10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,274 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Ford Flex:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #68

Jun 012022

Flex

  • miles
The front passenger door is showing that the door is NOT closed when I close it. Later as the car sits in my driveway, the alarm goes on. I believe the door is unlatching and therefore dangerous if this occurs when I'm driving. The dealership looked at it and states that the latch assembly needs to be replaced. However, I do remember a past recall for this same issue. If this door were to unlatch while driving this could be fatal. I believe this needs to be repaired by the dealership.

- San Dimas, CA, USA

problem #67

Dec 012021

Flex

  • miles
My 2013 Ford Flex had the same issues as many that have been recalled. Ford states that the vehicle is not covered under the recall. My electronic power steering assist is no longer working and the service traction control is on. This has been reported from many other Ford Flex owners but it seems like ford is trying to skimp on by with this by saying it-€™s not covered. All Ford Flex-€™s 2013 year model should be recalled to replace / inspect the power steering rack assembly

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #66

Sep 012021

Flex

  • 128,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while making various turns at slow speeds, the steering wheel would lock mid turn as the vehicle would shut-off. The contact then stated that the service advance-trac message appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle would restart soon after failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer to be serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V072000 (Suspension) however, he was informed that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information about the recall. The contact was then referred to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #65

Jun 182021

Flex

  • miles
On Friday, June 18, 2021 while driving my 2013 Ford Flex, the power steering went out while I was driving. I went online and found an OLD May 27, 2015 Ford Safety Recall for this issue but apparently it DID NOT include my car. Not sure how FORD determines which cars will/will not have this issue. It needs to include all calls in that category.

- Commerce, TX, USA

problem #64

Mar 252021

Flex 6-cyl

  • 169,725 miles
We have 2 complaints about the airbags. I was driving 65mph on highway and hit a bear on front drivers side (airbag did not deploy.) repaired the car. My daughter was in a highway collision rear ended a person at 43 -45 mph airbags did not deploy. Informed yesterday the car is a total loss. She had her glasses thrown off her face dash was pushed back, trooper and tow truck driver were shocked they didn't go off. She was not injured having concussive symptoms. We also found out that the VIN does not match the interior of the car as they were running the specs of the vehicle. The VIN is saying that it is a cloth interior and my car has leather interior. If it was an upgrade it should still be associated with the VIN of the car?

- Princeton, MN, USA

problem #63

Nov 112020

Flex 6-cyl

  • 91,722 miles
I have a safety concern on my 2013 Ford Flex VIN# [xxx] I had a recall replaced in November 2020 for front driver side door latch. Customer satisfaction program 19N09 as soon as I got in my car after the replaced recall, the passenger door light came on saying it was open even though it wasn't. I went back inside and asked about it. The service department told me that it wasn't covered under the warranty, that only the driver side was. It was very strange that it happened to pop up directly after getting the recall for the driver side replaced. As soon as I save enough money, I will get it fixed but if the driver side had a warranty, I feel that the passenger side should too. Thank you information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Kenton, TN, USA

problem #62

Jan 132020

Flex 6-cyl

  • 135,000 miles
Ford recalled door latch assembly on driver door and is not acknowledging that the same assembly in other doors should be covered in the recall. Why would you cover the assembly in a driver door and not the passenger door. If the assembly is faulty, it should be fixed regardless of the door it is in. The sensor in the door latch thinks the door is open when it is closed, causing the dome lights to stay on and the warning to constantly sound until you can close it and the sensor catches. It has been happening on the passenger door for several months.

- Glenwood, IL, USA

problem #61

Jan 012020

Flex

  • miles
The sync system stopped working and unable to find the error or issues. Searched internet and appears to be common issue with vehicle. The radio would make a glitching sound and then continue to play until it completely stopped about 5 weeks ago. The vehicle was parked and when attempting to start car the radio was dead

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #60

Jul 012019

Flex

  • 88,000 miles
Have had multiple door latch/sensor assemblies fail which results in: Door ajar message constantly being given. This results in dome lighting staying on while door is closed and depleting the battery causing an unmonitored electrical use. It also is a distraction to the driver due to both the warning light but also the audio alert that plays when under a certain speed telling you to park and close the door. This takes away from other possible alerts the cars could give you due to overly alerting the driver.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #59

May 012013

Flex

  • 1,000 miles
My 2013 Ford Flex has had the same issue as the Ford Explorer. I purchased the vehicle new from sanderson Ford in glendale AZ and noticed after a hard acceleration with the air conditioning set to recirculate. The dealer stated they could not recreate the issue and I took it back home. Years past and it was taken back again and same thing they could not re-create due to there was no mechanic that could drive it at higher speeds. I included a Ford Flex forum that explains the issue and shows that it does exist out there. Please add the Ford Flex to the "recall" fix of these issues. In the federal regulations under 49 cfr $393.83 the exhaust shall not leak / discharge so that it enters a sleeper compartment of a truck tractor. We have the same thing here the exhaust leaks into the compartment of where the driver is at. Https://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?T=17923

- Laveen, AZ, USA

problem #58

Jan 102019

Flex

  • 76,000 miles
While driving, the car just stops. No power, cannot turn wheel, gas nor brake pedal works. Have to restart by pushing ignition button. This has happened a few times already and is a major safety issue.

