Owners filed 64 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. It has been recalled 2 times.
When it fails
07000070,000 milesMedian miles at failure
46 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 40,000–50,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Steering
20
2
0
0
Engine
8
0
0
0
Electrical System
7
0
1
0
Service Brakes
6
1
0
1
Unknown or Other
5
0
0
1
Suspension
3
0
0
0
Air Bags
3
1
0
1
Structure › Body
2
0
0
1
Power Train
2
0
0
0
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal16V247000
Filed Apr 26, 2016695 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. 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."
Risk. 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.
Steering › Electric Power Assist System15V340000
Filed Jun 2, 2015393,623 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Steering
Filed Dec 30, 2025180,000 milesGA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the ABS and the ESC warnings illuminated. The contact stated that she had recently heard an abnormal grinding sound while turning the steering wheel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic had heard the abnormal sound coming from the steering wheel but had not run a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched online and had related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000(Steering), however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Service Brakes
Filed Dec 30, 2025GA
There is serious safety trouble occurring with the power steering components, and the brake system. I went to the Ford dealership and they said the recalls weren’t fixed back in 2015. And those recalls are the same issues that are occurring with my 2012 Ford Flex SE now. I just bought this vehicle and there is grinding noise when steering my vehicle and the ABS brake system comes on as soon as I crank up the vehicle and the brake goes down to the floor too loosely. The dealership says these potential recalls were noted for this 2012 Ford Flex in 2015. But the owner at the time didn’t have them fixed then because not all 2012 Ford Flex received the recalls at the same time. And the power steering components and brake system problems are very unsafe while I’m driving the vehicle and as I was told could cause a fatal car accident if not fixed.
Steering › Electric Power Assist System
Filed Apr 23, 2025CA
Ford said the recall was fixed 10 years ago, however it went out on me last night. It's been towed to the Folsom Ford dealership in California, they quoted me $3,000 to fix my power steering assistant failure that had a Safety recall and it was a 'safety recall'. I couldn't steer my car. Very scary! please investigate this and make sure that it was fixed right the first time. it should not have gone out. I hardly drive my car. thank you
Steering
Filed Feb 28, 202540,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle intermittently became difficult to maneuver. The failure occurred on several occasions, including while the contact was driving. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module needed to be reprogrammed. The contact researched and was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Steering
Filed Feb 24, 2025CA
Vehicle power steering stops working. Manual steering is extremely difficult to operate.
Air Bags
Filed Aug 23, 2024LA
Front Passenger seat air bag light is on all the time. should I stop driving the car? Is this dangerous what does it mean? It is a 2012 Ford flex which I love and have not had any trouble with.
Steering
Filed Jul 29, 2024108,000 milesOR
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated while his granddaughter was driving 10 MPH and attempting to leave a parking lot, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. After the failure occurred, the "Power Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed. The vehicle was parked, and then the contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The contact was awaiting a diagnostic test from the independent mechanic but was informed that the rack and pinion might need to be replaced and the power train control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact researched online and became aware of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
Suspension
Filed May 15, 2024NY
I was driving around 55 and suddenly lost control and fish tailed to the right, then to the left over the center line, then back to the right. Luckily no other vehicles on the road. The rear driver side toe link broke. I discovered there's a recall for this exact problem with the exact possible worst case scenario that I went through. [FORD RECALL CODE: 2oSo4] This recall includes "2013-18 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles built at Oakville Assembly Plant, Sept. 12, 2011, to June 1, 2017" My vehicle was manufactured at the same plant in 02/12 but for some reason is not qualified. I think my 2012 model needs to be included in this recall, obviously. I talked with Ford Dealer and Ford Customer Service and they said they would pass this info to NHTSA. I had both links replaced at a local mechanic and hope to get reimbursed in the future.
