2013 Ford Flex problems and recalls

Owners have filed 578 complaints on the 2013 Ford Flex, and NHTSA has issued 6 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (200 complaints).

578
Complaints
6
Recalls
11
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
13
Injuries
31.7
Severity index

Severity index 31.7 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 31.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 141 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 3% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 200 complaints (34.6%)200 35%SteeringSteering: 149 complaints (25.8%)149 26%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 78 complaints (13.5%)78 13%StructureStructure: 69 complaints (11.9%)69 12%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 59 complaints (10.2%)59 10%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 36 complaints (6.2%)36 6%EngineEngine: 32 complaints (5.5%)32 6%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 24 complaints (4.2%)24 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20034.6%
STEERING14925.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7813.5%
STRUCTURE6911.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5910.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING366.2%
ENGINE325.5%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)244.2%

Complaints filed per year

0501002012: 12013: 102014: 152015: 662016: 1002017: 862018: 742019: 602020: 412021: 352022: 172023: 212024: 192025: 272026: 6 (partial year)121314151610017181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20121
201310
201415
201566
2016100
201786
201874
201960
202041
202135
202217
202321
202419
202527
2026 (year to date)6
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (67 against 93).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V62100025/08/2016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPFord 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)
15V81200002/12/2015FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFord 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.
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
14V39300002/07/2014POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFTFord 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
13V22700031/05/2013FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFord 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, all
20V07200010/02/2020SUSPENSION:REARFord 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.

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.