2010 Ford FLEX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
139 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 139 complaints (22.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 39 | 28.1% |
| Braking behavior | 26 | 18.7% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 12.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 31 |
| Engine | 30 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
Steering: 31; Engine: 30; Electrical System: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Power Train: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Air Bags: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 10
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2010: 11; 2011: 7; 2012: 7; 2013: 13; 2014: 16; 2015: 8; 2016: 10; 2017: 19; 2018: 11; 2019: 12; 2020: 6; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 6; 2024: 5; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10306377 · 2010-02-05 (February 5, 2010)
POST RE: FLEX DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THURS JUN 11, 2009 6:07 PM THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY MOM WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING HERS THROUGH A PARKING LOT, IT JUST STALLED OUT! SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SINCE THEN IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HOPE YOU HAVE BETTER LUCK WITH YOUR DEALER FINDING THE PROBLEM. !@#$%!!!!!!!! IT HAPPENED TO ME TODAY!!!!!!! I WAS ON MY WAY TO A MEETING THIS MORNING AND AS I WAS GOING INTO A CURVE THE CAR DIED!!…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10306377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313072 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
GOING INTO A TURN AT APPROX. 25 MPH AND MY FORD FLEX SHUT OFF. LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED. HAVE APPROX. 11,500 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED.*TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330197 · 2010-05-12 (May 12, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE THROTTLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDINGLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OF ANY ADDITIONAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,100.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409185 · 2011-06-28 (June 28, 2011)
MY 2010 FORD FLEX STATION WAGON HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, WHEN PASSING A CAR OR WITH ALL OF THE WINDOWS OPEN. THESE VENTS SENSE THE BALANCE IN PRESSURE AND OPEN WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. FOUR SEPARATE TIMES THE SERVICE MANAGERS AND MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NEW PROBLEM AND I AM THE ONLY ONE THEY HAVE HEARD OF WITH THIS EXHAUST LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THERE IS N…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482205 · 2012-10-25 (October 25, 2012)
SUDDEN LEAKING PTU CAUSED FAILURE AND FLUID TO CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN EXPOSED TO EXHAUST DIRECTLY UNDER UNIT . DAMAGE ALSO RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION HOUSING DAMAGE AND SEVERE POWERTRAIN FAILURE. FORD HAD TWO TBS TO REPLACE PTU HOWEVER NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550357 · 2013-10-31 (October 31, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE FUEL TANK WHEN HE OVERFLOW VALVE FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SPORADICALLY, THE VALVE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO BE FILLED TO CAPACITY AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO FILL THE TANK, IT WOULD OFTEN TAKE APPROXIMATLEY 30 MINUTES TO FILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643819 · 2014-10-10 (October 10, 2014)
THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WE HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY TWO TIMES THE GAUGE WILL SAY 70 MILES TO EMPTY AND 30 SECONDS LATER GOES TO ZERO THE CAR RUNS OUT IF GAS IN THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR I HAVE ALSO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE STREET I TOOK IT AND PAY $200 TO A MECHANIC WHO IS NOT ABLE TO FIX IT THE FORD DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT RECOMMENDED A $700 FUEL SENDING UNIT HOWEVER THEY WERE UNSURE IF THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE A TIME HASSLE AND VERY…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503415 · 2013-03-18 (March 18, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AS THE TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN, AND I PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN. FIRST THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN ALL LIGHTS WITHIN THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER CAME ON. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO PICK BACK UP AND I WAS GOING UP HILL, YET I WAS MERELY COASTING AT THE SPEED I WAS BEFORE I STOPPED AND SLOWING DOWN. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE SPEED WAS BECAUSE I WAS MORE CONCERNED …
Owner-reported narrative. 53,431 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10651529 · 2014-10-30 (October 30, 2014)
AFTER WORK ON THE VEHICLE AT TWO FORD AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FACILITIES FOR ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAGS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON SINCE. I HAD THE CODE READ SINCE THEN AND IT COMES BACK AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE RH FRONT AIR BAG. I REALIZE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT AS A FORMER VEHICLE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER A FORD I PRESUME THAT AN INOPERATIVE RH FRONT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE GOING FORWARD AND WOULD HOPE THAT NHTSA WOULD PROTECT ME FROM THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10651529 at NHTSA ↗