The Lemon Index
201320151st generation
Worse than average · most complaints: electrical
50 owner complaints, first 3 years 18–20 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2014 Toyota Highlander 332014 Honda Pilot 372014 Ford Explorer 235
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
Engines & versions
What breaks most on the 2014 Ford Flex
- Fuel pump39 complaintsmostly at 55,000–81,000 miles (89,000–130,000 km)
- Steering rack / power steering30 complaintsmostly at 55,000–100,000 miles (89,000–161,000 km)
- Engine stalling26 complaintsmostly at 45,000–72,000 miles (72,000–116,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 249 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 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 50,000 miles (16,000–80,000 km) (the middle half of the 44 complaints, of all 50 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 20V072000 (suspension), 16V621000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 14V710000 (seats) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Ford sent dealers 55 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “An intrusion of water, from moveable moonroof, due to an overflow of trough rails when drain…”?
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 50 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 50K miles (16K to 80K km) on the car (44 of all 50 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
On several occasions, the equipment that is supposed to reveal the miles per gallon has frozen. The first time, it froze at 19.4 mph regardless of driving speed and on another occasion, after a service call, it froze at 21.1 mph.
2014 Ford Flex owner · NHTSA complaint 10683356
More owner reports
The driver door ajar sensor is malfunctioning making my vehicle believe that the door is open all the time. This causes the door locks on all doors to unlock even when vehicle is in motion.
NHTSA complaint 10893804
A1 incoming email: Ford refuses to communicate with customer regarding NHTSA safety recall.
NHTSA complaint 10934648
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 55 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- An intrusion of water, from moveable moonroof, due to an overflow of trough rails when drain…
- No service action is recommended for this condition
- Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Suspension · recall issued 2020
The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2016 3.5L engines only
A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
- Seats · recall issued 2014
The affected vehicles were manufactured with a reduced clearance between the seat frame and the seat track assembly.
Show all 4 recalls
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2014
In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
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 FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Flex SUV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
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. 2014 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 2014 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-flex/?y=2014" 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/2014/">Lemon Index</a> (2014 Ford Flex reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2014 Ford Flex reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about twice the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 183; 100 is average, lower is better). The Ford Flex year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2019.
What are the most common 2014 Ford Flex problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (34%), fuel system (18%) and body structure (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2014 Ford Flex have?
4 safety recalls (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2014 Ford Flex get?
18 to 20 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Flex problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 10,000 and 50,000 miles (16,000–80,000 km) (the middle half of the 44 complaints, of all 50 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2014 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 2014 Ford Flex have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 6% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2014 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 2014 Ford Flex have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Flex year is better than the 2014?
Nearby, the 2017 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