U.S. public vehicle records

2014 Ford FLEX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

249 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 163 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 249 complaints (25.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	66	26.5%
Fuel system concerns	39	15.7%
Engine operation	29	11.6%
Electrical and battery issues	20	8.0%
Braking behavior	12	4.8%
Transmission and shifting	5	2.0%

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.

Steering

Electrical System

Fuel/Propulsion System

Suspension

Unknown Or Other

Engine

Power Train

Structure:Body

Steering: 64; Electrical System: 55; Fuel/Propulsion System: 46; Suspension: 25; Unknown Or Other: 24; Engine: 22; Power Train: 10; Structure:Body: 9

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 46; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 4

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 86 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.

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2014: 5; 2015: 7; 2016: 19; 2017: 19; 2018: 31; 2019: 37; 2020: 39; 2021: 16; 2022: 17; 2023: 16; 2024: 11; 2025: 26; 2026: 6

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 39 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 29 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 10818149 · 2016-01-05 (January 5, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE BEING TURNED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10818149 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10873703 · 2016-06-10 (June 10, 2016)

AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE STEERING GEAR DISABLES ELECTRIC POWER-STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING, MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. RECEIVED A "STEERING ASSIST FAULT-SERVICE REQUIRED" WARNING. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING N ABOUT 50 MPH ON I-95 IN JARRETT, VA. ON MAY 27, 2016. STOPPED, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. WAS TOLD THE ONLY OPTION WAS A TOW. CLOSEST DEALER ALREADY CLOSED FOR LONG WEEKEND. ANOTHER DEALER AN HOUR AWAY SUGGESTED CYCLING CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. WE DID AND CAR WAS OK. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL DEALER IN HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873703 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10908523 · 2016-09-21 (September 21, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FLEX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,539.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,539 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908523 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10925149 · 2016-11-09 (November 9, 2016)

I'VE HAD MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE AND IT COST ME $970. $830 FOR FUEL PUMP AND $140 FOR BATTERY THAT DIED AS A RESULT OF THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE. I DON'T GET HOW MY CAR, WITH A REAL MALFUNCTION, NOT SOMETHING THAT "MAY" HAPPEN, ISN'T BEING INCLUDED IN THE FUEL PUMP RECALL. I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED. I COULD'VE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR MY CHILDREN. MY FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED AND THE REPLACEMENT ONE THEY PUT IN ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. NOW, SINCE THEY'VE INSTALLED THE 2ND FUEL PUMP, MY CAR HAS AN OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS, WHICH APPEARS TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925149 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10671857 · 2015-01-12 (January 12, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671857 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10913623 · 2016-10-04 (October 4, 2016)

THE CAR WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS BEEN RECALLED. FORD DOES NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK ACCORDING TO PARENT FORD MOTOR COMPANY. FORD MOTOR DOES NOT OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE FOR CUSTOMER. THIS PUTS THE BURDEN OF RISK ON THE CUSTOMER ON A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM. CAR STOPPED IN SCHOOL PARKING LOT CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10913623 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10661941 · 2014-12-03 (December 3, 2014)

MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS PUTTING OUR 20 MONTH OLD SON IN VEHICLE. SHE PLACED HER PURSE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB INTO CAR AND CLOSED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. SHE FOUND THE VEHICLE NOW ENTIRELY LOCKED AT ALL DOORS AND WOULD NOT OPEN DESPITE THE KEY FOB BEING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE AND OUR SON IS NOW LOCKED INTO THE CAR AND GETTING COLDER. MY WIFE CALLED ME. I HAD HER CALL 911. I CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND EXPLAINED THE EMERGENCY WE HAD. FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND SUGGESTED I C…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661941 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10821326 · 2016-01-20 (January 20, 2016)

DRIVERS DOOR LATCH SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE.THE PART WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER LAST YEAR BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND I HAD POINTED IT OUT TO THEM. BEFORE RECEIVING THE CAR. THE PROBLEM PURSISTES. I CAN NOT GET IT TOO CLOSE PROPERLY.WHEN I ENTER THE VEHICLE.I CAN CAUSE THE CAR TOO FLASH THE LIGHTS AND BEEP THE HORN AFTER IT IS PARKED AND I AM IN THE HOUSE. I LIVE IVE IN MPLS.,MN..IT IS WINTER HERE AND THIS PROBLEM COULD DRAIN THE BATTERY IN SHORT ORDER IN SUB ZERO WEATHER.I NEED A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS DEFECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10821326 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10565206 · 2014-02-20 (February 20, 2014)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON SIDE OF ROAD, ON AN INCLINE FACING UPHILL, WITH ENGINE RUNNING. 2 ADULT PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE. WITHOUT NOTICE VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS. PASSENGER TURNED WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP VEHICLE ON CURB. CENTER CONSOLE PREVENTED PASSENGER FROM BEING ABLE TO ACCESS VEHICLE BRAKES OR PARKING BRAKE. VEHICLE ENDED UP STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE IT CAME TO REST. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES AS HILL ENDS IN CUL-DE-SAC WITH LARGE DROP OFF. I REQUESTED LOCAL FORD DEALERS INSPECT POWERTRAIN SYSTEM AS A CAR IN PARK SHO…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10668235 · 2014-12-25 (December 25, 2014)

I WENT TO THE LOCAL KFC FOR DINNER DURING MY LUNCH BREAK AND WHEN I CAME BACK TO MY VEHICLE AFTER GETTING MY FOOD INSIDE I STARTED MY CAR AND PROCEEDED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE. AS SOON AS I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT PROCEEDED TO GO FORWARD INSTEAD. SO I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND PUT THE VEHICLE BACK IN PARK AND THEN RE-ENGAGED REVERSE AND IT WENT FORWARD AGAIN. THIS TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668235 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11081751 · 2018-03-28 (March 28, 2018)

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE DRIVE WOULDN'T GO HIGHER THEN 20 MILES AN HOUR ENGINE IS REVING UP CAN'T SWITCH GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE TRANSMISSION IS GONE BOUGHT THIS IN MAY 2016 I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD IT 2 YEARS DEALER WON'T HELP ME BOUGHT IT FROM IMPERIAL IN MENDON MA DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TRANSMISSION TO GO IN NEW VEHICLE LIKE THIS

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081751 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11129475 · 2018-09-14 (September 14, 2018)

TWICE NOW THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES HAVE FAILED GOING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY. WHEN OUR FLEX HAS BEEN GOING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR IS IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING SOUND AND THE BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND AT ALL. ONCE ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE BEHICLE BEFORE IT ENTERED THE STREET. TODAY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT USED BY A YOUNGER DRIVER AND THE CAR ENTERED THE STREET AT FULL SPEED GOING OVER A CURB AND HITTING A MAILBOX AFTERWHICH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS DEPLOYED. THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129475 at NHTSA ↗