2016 Ford Flex problems and recalls

Owners filed 37 complaints on the 2016 Ford Flex in the last three full years, out of 98 on record. The most cited component is the Back Over Prevention.

98
Complaints
3
Recalls
4
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
3
Injuries
51.0
Severity index

Severity index 51.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 51.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 98 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 30% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 26 complaints (26.5%)26 27%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 23 complaints (23.5%)23 23%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 14 complaints (14.3%)14 14%SuspensionSuspension: 10 complaints (10.2%)10 10%StructureStructure: 9 complaints (9.2%)9 9%EngineEngine: 8 complaints (8.2%)8 8%SteeringSteering: 8 complaints (8.2%)8 8%Power TrainPower Train: 8 complaints (8.2%)8 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
BACK OVER PREVENTION2626.5%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2323.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1414.3%
SUSPENSION1010.2%
STRUCTURE99.2%
ENGINE88.2%
STEERING88.2%
POWER TRAIN88.2%

Complaints filed per year

014282016: 32017: 12018: 52019: 72020: 62021: 62022: 52023: 52024: 112025: 212026: 28 (partial year)161718192021222324252628
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20163
20171
20185
20197
20206
20216
20225
20235
202411
202521
2026 (year to date)28
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.2x those in 2020 to 2022 (37 against 17).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V92500022/12/2016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on
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.
25V69500013/10/2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermitten

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 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.