TroubleCAR
52
Trouble

2013 Ford Flex

Complaints: 575Avg mileage: 72,047 miSince: Sep 2012
CrashFire13 injured

Problem Areas

Electrical System
198
Steering
145
Unknown or Other
78
Fuel/Propulsion System
59
Structure:Body
57
Exterior Lighting
35
Engine
31
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
24
Suspension
17
Doors: Latch
14

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

POWER TRAIN
Jun 13, 2024San francisco, CA
Crash2 injured

Steering locked up lower control arm snapped at the ball joint where it's connected to cv axel. Sent my car into the rails and nearly.killed me and my passenger.

AIR BAGS
169,725 miApr 2, 2021PRINCETON, MN
Crash1 injured

WE HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS. I WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HIT A BEAR ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE (AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.) REPAIRED THE CAR. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A HIGHWAY COLLISION REAR ENDED A PERSON AT 43 -45 MPH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INFORMED YESTERDAY THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. SHE HAD HER GLASSES THROWN OFF HER FACE DASH WAS PUSHED BACK, TROOPER AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER WERE SHOCKED THEY DIDN'T GO OFF. SHE WAS NOT INJURED HAVING CONCUSSIVE SYMPTOMS. WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE VIN DOES NOT MATCH THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AS THEY WERE RUNNING THE SPECS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN IS SAYING THAT IT IS A CLOTH INTERIOR AND MY CAR HAS LEATHER INTERIOR. IF IT WAS AN UPGRADE IT SHOULD STILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN OF THE CAR?*DT*JB

AIR BAGS
131,000 miNov 20, 2018KNOXVILLE, TN
Crash1 injured

THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FOR CERTAIN 2013 FORD FLEX'S. RECALL 15S18. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT MINE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE BUT THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT ON MY VEHICLE, IT LOCKED UP AROUND A CURVE WHEN I WAS DOING ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT, I CROSSED A LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HIT A TREE ON SUNDAY 11 18 18. I WAS ON HIGHWAY 70 IN KINGSTON TENNESSEE, HEADED EASTBOUND. THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND IN A BIND AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED WITH KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HIT THE TREE DOING ABOUT 35 MPH TO 40 MPH WHEN STEERING BECAME INOP AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE FROM 50 MPH TO AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR BEFORE STRIKING THE TREE OR COULD'VEBEEN MUCH WORSE. I SUSTAINED SHOULDER INJURY AND CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS VEHICLE BECOMES PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY HIT SOMEBODY HEAD ON AND KILLED SOMEONE OR MYSELF. VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE BUT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY COST ME MY LIFE.

AIR BAGS
9,000 miAug 30, 2013YOUNGTOWN, AZ
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT, WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIBS AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jul 9, 2022San Jose, CA
Crash

The power steering assist stopped working while I was driving. It caused me to get into an accident. If other cars were around me I could have killed someone. I was driving just fine and then “POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT” showed up on my cluster and the steering wheel locked up. It now won’t work. This came without warning.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jun 19, 2021COMMERCE, TX
Crash

On Friday, June 18, 2021 while driving my 2013 Ford Flex, the power steering went out while I was driving. I went online and found an OLD May 27, 2015 Ford Safety Recall for this issue but apparently it DID NOT include my car. Not sure how FORD determines which cars will/will not have this issue. It needs to include all calls in that category.

STEERING
115,000 miApr 10, 2020RUSKIN, FL
Crash

POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON I-95 EXIT. VEHICLE VEERED OFF INTO DITCH. LUCKILY A NICE PERSON SAW ME GO OVER THE ROAD AND PULLED THE CAR OUT. CAR WAS TAKEN TO FORD WHO THEN CHARGED ME CLOSE TO 3,000 TO REPLACE A COMPUTER MODULE. HAS HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME SINCE THEN..

STEERING
Feb 12, 2020TARIFFVILLE, CT
Crash

2013 FORD FLEX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ILLUMINATED POWER STEERING LIGHT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATE WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WITH A VERY SHORT NOTICE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE SLOWLY RAN OVER A CURB. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER DENIED ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE CODE ONLY SHOWING THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO IMPACT, AND NOT THAT THE PSCM FAILURE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE IMPACT.*JS

STEERING
73,000 miAug 5, 2019PORTER RANCH, CA
Crash

DRIVING OUR FORD FLEX WHEN THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GAVE OUT. IT BECAME HARD TO STEER. LUCKILY IT WAS AT LOW SPEED PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. AS A RESULT I HIT A LOW PLANTER AND SUFFERED BODY DAMAGE. NOW THE STEERING JUST GROANS WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. DEALER STATES NOTHING IS WRONG AND THE NOISE IS NORMAL. IN DOING MY RESEARCH I HAVE NOTED THAT FORD ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES BY A RECALL. MY VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF RANGE AND NOW MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FORD CAN ARBITRARILY PICK A DATE AND CUT OFF WHEN THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL PROBLEMS WITH THIS STEERING SYSTEM AND BELIEVE ALL 2013 FLEX'S USED THE SAME PARTS.

