014: 52015: 52016: 72017: 62018: 32019: 52020: 62021: 52022: 22023: 52024: 32025: 512131415167171819202122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20122
20135
20145
20155
20167
20176
20183
20195
20206
20215
20222
20235
20243
20255
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (13 against 13).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V24700026/04/2016AIR BAGS:FRONTALFord 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
15V34000002/06/2015STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMFord 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

Other Ford Flex model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.