The Lemon Index
201020121st generation
About average · most complaints: engine
32 owner complaints, first 3 years 18–19 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2011 Toyota Highlander 642011 Honda Pilot 762011 Ford Explorer 221
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
What breaks most on the 2011 Ford Flex
- Steering rack / power steering27 complaintsmostly at 102,000–148,000 miles (164,000–238,000 km)
- Water pump11 complaintsmostly at 90,000–126,000 miles (145,000–203,000 km)
- Engine stalling9 complaintsmostly at 70,000–110,000 miles (113,000–177,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 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 5,200 and 36,000 miles (8,400–58,000 km) (the middle half of the 30 complaints, of all 32 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 recalls 16V247000 (airbags) and 15V340000 (steering) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
- Ford sent dealers 45 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, when accelerating from stop or shifting between drive/reverse…”?
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 32 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 5K to 36K miles (8K to 58K km) on the car (30 of all 32 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
Lunging and stalling at start up and when accelerating at highway speeds.
2011 Ford Flex owner · NHTSA complaint 10597517
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 45 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, when accelerating from stop or shifting between drive/reverse…
- Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, transmission 5th gear start at stop, speed control drops or…
- Ford/lincoln: long block engines shipped with cam sensors, crank sensor, crank sensor tone…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
- Steering · recall issued 2015 Hybrid only
The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
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 test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Flex SUV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Flex SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,150–$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. 2011 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 2011 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-flex/?y=2011" 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/2011/">Lemon Index</a> (2011 Ford Flex reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2011 Ford Flex reliable?
About 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 89; 100 is average, lower is better). 2011 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 2011 Ford Flex problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (19%), transmission & drivetrain (19%) and steering (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Flex have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Flex get?
18 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Flex problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 5,200 and 36,000 miles (8,400–58,000 km) (the middle half of the 30 complaints, of all 32 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2011 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 2011 Ford Flex have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 19% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Ford Flex cost in fuel a year?
About $3,150 to $3,350 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Ford Flex have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Flex year is better than the 2011?
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