STEERING
36,300 miNov 19, 2013CHICAGO, IL
Crash

I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND SOMETHING POPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE CURVE, AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE LEMON-FORD-FLEX THAT WAS SOLD TO ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 300 MILES OUT OF THE WARRANTY. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL THAN SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO INSURANCE. SO I REPORTED IT TO INSURANCE AND THE REPAIR SHOP, THAT WAS REPAIRING THE DAMAGES, SAID THEY FOUND DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR (1,500 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGES) WHICH COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CAR HITTING THE CURVE. AND THAT IT LOOKED LIKE SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL RAISED THE CAR INAPPROPRIATELY AND CAUSED THE RADIATOR DAMAGE. THE REPAIR COMPANY SAID, SINCE THE ORIGINAL PLACE WHERE THE FLEX WAS TOWED TO (SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL) WAS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND THEM (ACROSS THE ALLEY), SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AND OF COURSE, SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL DENIED IT AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. BUYER BEWARE - DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL. BUYER BEWARE - DO NOT BUY A FORD AND IF YOU DO, DO NOT GO TO SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL. *TR

AIR BAGS
2,400 miSep 20, 2012WILLIS, MI
Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, SHE BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
124,000 miSep 11, 2020ELGIN, TX
Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AND STATED WHILE SHE WAS CHARGING HER CELLPHONE BY USING THE MIDDLE USB PORTAL, WHEN SHE NOTICED THE WIRING WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

SEATS
Feb 25, 2026Kalispell, MT
1 injured

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, I was driving my 2013 Ford Flex with the driver’s seat heater activated. After a period of use, I began to notice an unusual electrical burning smell inside the vehicle. There were no dashboard warning lights or system alerts. I turned the seat heater off immediately once I detected the smell. I did not initially notice an injury at that time. The following day, I experienced significant pain and discovered burns on my buttocks in the area consistent with seat contact. I sought medical evaluation three days later and was diagnosed with second- to third-degree burns. Prescription treatment was provided. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for the cause of the overheating or odor. Based on the location and pattern of injury, and the timing of the electrical smell while the heated seat was activated, the burn appears to have resulted from a malfunction of the seat heating element.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Mar 9, 2023Los Angeles, CA
1 injured

The rear power lift gate will at times unexpectedly come down on you while you’re standing under it and won’t go back up… it has hit me in my head multiple times… and may be the cause of the compressed disc in my cervical spine… it happens mostly when it’s cold, but now that it’s 65° (Los Angeles) it’s still doing it

SUSPENSION
70,000 miMar 4, 2020KANAB, UT
1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH, A LOUD POPPING NOISE OCCURRED AND DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY SWERVE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER OBSERVED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS ANGLED SIDE WAYS. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. DURING THE INCIDENT THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A LEFT SHOULDER RE-INJURY WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE LOCAL DEALER ST. GEORGE FORD (145 HILTON DR. ST. GEORGE, UT) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) BUT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

SERVICE BRAKES
98,000 miMar 20, 2018DETROIT, MI
1 injured

BOTH OF THE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE WATER INTRUSION ABOUT 3 0Z OF WATER WITHIN THE CHAMBER. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES.SHORTENING OUT WHICH HAS CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH SAFETY AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
24,000 miAug 4, 2013OCEANSIDE, CA
4 injured

A 2013 FORD FLEX RENTAL VEHICLE USED FOR A 4-HOUR DRIVE FROM THE SAN DIEGO AREA TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FUMES, WHICH KEPT ENTERING THE CABIN AND MADE ALL PASSENGERS NAUSEOUS, INCLUDING AN ELDERLY FEMALE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING ALL THE INTERIOR AREAS OF THE HOUSE, INCLUDING ALL BEDROOMS, WERE SATURATED WITH A VERY POTENT SMELL OF GASOLINE. AFTER INSPECTING THE HOUSE, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE FUMES WERE COMING FROM THE RENTAL 2013 FORD FLEX VEHICLE, AND THE GARAGE HAD AN EXTREMELY POTENT CONCENTRATION OF GASOLINE FUMES. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EXPLOSION, WE ALL FELT ILL AND TOOK US ABOUT A WEEK TO FULLY RECOVER. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WE WERE IN AN AREA WITHOUT PHONE OR INTERNET ACCESS, BUT I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE RENTAL COMPANY WHEN I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE RENTAL COMPANY, BUT THEY DID NOT APPEAR TO BE TOO CONCERNED. *TR

SUSPENSION
127,000 miMar 3, 2026Buckeye, AZ

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for a recall repair. The contact stated the dealer declined to perform the recall repair because the vehicle was unable to be started. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION). The vehicle was currently at the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 127,000.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
Feb 5, 2026Bethesda, MD

Rear view camera has failed. The screen goes black and has a “contact dealer” message.

STEERING
Dec 22, 2025Tampa, FL

While driving, the power steering warning light illuminated and steering assist was lost. The steering became extremely hard, especially at low speeds. The vehicle makes grinding/whining noises when turning, and the car vibrates while in Drive. This creates a serious safety concern, especially during turns and parking maneuvers. Issue appears to be electric power steering (EPAS) failure.

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