The Lemon IndexFord Flex reliability.
Is it reliable? Not really. 1.5× the average car's complaints.
Worse than average · 2010–2019
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Ford Flex videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2019.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-flex/" title="Ford Flex reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="445" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/ford-flex/">Lemon Index</a> (Ford Flex reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Ford Flex.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the Ford Flex reliable?
Not really. It draws 1.5× the average car's complaints. Fewest complaints: 2019. Most complaints: 2013 and 2014.
Is the Ford Flex a good car?
Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2019: Lemon Index 153; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2019 drew the fewest complaints since 2010 and 2013 the most.
What are the best Ford Flex years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold since 2010: 2019, 2017, 2012. 2019 drew the fewest.
What Ford Flex years should you stay away from?
The 3 years with the most complaints per car sold since 2010: 2013 (avoid, Lemon Index 578), 2014 (worse than average, Lemon Index 183), 2011 (about average, Lemon Index 89). 100 is the average car; lower is better.
How many recalls does the Ford Flex have?
34 safety recalls across the 11 model years we track. Most: 2013 (6), 2014 (4), 2015 (4). Each year's page lists them, and every Ford Flex recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Ford Flex problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name electrical, body structure and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 129 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 55 | service brakes, hydraulic (27%) | 1 | — | 18–19 |
| 2010 | 81 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 38 | service brakes, hydraulic (24%) | 1 | — | 18–20 |
| 2011 | 89 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 32 | engine (19%) | 2 | — | 18–19 |
| 2012 | 54 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 17 | electrical (35%) | 2 | — | 18–19 |
| 2013 | 578 | about 6 times the average car's complaints | 192 | electrical (51%) | 6 | — | 18–20 |
| 2014 | 183 | about twice the average car's complaints | 50 | electrical (34%) | 4 | — | 18–20 |
| 2015 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 30 | fuel system (27%) | 4 | — | 18–20 |
| 2016 | 70 | about two-thirds as many complaints as the average car | 16 | transmission & drivetrain (31%) | 3 | — | 17–19 |
| 2017 | 50 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 12 | suspension (58%) | 4 | — | 17–19 |
| 2018 | 76 | about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car | 16 | body structure (19%) | 3 | — | 17–19 |
| 2019 | 48 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 12 | backup camera (25%) | 4 | — | 17–19 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: goodcarbadcar.net. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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