2012 Ford FLEX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
65,006 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 46 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 64 complaints (35.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 27 | 42.2% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 15.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.6% |
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 | 23 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Steering: 23; Engine: 11; Electrical System: 10; Service Brakes: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Power Train: 4; Air Bags: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 7; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 6; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 5; 2024: 3; 2025: 5
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10468831 · 2012-08-01 (August 1, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A POST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 9/25/12 *CN UPDATED 10/03/2012 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482817 · 2012-10-31 (October 31, 2012)
FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK CAR. CALLED DEALERSHIP IN TOWN, BROUGHT CAR IN AND THEY SAID, "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR CAR, COME AND GET IT" PICKED UP CAR. 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING IT DOWN OUR STREET, I STOPPED TO GET MAIL ABOUT 9PM AND THE CAR TOTALLY DIED. NO POWER AT ALL. WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494420 · 2013-01-23 (January 23, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT ENTERED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AND HER LEG WAS SEVERELY PUNCTURED BY A SHARP CORNER ON THE SEAT BRACKET. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A DEEP LACERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO COVERED THE POINTED CORNER AREA OF THE SEAT BRACKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500705 · 2013-02-27 (February 27, 2013)
MY 2012 NEW FORD FLEX HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE 3 TIMES 1-27 DRIVING..COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. I CRUISED TO CURB. RESTARTED QUICKLY 2-01 SAME INCIDENT 2-02 REPEAT ON MAJOR STREET DEALERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THEY HAVE HD MY VEHICLE SINCE 2-02. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10520188 · 2013-06-17 (June 17, 2013)
WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH VIRGINIA TO PENNSYLVANIA, THE FRONT BRAKES VIBRATE/PULSATE UPON LIGHT BRAKING. SEEMS AS THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE OVERHEATING IN THE MOUNTAINS. AT TIMES, THE PULSATING WAS VIOLENT ENOUGH TO TRANSMIT THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL AND FLOOR. AFTER A LONG BREAK AT A STOP FOR LUNCH, THE PROBLEM LESSENS BUT RETURNS AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE PROBABLY 30 MINUTES OR SO. THESE MOMENTS OF PULSATION, THERE IS A NOTICEABLE REDUCTION OF BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. THE PROBLEMS HAVE WORSENED SINCE JANUARY AND NOW THE PULSATIONS ARE HAPPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10521258 · 2013-06-23 (June 23, 2013)
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. (1) WHILE TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN THE A/C WILL SHUT DOWN. (2) THE CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTS WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. (3) CAR HAS DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO HIGHWAY. (4) A/C WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF AND BLOW ON MAXIMUM EVEN WHEN POWER SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. (5) WHEN CAR LOSES POWER, ALL CODES ARE RESET SO DEALER IS UNABLE TO GET A CLEAR REASON WHY CAR IS DOING THIS. WE HAD A BLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533384 · 2013-08-03 (August 3, 2013)
JUNE 27: GET TO FLORIDA 6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE WE WILL BE STAYING AND NEW FORD FLEX GAS TANK RUPTURES LEAVING US WITH NO GAS TO GET OFF FREEWAY. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SINCE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CALLED A TOW TRUCK. JUNE 29: DROPPED OFF KEYS FOR FORD FLEX AT TROPICAL FORD AT 9AM. EXPLAINED TO JACK WHAT WAS WRONG WITH GAS TANK. GOT A CALL FROM JACK A FEW HOURS LATER AND HE SAID THEY WERE ALL SET. I ASKED IF HE FOUND THE GAS TANK ISSUE AND HE SAID NO THEY LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT DIDN'T APPEAR ANYTHING WAS WRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,255 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566570 · 2014-03-01 (March 1, 2014)
VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE ENGINE POWER: PRESSING DOWN THE THROTTLE HAD NO EFFECT. FIRST I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE DID FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE I AM PASSING A CAR I AM LOSING A MAJOR CONTROL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566570 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 ↗