- Loma Linda, CA, USA

problem #57

Dec 132018

Flex

  • miles
Takata recall, I took my car to mel hambelton Ford, for a vehicle health inspection and never was informed about the fsa title sync with myford mylincoln tough wzarranty extension covering accessory protocol interface module apim, but was under primary concerns diag. And replace apim for blank screen, yet when I get on Ford pass I learn of this issue, never the dealer that sold my the car or the Ford dealership offer to assist me are checked the recalls on this vehicle12/13/18

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #56

Nov 052018

Flex

  • 120,000 miles
2013 Ford Flex - door sensor keeps thinking it is open. It prevents us from locking the doors, both parked and in motion. It allows our children to open the door while in motion because the doors will not latch. Issue is still occurring. It started a month ago (start of November 2018), however now does it every time we are getting into or out of the vehicle. Issue while driving: When the sensor is sensing the door as "open", the lights in the vehicle stay on for over 3 miles of driving before they will turn off - day or night causing a back light (glare) issue during night time driving. Issue while stopped, both sitting in and outside of the vehicle: The lights do not turn off and runs down the battery of my vehicle. I timed the lights after getting home and at 30 minutes I stopped the timer - as it was too cold to continue. I had to shut the door 12 times before the sensor finally sensed a "closed" door and shut the lights off.

- Haysville, KS, USA

problem #55

Oct 012018

Flex

  • miles
The rear passenger doors are shut all the way, but the car senses them as open and keeps the interior lights on with a door ajar warning on the dashboard. There was a tsb performed on my car for this issue, but the issue has returned. It is an intermittent issue. I have to try opening and closing the door to get it to show as shut. It can cause the car alarm to go off at times. The warning can come on while I'm driving, long after I shut the door.

- Milan, MI, USA

problem #54

Jul 092018

Flex

  • 98,000 miles
The door ajar light come on the dash even though all doors are closed. The door unlocks after locking due to the car thinking the door is open. This is the front passenger door. The light will randomly go off and on without even touching the door.this also cause the interior lights to come on which is not safe when driving at night.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #53

Jul 102018

Flex

  • 82,000 miles
2 issues 1) the front passenger door though closed is read as a warning "door ajar". the warning stays on at all times. It drains the battery and I have replaced the battery once since owning the 2013 Ford Flex when purchased in 2016 with just under 20,000 miles on it. The interior lights stay on from starting the engine until accelerated speed. The interior lights after parked stay on for a minimum of 30 minutes though it could be longer contributing to draining the vehicle battery. 2) the vehicle began to feel as if it is pulled while in commute. Not starting right away or shuts down/stalls. It has stalled and not turned over though the lights and radio work. Fortunately this has happened after being parked in my parking spot. It will not turn over, but the next morning it will start. After reading about similar issues for other Ford Flex vehicles last week with my vehicle doing the above action I replaced the fuel pump relay module. Which is located in the rear passenger area between rear passenger door and furthest rear window where the seat belt pulls from I felt I had resolved the issue. However, a week exactly later I attempted to start my vehicle when the exact scenario happened all over again. Vehicle would not start, but lights and radio worked. Left alone overnight I went to start it this morning and it starts. Through out the duration of this issue of stalling, not starting, pulling while in motion as it feels like the vehicle is being jerked there is no check engine light or when checking system the only warning is passenger seat ajar.

- Marysville, CA, USA

problem #52

Oct 192013

Flex

  • 47 miles
The car reports the front passenger door as being open/ajar. This causes the vehicle to unlock all doors even when the vehicle is in motion. The car alarm activates randomly as well. The Ford dealer's certified repair technicians charge to replace the sensor, but I have had this part replaced 3 times and the defect continues to occur.

- North Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #51

Jan 102018

Flex

  • 48,000 miles
The vehicle incorrectly believes the doors are open when they are shut. This prevents the doors from locking at all speeds, which is an unsafe condition. If an occupant tries to lock the doors while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle immediately unlocks the doors. The issue also causes the interior lights to stay illuminated while the vehicle is parked and until the vehicle reaches an appropriate speed when in use. The open/closed state of the door changes at random (without the actual door being opened or closed) and causes the alarm to randomly go off when the vehicle is parked. The combination of the lights staying illuminated and the alarm going off when the vehicle is parked drained and ruined the battery in the vehicle. Jump starting the vehicle did not work and the battery had to be replaced.

- Lakeville, MN, USA

problem #50

Jan 022017

Flex

  • miles
The door ajar sensor stays on even after the door is shut. Two doors have had this issue repaired already in the past, now a previously repaired door and another door are coming up on the dash screen as door ajar. This causes the interior dome lights to come on, which drains the battery and the alarm to randomly go off at night while the alarm is set and the door "opens and closes" as the car car is thinking is happening without disarming first. The dome light also stays on for about 30 seconds while driving, which is distracting at night. The doors will no longer automatically lock while driving either since the car thinks the doors are open. This seems to be a common issue that needs to be addressed beyond Ford.

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #49

Mar 202017

Flex

  • 61,251 miles
Faulty door sensors. Door ajar light is constantly on even when door is shut. Makes it hard to drive at night as the dome light remains on for minutes after driving making reducing visibility while driving. With the door ajar light constantly on, makes it difficult to determine whether the door is open or closed. Due to the door ajar light, the dome light constantly remains causing excessive wear on the battery. Fixed one sensor already, now another door sensor is causing the problem, along with my trunk sensor malfunctioning every time I hit any little bump. The lights come on as soon as we start the car, whether moving or parked.

- Victorville, CA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »