The Lemon Index
200920111st generation
Better than average · most complaints: brakes
38 owner complaints, first 3 years 18–20 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2010 Toyota Highlander 712010 Honda Pilot 152010 Ford Explorer 73
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
What breaks most on the 2010 Ford Flex
- Steering rack / power steering24 complaintsmostly at 70,000–114,000 miles (113,000–183,000 km)
- Engine stalling17 complaintsmostly at 20,000–117,000 miles (32,000–189,000 km)
- Throttle body / loss of power10 complaintsmostly at 20,000–86,000 miles (32,000–138,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 139 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Ford Flex (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 10,000 and 43,000 miles (16,000–69,000 km) (the middle half of the 33 complaints, of all 38 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 16V247000 (airbags) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Ford sent dealers 37 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Ford/lincoln: transmission built before 6/1/10 with 4th gear start, delay/hesitation on…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Ford's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 38 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 43K miles (16K to 69K km) on the car (33 of all 38 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
2010 Ford Flex. Consumer writes regarding problem with brakes
2010 Ford Flex owner · NHTSA complaint 10359771
More owner reports
2010 Ford Flex front brakes replaced twice due to grinding and wear. Back brake calipers and brakes replaced due to sticking and uneven wear on tires.
NHTSA complaint 10413066
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 37 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Ford/lincoln: transmission built before 6/1/10 with 4th gear start, delay/hesitation on…
- Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, transmission 5th gear start at stop, speed control drops or…
- Lincoln/ford: an overhaul transmission motorcraft kit, available for some vehicles, contains…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,000–$3,350 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
Every Ford Flex year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2010 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-flex/?y=2010" 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/2010/">Lemon Index</a> (2010 Ford Flex reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2010 Ford Flex reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew somewhat fewer complaints than the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 81; 100 is average, lower is better). 2010 is one of the better years of a model that draws 1.5× the average car's complaints. The Ford Flex year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2019.
What are the most common 2010 Ford Flex problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (24%), speed control (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Flex have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Ford Flex get?
18 to 20 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2010 Ford Flex problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 10,000 and 43,000 miles (16,000–69,000 km) (the middle half of the 33 complaints, of all 38 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2010 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2010 Ford Flex have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 16% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2010 Ford Flex cost in fuel a year?
About $3,000 to $3,350 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2010 Ford Flex have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Flex year is better than the 2010?
Nearby, the 2012 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about half as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2019 drew the fewest.
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. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works