2016 Ford FLEX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
98 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
62,155 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 98 complaints (22.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 13 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Back Over Prevention | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
Electrical System: 22; Back Over Prevention: 18; Unknown Or Other: 14; Suspension: 10; Engine: 8; Power Train: 8; Steering: 8; Structure:Body: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 49 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 28 |
2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 5; 2023: 5; 2024: 11; 2025: 21; 2026: 28
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 10953900 · 2017-02-10 (February 10, 2017)
DROVE MY 2016 FORD FLEX I TRIED TO AVOID ANIMAL ON ROAD AND STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON COULDNT STEER AND HIT A POLE. THE DEALERSHIP WOULDNT LOOK AT CAUSE I HAD IT TOWED THERE TOLD ME I HAD TO GO WHERE MY INUSRANCE WOULD FIX IT I HAD NO CAR FOR FOUR MONTHS THERES NO RECALL ON IT CAUSE ITS A NEW TRUCK THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THIS FLEX IN 2010-2016 GETTING THE BRUSHOFF FROM MY DEALER
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10953900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11152009 · 2018-11-16 (November 16, 2018)
POWER STEERING WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN CAR WAS STARTED IN MORNING AFTER TWO DAYS OF LONG DRIVING. WOULD NOT ENGAGE WITH REPEATED EFFORTS AT STARTING. HAD PREVIOUSLY FAILED BRIEFLY WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR, SIX MONTHS BEFORE, BUT REINSTITUTED WHEN SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11152009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11082549 · 2018-04-02 (April 2, 2018)
FRONT WHEELS LOCK AS THE VEHICLE IS REVERSING. LOUD RATTLE NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE TRANSMISSION.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11082549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11229703 · 2019-07-05 (July 5, 2019)
ON THE 4TH OF JULY MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. I HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN WHILE I WALKED UP MY DRIVEWAY TO CLEAR AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE GARAGE DOOR SAFETY EYES. WHEN I GOT TO THE GARAGE DOOR I TURNED BACK AND SAY MY FLEX REVERSING UP THE DRIVEWAY QUICKLY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY BACKED IN AND WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE GARAGE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE FLEX CONTINUED TO REVERSE UP THE DRIVEWAY (UPHILL) WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN. AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 11229703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885448 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
THROTTLE BODY ISSUES 1) VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET - ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER. MANAGED TO COAST TO A SIDE STREET. TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED FEW TIMES AND CONTINUED TO WORK WITHOUT ISSUE. (BELOW IS SAME DAY) 2) VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO STATE HIGHWAY. EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND MANAGED TO GET TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. TURNED VEHICLE OFF, RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11182617 · 2019-02-26 (February 26, 2019)
ECOBOOST 3.5L VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND WHITE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPES WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY BUT STILL RAN. DROVE STRAIGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED LOW BOOST PRESSURE DTC AND FAILURE OF BOTH TURBOCHARGERS. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DUG DEEPER AND ARE NOW TELLING ME THERE WAS A COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK WHICH WASHED OUT THE ENGINE OIL AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND THE TURBOS TO FAIL(LOCK UP). THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED ISSUES WITH COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKS AND OIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11076234 · 2018-03-05 (March 5, 2018)
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR SEDDENLY ACCELERATES. I COULD FEEL THE PETAL DROP OUT FROM UNDER MY FOOT. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR SPEAD UP WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK. I TRIED HITTING CANCEL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL (EVEN THOUGH I NEVER SET IT OR MESS WITH IT EVER) AND IT WOULD STILL ACCELERATE WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK. IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER PUMPING THE BREAKS.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,960 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11516525 · 2023-04-11 (April 11, 2023)
2nd row passenger side bucket seat seatbelt no longer latches. Car has less than 35,000 miles. Seat is no longer able to be occupied legally. My child in booster seat uses that seat belt and could have become unsecured while driving which would have put him at risk if there was an accident or would have had to brake quickly. Seatbelt has not been inspected by anyone at this time. No warning or symptoms of a problem. Problem started 4/10/2023.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11516525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11492500 · 2022-11-06 (November 6, 2022)
Door sensor states door is ajar when it is closed, causing battery drainage and safety concern about doors
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11492500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11507786 · 2023-02-17 (February 17, 2023)
The backup camera safety system operates intermittently. We are unable to see behind us when backing up putting us and others at risk. Sometimes it works when in Reverse, but most of the time the touchscreen panel does not even change over to show the camera view at all. The Flex is a large vehicle so a non-working camera or electrical component for the camera is unsafe. There are other existing recalls related to other Ford makes and models due to faulty cameras and image modules. This could be the same or a related issue. No errors or…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11153753 · 2018-11-26 (November 26, 2018)
GAS SMELL AND ELECTRONIC ISSUES. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW. I FIRST NOTICED SMELLING GASOLINE AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE, SO I HAD DRIVEN SEVERAL MONTHS.THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON MY UNDERCOATING STATING THAT'S WHAT I'M SMELLING.IT'S GAS DEFINITELY.I ASKED THEM TO DRIVE IT A WEEK SINCE THE SMELL COMES AND GOES.THEY REFUSED.IT STILL DOES IT AND I HAVE GIVEN UP TRYING TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND THE ISSUE.THEY DID STATE THE FLEX IS THE SAME BASE AS THE POLICE VEHICLE THAT HAS THE GAS EMISSION LEAK.2ND PROBLEM IS "NO KEY DETECTED" LIGHT COM…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153753 at NHTSA ↗