2016 Ford FLEX: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

PURCHASED A NEW 2016 FORD FLEX ON JULY 29, 2016, DROVE IT MOST OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY AND SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES MOSTLY EVERY TIME I EXILIRATED. WENTTO URGENT CARE SICK FROM EXHAUST FUME POISONING, GOT WORSE AS DAY WENT BY AND WENT TO A REGULAR HOSPITAL ER. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON MONDAY AND AFTER THEM RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, IT WAS FAULTY VENT IN REAR CAUSING EXHAUSTING TO ENTER INTO INTERIOR.

Owner-reported narrative. 38 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893150 at NHTSA ↗

CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WARNING LIGHT WITH WRENCH AND "CHECK MANUAL" APPEARED. DEALER INDICATED RECALL 16B32 AND REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10937522 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2016-12-22 (December 22, 2016)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Consequence: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

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.

Reported: 2025-10-13 (October 13, 2025)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.