The Lemon Index

All cars · Ford Flex · 2015

2015 Ford Flex. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index–100 = average car
Complaints30NHTSA, first 3 years

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 11,000 and 32,000 miles. Median 20,000, from 28 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Fuel system27%
Transmission & drivetrain27%
Engine27%
Electrical17%
Steering17%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
3002102

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 25V695000 Oct 2025 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk. A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification le

  • 20V072000 Feb 2020 Suspension / Rear

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

    Risk. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer servi

  • 16V621000 Aug 2016 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.

    Risk. A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

  • 15V464000 Jul 2015 Parking Brake

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk. If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C07.

Manufacturer communications 54

Ford filed 54 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Transmission fluid leak from converter housing area on police utility equipped with 6f50/6f55
  • Some 2015-2016 f-150, c-max, edge, mks, taurus, and flex and 2016 expedition, explorer,…
  • To help differentiate engine oil leaks from other possible sources, a new white-colored…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Ford Flex SUV FWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆
Ford Flex SUV AWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoOptional

Engines and drivetrains 3

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
3.5L 6-cylAuto (S6)FWD18 / 25 / 20Regular$3,100
3.5L 6-cylAuto (S6)AWD17 / 23 / 19Regular$3,300
3.5L 6-cyl turboAuto (S6)AWD16 / 22 / 18Regular$3,450

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2012541728,224Electrical
201357819225,953Electrical
20141835023,822Electrical
2015–30–Fuel system
2016701622,588Transmission & drivetrain
2017501222,389Suspension
2018761620,308Body structure

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

Spot a mistake or have an idea? Tell us

How can we make Lemon Index better?