2012 Ford FLEX
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Ford FLEX has 89 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: first incident happened while driving about 40 miles an hour. idiot lights came on the dash and the cars engine turned off. thankfully i was able to get car off to the side of road. car cranked right back up. 5 days later while sitting in a fast food line, same thing happened and was able to crank c. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
89
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
24 complaints- • FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK C
- • TRAVELING STRAIGHT DOWN A MAIN, 2 LANE ROAD, THE VEHICLE CHIMED AND I RECEIVED TWO ERRORS ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN. FIRST WAS FOR POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND THE SECOND WAS ADVANCE TRAC FAULT. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS DISABLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD GONE STIFF. I WAS ABLE TO DO A ROLLI
- • I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN A WARNING SOUNDED AND MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE STEERING PROBLEM HAD RESOLVED ITSELF. APPROXIMATE
“FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
11 complaints- • FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK C
- • MY 2012 NEW FORD FLEX HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE 3 TIMES 1-27 DRIVING..COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. I CRUISED TO CURB. RESTARTED QUICKLY 2-01 SAME INCIDENT 2-02 REPEAT ON MAJOR STREET DEALERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. THEY HAVE HD MY VEHICLE SINCE 2-02. *TR
- • THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. (1) WHILE TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN THE A/C WILL SHUT DOWN. (2) THE CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTS WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. (3) CAR HAS DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHILE
“FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
10 complaints- • THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. (1) WHILE TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN THE A/C WILL SHUT DOWN. (2) THE CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTS WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. (3) CAR HAS DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHILE
- • MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH ADVANCE TRAC AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. OCCURS EVERY FIVE TO SIX MONTHS. SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC INDICATOR COMES ON ALONG WITH CONTROL ISSUES IN RAIN AND SNOW, BRAKE LIGHTS NOT SHUTTING OFF, CRUISE CONTROL NOT OPERATING AND IGNITION SYSTEM HAS QUIT WORKING. NOT ALL OF THIS HAPPEN
- • TOUCH SCREEN WENT COMPLETELY BLANK. COULD NOT OPERATE ANYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH TOUCHSCREEN. CALLED DEALER, TOLD ME THEY COULD GET IT IN NEXT WEEK. ARE YOU KIDDING. LOOKED ON LINE FOR HELP. ENDED UP DISCONNECTING BATTERY, AND RECONNECTING. WORKS NOW. *TR
“THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. (1) WHILE TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN THE A/C WILL SHUT DOWN. (2) THE CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTS WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. (3) CAR HAS DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHILE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
8 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A POST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE
- • FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK C
- • WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH VIRGINIA TO PENNSYLVANIA, THE FRONT BRAKES VIBRATE/PULSATE UPON LIGHT BRAKING. SEEMS AS THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE OVERHEATING IN THE MOUNTAINS. AT TIMES, THE PULSATING WAS VIOLENT ENOUGH TO TRANSMIT THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL AND FLOOR. AFTER A LONG BREAK AT A STOP F
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A POST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
7 complaints- • JUNE 27: GET TO FLORIDA 6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE WE WILL BE STAYING AND NEW FORD FLEX GAS TANK RUPTURES LEAVING US WITH NO GAS TO GET OFF FREEWAY. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SINCE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CALLED A TOW TRUCK. JUNE 29: DROPPED OFF KEYS FOR FORD FLEX AT TROPICAL FO
- • VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE ENGINE POWER: PRESSING DOWN THE THROTTLE HAD NO EFFECT. FIRST I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE DID FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE IF IT HA
- • FUEL GAUGE WILL ONLY REGISTER 1/2 FULL MAX. WHEN TANK IS FULL AND KEY TURNED ON THE GAUGE WILL INITIALLY GO TO FULL, THEN QUICKLY FALL TO 1/2 WITH A CORRESPONDING DISTANCE TO EMPTY READING.
“JUNE 27: GET TO FLORIDA 6 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE WE WILL BE STAYING AND NEW FORD FLEX GAS TANK RUPTURES LEAVING US WITH NO GAS TO GET OFF FREEWAY. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT SINCE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CALLED A TOW TRUCK. JUNE 29: DROPPED OFF KEYS FOR FORD FLEX AT TROPICAL FO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 89 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR. IDIOT LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CARS ENGINE TURNED OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CAR CRANKED RIGHT BACK UP. 5 DAYS LATER WHILE SITTING IN A FAST FOOD LINE, SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT INCIDENCES THAT HAVE OCCURRED. (1) WHILE TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN THE A/C WILL SHUT DOWN. (2) THE CONTROL PANEL INSTRUMENTS WILL GO ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT AND THEN SURGE FORWARD WHEN TURNING A CORNER. (3) CAR HAS DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ESPECIALLY WHILE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A POST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford FLEX — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 89
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Ford FLEX