Steering
Filed Jul 21, 2023PA
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel stiffened while attempting to steer the vehicle to the left. The power steering failure message was displayed. The contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway where the vehicle remained. The contact called the dealer and was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The contact was referred to the manufacturer who then referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Steering
Filed May 30, 2023CA
Vehicle power steering will stop working while driving and notification of (power steering assist failure) will appear. Vehicle becomes extremely unsafe to operate as the steering wheel is very difficult to move. I reached out to Ford and was advised that the recall for this was already repaired and a second recall was opened for vehicles that still had the issue. They advised that the recall only extended the warranty to 10 years and my vehicle is a few months past the 10 year mark with exceptions only made for mileage. My vehicle only has 48,000 miles.
Steering
Filed Apr 21, 2023110,000 milesOH
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel started to wobble back and forth then up and down. The contact stated that the steering wheel started to shift upward and downward. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Steering
Filed Apr 12, 2023CA
Recall on power steering rack and pinion but my model didn't get covered in this recall and this the second time my service advance track came on and it's totally hard to turn my steering and I took it to Ford dealership in merced ca just to see if the cam turn off my service advance traction they said no because the rack and pinion is bad. . .....
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2023CO
Complete loss of power steering and steering effectiveness. Warning message on display said “power steering assist fault”.
SteeringCrash
Filed Jul 11, 2022FL
I went to my local dealership on request of the campaign recall for my associated vin The vehicle has a EPAS STEERING EFFORTS Details Description EPAS STEERING EFFORTS Campaign# 15N01 I was driving and lost control because the power steering went out brought it to my local Ford grieco fort Lauderdale and they diagnosed it as a bad power steering rack pinion which was included in the vin report recall however they stated it's 5 months over expiration which it should of never expired since it's a really bad safety issue. I called Ford directly they told me to contact you in regards to adding a valid recall back onto my vin
Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 28, 2022CA
Bad design of water pump , under parts would fail one day , but the water pump is a bad design. It failed too soon and hurt the engine. Also lots of work to fix it. But even if it get fixed the problem is still there...bad water pump
Suspension
Filed Dec 11, 2021MI
I am writing you in regards to NHTSA # 20V-072, Ford Recall # 20S04. I own a 2012 Ford Flex. It was not included in this recall. The recall included Ford Flex years 2013 through 2018. Though my SUV wasn’t included in the recall for the defective toe links, my SUV’s toe links were found to be defective on June 1, 2015 at Taylor Ford in Michigan. At that time my vehicle had 56,071 miles on it and was still under warranty. My toe links were replaced with part 5A972 which is the same part that is now the cause of Ford Recall 20S04. On 11-6-21 we took my SUV, with 96,930 miles, into Belle Tire for brake work and tire rotation. At that time we were told that the toe links were defective and needed to be replaced and that my tires were bad and needed replacement too. The tires and toe links had been replaced at Ford 40,859 miles prior! At this point we investigated and found the recall for the toe links. We had never been notified by Ford even though part 5A972 which was later found to be defective, had been put on our SUV in 2015. A Ford Part Employee has confirmed that this part is defective. The defective part is a welded part and the part Ford is using to replace this part is a forged part. Defective toe links are very dangerous. The defect can cause loss of steering/control of SUV. I have contacted multiple levels of Ford Customer Care with no response and no assistance offered. My SUV is currently at a Ford Service Center waiting for Ford to respond so that my SUV can be repai
Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 1, 2021CA
The water pump has faliure and is causing expensive repair. It seems to be a know defect. We some pending law suits.
Visibility
Filed Sep 21, 2021170,000 milesAZ
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated while rolling down the driver’s side window, she noticed some resistance and black marks at the bottom of the window. The contact stated that the seal around the window was deteriorating. The contact also stated that the failure was occurring on all the windows. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2021126,828 milesWV
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired however, the failure recurred and persisted. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 126,828.
Suspension
Filed Apr 8, 2021102,407 milesMI
MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED JUST A FEW MONTHS SHY OF A RECALL FOR BAD TOE LINKS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED WITH HAVING BAD TOE LINKS AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE ABOUT GETTING MY VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED AROUND THE SAME TIME AS THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Apr 26, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.