2019 Ford FLEX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
243 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 104 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Back Over Prevention is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 243 complaints (44.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 5.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 1.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.2% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Back Over Prevention | 109 |
| Unknown Or Other | 49 |
| Structure | 37 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 16 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 11 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 11 |
Back Over Prevention: 109; Unknown Or Other: 49; Structure: 37; Electrical System: 22; Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera: 16; Structure:Body: 15; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 11; Visibility/Wiper: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 36 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 36; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 139 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 100 |
| 2026 | 83 |
2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2022: 5; 2023: 20; 2024: 28; 2025: 100; 2026: 83
Pattern summary
Back Over Prevention leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 11196143 · 2019-04-14 (April 14, 2019)
TAKATA WE HAVE HAD THE FLEX IN % TIMES TO HAVE THE TIRES BALANCED FORD SAID THAT IT IS IN THEIR SPECIFICATION BUT THE WE CAN FEEL THE UNBALANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL TOOK TO INDEPENDENT DEALER AND HE SAID ONE OF THE RIM WAS OUT OF BALANCE AND THE TIRES WERE OFF BALANCE TOO WE ARE AFRAID THIS GOING CAUSE PROBLEMS LATER WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH 5 TIMES TO REDONE IT NOT A COMFORTABLE FEELING
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11196143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11312000 · 2020-02-28 (February 28, 2020)
OCCASIONALLY WHEN I AM TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. I TYPICALLY BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN I AM LINING UP MY CAR TO BACK IN IS MOSTLY WHEN THE NOISE OCCURS. IT IS A LOUD SOUND THAT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE A POPPING OR SNAPPING. IT DOES NOT MATTER THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE, NOR DOES IT MATTER WHETHER IT IS DRY OR WET. IT ISN'T HAPPENING EVERY TIME EITHER. IT IS FRIGHTENING, THOUGH, BECAUSE I HAD A TIE ROD SNAP ON A CAR ONE TIME AND IT ALWAYS MAKES ME THINK OF THAT. I DID TAKE IT TO A FORD GA…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11312000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352218 · 2020-08-31 (August 31, 2020)
WHILE THE FLEX WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY, THE GLASS IN THE REAR HATCH BLEW OUT. IT OCCURRED AROUND 5:00P. THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 70'S ALL DAY. NO ONE DROVE, WENT INTO THE FLEX, OR OPENED THE HATCH THAT DAY. AT 4:30P THE GLASS WAS STILL INTACT. AT 5:00P THE HATCH GLASS WAS SEEN ON THE GROUND AND REAR BUMPER.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,022 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11385639 · 2020-12-30 (December 30, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BUMPER. THE CONTACT STATED NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES ON HER AC JOINT (LEFT SHOULDER) AND HER SON (REAR DRIVER SIDE) SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES AND HER DAUGHTER (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) SUSTAINED INJURIES ON HER LEFT KNEE. THE CONTACT STATED THEY ALL SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION WITH THE ENT FROM THE AMBULANCE AND ALSO WENT TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM FOR FURTH…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11385639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399725 · 2021-03-08 (March 8, 2021)
BAD HANKOOK TIRES IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11443187 · 2021-12-09 (December 9, 2021)
Back up camara is intermittent.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11443187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444201 · 2021-12-17 (December 17, 2021)
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the power liftgate had failed to open manually or electronically while pressing the release button inside the vehicle or with the key fob. A warning message stating that the power liftgate was not closed had been illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11444201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11448831 · 2022-01-25 (January 25, 2022)
1. Rear Camera, yes 2. Unable to see behind car thus unable to see people and/or vehicles. 3. Intermittent 4. No 5. Camera unavailable, camera no signal
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11448831 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V548000 · Electrical System:Starter Assembly | Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 2018-08-20 (August 20, 2018)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, 2019 Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The power supply cables at the starter and the alternator may not have been properly secured, possibly resulting in an electrical arc.
Consequence: An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and starter motor power supply cables to verify that they are properly secured, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S25.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V951000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2024-12-20 (December 20, 2024)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Flex, Fiesta, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the drivers view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed January 22, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S75.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V695000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V732000 · Structure:Body
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