The Lemon Index2018 Ford Flex. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,500 and 49,995 miles. Median 30,000, from 13 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
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Body structure | 19% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 12% |
| Fuel system | 12% |
| Wheels | 12% |
| Electrical | 12% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
25V732000 Oct 2025 Structure / Body
Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Risk. Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in
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
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | B-pillar trim detachment | 2025 | 2026 |
Manufacturer communications 64
Ford filed 64 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot…
- During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or…
Crash ratings by version
| 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 | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | No |
Engines and drivetrains 3
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Auto (S6) | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 | Regular | $3,300 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | Auto (S6) | AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 | Regular | $3,450 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | AWD | 15 / 21 / 17 | Regular | $3,650 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Nearby model years
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)
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