2011 Ford FLEX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
73,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 144 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 57 | 39.6% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 9.0% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.4% |
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 | 56 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Seats | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Steering: 56; Engine: 25; Power Train: 16; Unknown Or Other: 11; Electrical System: 9; Service Brakes: 8; Seats: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 27 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 | 1 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2011: 11; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 12; 2015: 18; 2016: 11; 2017: 12; 2018: 13; 2019: 17; 2020: 8; 2021: 6; 2022: 7; 2023: 9; 2024: 5; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 57 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10362759 · 2010-10-28 (October 28, 2010)
CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN BOTH TIMES POWER STEERING WAS GONE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING BECAUSE IT DID NOT LEAVE A SIGNATURE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10379252 · 2011-01-27 (January 27, 2011)
A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2011 FORD FLEX. UPON BRINGING IT HOME WE DECIDED TO LET MY CHILDREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO "CHECK IT OUT" AS MY OLDER SON WOULD SAY. WHEN MY YOUNGEST SON, 18 MONTHS AT THE TIME ENTERED THE SECOND ROW OF THE CAR, HE WENT TO REACH FOR THE SEAT BELT( TRYING TO BE COOL LIKE HIS BROTHER WHO WAS ALREADY BUCKLED AND ON A PRETEND ROAD TRIP)AND ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED AGAINST AN AUTOMATIC SEAT FOLD BUTTON WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BACK TO FLIP DOWN HITTING HIM IN THE FACE, KNOCKING HIM INTO THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10379252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393125 · 2011-03-28 (March 28, 2011)
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395999 · 2011-04-15 (April 15, 2011)
MY VEHICLE WILL ACT AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN I PULL AWAY FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE REVS WITH NO FORWARD MOVEMENT THEN THE TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDS. THE HESITATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ON THE FORDFLEX.NET FORUM ABOUT THIS, FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS WELL, AND HAS HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS FORD HAS LOOKED, BUT NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEM OR SOLUTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402075 · 2011-05-19 (May 19, 2011)
HANKOOK OPTIMA 19" TIRE SIDEWALL FOR FORD FLEX. I PURCHASE A BRAND NEW 2011 FORD FLEX ON 5/5/11 WITH 19" HANKOOK OPTIMA TIRES. 2 DAYS AGO, MY SIDEWALL BUSTED AS I ENTERED MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH RAISED, BUT THAT I HAVE DRIVEN OVER HUNDREDS OF TIMES WITH MY INFINITY FX35 TIRES WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I DON'T BELIEVE THE BRAND NEW SIDEWALL SHOULD BUST IF YOU GO OVER A BUMP WRONG. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10413738 · 2011-07-20 (July 20, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMELL SIMILAR TO PETROLEUM TAR COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TESTED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH A CARBON MONOXIDE TESTER AND THE LEVEL OF CARBON MONOXIDE INCREASED WHILE ACCELERATING. A TEST WAS ALSO PERFORMED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CARBON MONOXIDE READER AND THE LEVEL INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE AP…
Owner-reported narrative. 70 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10417924 · 2011-08-08 (August 8, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE RACK THAT WAS MOUNTED ON THE ROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING BEHIND THE CONTACT. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10417924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418159 · 2011-08-09 (August 9, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, FUMES WOULD EMIT INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE VENTS CLOSED AND THE WINDOWS OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN ACCELERATING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT WOULD EXPERIENCE NAUSEA AND BURNING OF THE EYES WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BEFORE DETERMINING THAT THE TRANSMISSION FILLER CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE O-RING WAS TOO BIG FOR THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418159 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V340000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V247000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
NHTSA campaign record ↗