2017 Ford FLEX: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS RAN OFF A 2 LANE CITY STREET BY A CAR AND WHEN I OVERCOMPENSENATED TO MOVE AWAY, I HIT MY RIGHT FRONT FENDER ON A SMALL CURB AND THERE WAS A LIGHT POLE THERE. INSTEAD OF MY FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AS THEY SHOULD HAVE, ALL OF THE SIDE BAGS ON BOTH SIDES DEPLOYED INSTEAD. MY MECHANIC HAS SAID IF THERE WERE A PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT, THAT DIDN'T HAVE THEIR SEATBELT ON, THEY WOULD HAVE HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE DASH BOARD.

Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11039814 at NHTSA ↗

DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND MULTIPOINT INSPECTION ON 10-2-2018, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT I NEEDED NEW TIRES IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. MY ODOMETER READ 24,963. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE DUE TO A BLOW OUT. ON THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT, TIRE TREAD DEPTH FOR THE 3 TIRES NOT REPLACED IS INDICATED AS "ATTENTION REQUIRED" 3/32" AND LESS". I PURCHASED THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2017 WITH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES INDICATED ON THE ODOMETER. THE ADVISOR AT THE FORD SERVICE CENTER WAS VERY SURPRISED AND PUZZLED. SHE CHECKED TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 24,963 miles reported. Look up ODI 11133374 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH FRACTURED AND FAILED TO CLOSE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOX FORD (560 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512, [phone removed]), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265642 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD SHOWED DISTORTED VIEWS OF ABNORMAL OBJECTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CORWIN FORD LOCATED AT 1225 AUTO PLEX WAY, PASCO, WA 99301) FOR REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL AND THEREFORE SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11307697 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS SHE HEARD APPROACHING POLICE SIRENS. AS THE CONTACT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WAS THRUST INTO THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT AND HER DAUGHTER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE SCENE. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONTACT WENT TO AN URGENT CARE FACILITY WHERE SHE SOUGHT TREATMENT FOR INJURIES TO HER NECK, HER LEFT ARM AND HER BACK. THE CONTA…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324447 at NHTSA ↗

LOSS OF POWER, RPM TOO HIGH FOR NORMAL SHIFTING UP TO 6 RPMS. CAT CONVERTER NOISE AFTER CAR SHUT OFF DUE TO GETTING TO HOT. FLUCTUATION RPM AT IDLE. OIL ON TOP OF VALVE COVER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329528 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. SUBURBAN FORD OF STERLING HEIGHTS (40333 VAN DYKE AVE, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48313, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11337235 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CROSSROADS FORD OF SOUTHERN PINES (1590 US-1, SOUTHERN PINES, NC 28387; [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11354919 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.

Reported: 2025-10-24 (October 24, 2025)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Consequence: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 28, 2025.