2018 Ford FLEX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
58,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 65 complaints (26.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Back Over Prevention | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Structure | 10 |
| Suspension | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 17; Back Over Prevention: 11; Electrical System: 10; Structure: 10; Suspension: 9; Structure:Body: 7; Air Bags: 2; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 35 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 23 |
2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 4; 2025: 18; 2026: 23
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 11220255 · 2019-06-15 (June 15, 2019)
STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN NOV. 2018 IT HAD ABOUT 60MILES ON IT AND WAS THE LAST FLEX ON THE LOT. EVER SINCE I GOT IT OCCASIONALLY WHEN I GO TO START IT IT SAYS STEERING ASSIST FAILURE AND WILL NOT START BUT AFTER A FEW TRIES WILL START UP FINE. I TRIED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. YESTERDAY IT DID THE SAME THING LEAVING THE HOUSE BUT STARTED UP AND I LEFT TO THE STORE. WHEN LEAVING THE STORE TO HEAD HOME THE CAR IT WOULD NOT STAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,226 miles reported. Look up ODI 11220255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383237 · 2020-12-13 (December 13, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE (IT WAS IN MOTION), ON HWY 290 (NEAR MANOR, TX), THE STEERING ON OUR 2018 FORD FLEX SEIZED UP AND THE CAR WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. DUE TO COMPLETE LACK OF STEERING, THE CAR WAS AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO DRIVE AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD, BUT MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. HE WAS LUCKY TO AVOID A MAJOR COLLISION. THE NEXT DAY WE CALLED FOR THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. WITH EXTREME MANUAL FORCE APPLIED, THE TOW TRUCK DRIV…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,853 miles reported. Look up ODI 11383237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366470 · 2020-10-26 (October 26, 2020)
VEHICLE IS NOT GETTING RECOMMENDED MILEAGE AND IS HARD SHIFTING
Owner-reported narrative. 49,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11675869 · 2025-07-24 (July 24, 2025)
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera frequently failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the camera displayed a blank or distorted image while the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R). In addition, the back over prevention camera screen remained displayed while the vehicle was in drive(D). The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11675869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11098175 · 2018-05-27 (May 27, 2018)
BRAND NEW CAR 30 DAYS OLD. CAME HOME AND PARKED IN OUR FLAT DRIVEWAY AND PUT SHIFTER IN PARK. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND OPENED CAR DOOR TO GET OUT AND CAR BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS TOWARD THE STREET. HAD TO JUMP IN BEFORE I OR OTHER PEOPLE GOT RUN OVER. PUT FOOT ON BRAKE. SHIFTER CLEARLY IN PARK. CAR ENGINE CLEARLY OFF. TAKE FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR CONTINUE TO ROLL BACKWARDS. TRIED TO START CAR BUT CAR WOULD NOT LET ME. PUT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND TURNED CAR TO AUXILIARY POWER. DISPLAY SHOWS R (REVERSE) EVEN THOUGH SHIFTER IS IN PARK. SHIFTER CANNOT BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11663134 · 2025-05-27 (May 27, 2025)
While driving in a 35mph zone, a complete loss of braking was experienced while coming up to an intersection. The vehicle was unable to stop, not even emergency brake function worked. An independent service center did a postmortem of the brake caliper and confirmed the fastener failure of the caliper bracket. The caliper fasteners sheared off inside the caliper resulting in the caliper piston falling apart while driving. This resulted in complete brake malfunction, and brake fluid leakage. There was no warning or message for this failure…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11663134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11372428 · 2020-10-30 (October 30, 2020)
FLEX IS A SUPER LONG VEHICLE WITH LARGE REAR LATCH DOOR THAT ACCESSES BACK HALF OF CAR. TODAY, TAKING DOG TO VET, PUT HIM IN CRATE IN BACK, BEHIND ANOTHER CRATE, THROUGH REAR DOOR. HOWEVER, BATTERY WAS DEAD. NOW NEEDED TO GET DOG OUT TO GO IN ANOTHER VEHICLE -- BUT REAR DOOR LOCKED AND THERE WAS/IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE BACK UP TO GET HIM OUT WITH DEAD BATTERY. ONLY WITH ELECTRICITY. SO I HAD TO TAKE OUT BOTH CRATES AND GET HIM OUT THROUGH THE FRONT -- LONG PROCESS. IF THERE HAD BEEN EMERGENCY, HE'D BE DEAD. DANGER -- NO MECHANICAL WAY TO O…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11372428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11111043 · 2018-07-12 (July 12, 2018)
ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING IN WALMART PARKING LOOT. WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO GARAGE WHO TRACED THE CAUSE TO. FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECAL FOR THIS PROBLEM FROM 2013 TO 2014 FORD FLEX HOWEVER MY VIN SHOWS AS NOT COVERED. WHATEVER CRITERIA TO LIMIT RECALL APPEARS TO BE INVALID
Owner-reported narrative. 55,054 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111043 at NHTSA ↗