2013 Ford FLEX: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, SHE BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476566 at NHTSA ↗

ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE, ONE OF THE INFLATABLE SEATBELT BUCKLES CRACKED AT THE BUCKLE CASING. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE SECOND SEAT BELT BUCKLE CRACKED. I HAD BOTH BUCKLES REPLACED AND NOW I HAVE A 3RD BUCKLE CRACK. THIS MAKES THE SEATBELTS UNSAFE AND DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOP PART OF THE SEAT BELT (WHERE THE INFLATABLE PORTION ORIGINATES) BECOMES TWISTED AND STUCK AT THE TOP, AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OUT THE SEAT BELT AND USE IT. THIS INFLATABLE SEATBELT FEATURE IS IN THE SECOND ROW WHERE MY CHILDRE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522238 at NHTSA ↗

ON 7/20/13 I DROPPED OFF THE FLEX AT THE DEALER FOR THE TIMELY SERVICE AND ALSO TO HAVE THE A/C CHECKED. FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS A TERRIBLE ODOR HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE A/C AND AFTER THE CAR WAS UNUSED FOR A DAY, THE ODOR WAS UNBEARABLE WHEN WE TURNED ON THE CAR A/C. ON 7/22/13 AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY, THE SERVICE DEPT CALLED STATING ALL WORK WAS COMPLETED, THAT THE A/C WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT THERE WAS NO A/C PROBLEMS TO REPAIR. WHEN I AGAIN INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE TERRIBLE ODOR, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLEX HAS A PROBLEM WITH MILDEW IN …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10526432 at NHTSA ↗

NEW 2013 FORD FLEX HAS CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO CAR WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP AND FORD KNOW OF THIS. COULD POTENTIALY BE DEADLY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531792 at NHTSA ↗

I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ON SATURDAY, 7/27. I AM LEAVING FOR VACATION ON AUGUST, 3, WILL BE GONE FOR 3+ WEEKS AND WILL DRIVE APPROX. 4000 MILES. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS ON MONDAY, 7/29, BUT AM UNABLE TO FIND ANYONE WILLING TO SCHEDULE SERVICE FOR BEFORE 8/9 -- THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PART AND THEN WILL SCHEDULE ME ONCE IT HAS COME IN. I CALLED FORD'S CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER TWICE AND GOT NO ASSISTANCE. FORD TELLS ME THAT IF I DON'T CURRENTLY SMELL GAS, THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SAFE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT I WILL BE O…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532412 at NHTSA ↗

A 2013 FORD FLEX RENTAL VEHICLE USED FOR A 4-HOUR DRIVE FROM THE SAN DIEGO AREA TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FUMES, WHICH KEPT ENTERING THE CABIN AND MADE ALL PASSENGERS NAUSEOUS, INCLUDING AN ELDERLY FEMALE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING ALL THE INTERIOR AREAS OF THE HOUSE, INCLUDING ALL BEDROOMS, WERE SATURATED WITH A VERY POTENT SMELL OF GASOLINE. AFTER INSPECTING THE HOUSE, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE FUMES WERE COMING FROM THE RENTAL 2013 FORD FLEX VEHICLE, AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533510 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT, WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIBS AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. THE VIN WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538112 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON I-5 A HEAVY HEAVY RAIN WAS COMING DOWN AND I HAD MY WIPERS ON THE HIGH SETTING AND THEY WORKED FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN STOPPED MOVING AT A HIGH SPEED. WHILE ON THE HIGH SETTING THEY WERE GOING SLOWER ACROSS THE WINDOW THEN THE CONTINUOUS SLOW SETTING. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER UNTIL MY WIPERS COULD ALLOW ME TO SEE PROPERLY. THEY CONTINUED THIS FOR THE REST OF MY 150 MILE DRIVE MOVING SLOWER ON THE HIGH SETTING THROUGH THE RAIN.

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545012 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-05-31 (May 31, 2013)

Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.

Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.

Consequence: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.

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.

Reported: 2015-12-02 (December 2, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.

Reported: 2016-08-25 (August 25, 2016)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.

Consequence: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

Reported: 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.