Ford Flex: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Ford Flex problems by model year, from 1,744 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2010 (44%, 56 drivetrain complaints) and 2011 (37%, 51 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 10 Ford Flex years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2019 (4%), 2018 (6%) and 2017 (8%). 2017 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (95 of 359 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Ford Flex year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Flex | high | 44% | 56 | 139 | 1/10 | 1 |
| 2011 Flex | elevated | 37% | 51 | 144 | 2/10 | 2 |
| 2012 Flex | no elevated signal | 27% | 16 | 64 | 5/10 | 2 |
| 2013 Flex | no elevated signal | 18% | 95 | 580 | 6/10 | 6 |
| 2014 Flex | no elevated signal | 33% | 77 | 249 | 3/10 | 4 |
| 2015 Flex | no elevated signal | 28% | 31 | 110 | 4/10 | 4 |
| 2016 Flex | no elevated signal | 17% | 16 | 98 | 7/10 | 3 |
| 2017 Flex | no elevated signal | 8% | 3 | 42 | 8/10 | 4 |
| 2018 Flex | no elevated signal | 6% | 4 | 67 | 9/10 | 3 |
| 2019 Flex | no elevated signal | 4% | 10 | 251 | 10/10 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Ford Flex years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Ford Flex engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Ford Flex involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2013 | 13V227000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2013 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V393000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2013–2014 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V812000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2013 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V621000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2013–2015 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V925000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger | 2016–2017 |
9 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2014 | 14V710000 | seats | 2014 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V340000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2011–2013 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V464000 | parking brake | 2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V247000 | air bags: frontal | 2010–2012 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V548000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2019 |
| Feb 2020 | 20V072000 | suspension: rear | 2013–2018 |
| Dec 2024 | 24V951000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V695000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2015–2019 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V732000 | structure: body | 2017–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Ford Flex
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Ford Flex
What are the worst years for the Ford Flex?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Ford Flex years are the 2010 (44% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2011 (37% of relevant complaints, elevated). 2 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Ford Flex?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Ford Flex years are the 2019 (4%), the 2018 (6%) and the 2017 (8%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Ford Flex have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 359 of 1,733 relevant NHTSA complaints (21%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010 and 2011.
Is the Ford Flex reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 10 Ford Flex years we score have an elevated complaint share and 8 do not. Pooled across those years, 21% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Ford Flex?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Ford Flex years we track, out of 14 in total: 15V812000 (Dec 2015, 2013), 16V621000 (Aug 2016, 2013–2015), 16V925000 (Dec 2016, 2016–2017), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.