2013 Ford FLEX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Ford FLEX has 777 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 9.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: i have owned my vehicle since march 2013 and have had it in the process multiple times since - sync issues, dead battery and three seatbelt replacements. my vehicle has rear airbag seatbelts supposedly for safety. instead, my kids have been forced into unsafe situations because the belts are so poor. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 11 crash reports 12 injuries

777

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

9.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

200 complaints

26%

• I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE MARCH 2013 AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE PROCESS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE - SYNC ISSUES, DEAD BATTERY AND THREE SEATBELT REPLACEMENTS. MY VEHICLE HAS REAR AIRBAG SEATBELTS SUPPOSEDLY FOR SAFETY. INSTEAD, MY KIDS HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THE BELTS ARE SO POOR
• THE VEHICLE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS SAYING THAT THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SECURELY SHUT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND WE THOUGHT WE DIDN'T GET THE DOOR SHUT TIGHTLY. HOWEVER, MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 7-10 DAYS THE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS GO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR WAS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE DOOR WAS OPEN ALTHOUGH IT WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE MARCH 2013 AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE PROCESS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE - SYNC ISSUES, DEAD BATTERY AND THREE SEATBELT REPLACEMENTS. MY VEHICLE HAS REAR AIRBAG SEATBELTS SUPPOSEDLY FOR SAFETY. INSTEAD, MY KIDS HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THE BELTS ARE SO POOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

150 complaints

19%

• I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND SOMETHING POPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE CURVE, AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE LEMON-FORD-FLEX THAT WAS S
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND SOMETHING POPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE CURVE, AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE LEMON-FORD-FLEX THAT WAS S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

80 complaints

10%

• THE VEHICLE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS SAYING THAT THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SECURELY SHUT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND WE THOUGHT WE DIDN'T GET THE DOOR SHUT TIGHTLY. HOWEVER, MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 7-10 DAYS THE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS GO
• DOOR AJAR WARNING WHEN THE DOOR IS PROPERLY SHUT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT RECOGNIZING THAT THE DOOR IS CLOSED. *TR
• DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND RIGHT BACK PASSENGER AJAR DOOR. IT SAYS ITS OPEN WHEN ITS RUNNING. TOTALLY UNSAFE FOR MY KIDS WHO RIDE IN THE BACK. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO HAVE A BETTER COMFORT WITH MY FAMILY AND DRIVE THEM TO THEIR SCHOOL, SOCCER PRACTICES AND GAMES. :( TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT BOUT THIS I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE VEHICLE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS SAYING THAT THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SECURELY SHUT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND WE THOUGHT WE DIDN'T GET THE DOOR SHUT TIGHTLY. HOWEVER, MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 7-10 DAYS THE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS GO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

72 complaints

• NEW 2013 FORD FLEX HAS CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO CAR WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP AND FORD KNOW OF THIS. COULD POTENTIALY BE DEADLY. *TR
• I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ON SATURDAY, 7/27. I AM LEAVING FOR VACATION ON AUGUST, 3, WILL BE GONE FOR 3+ WEEKS AND WILL DRIVE APPROX. 4000 MILES. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS ON MONDAY, 7/29, BUT AM UNABLE TO FIND ANYONE WILLING TO SCHEDULE SERVICE FOR BEFORE 8/9 -- THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PART AN
• A 2013 FORD FLEX RENTAL VEHICLE USED FOR A 4-HOUR DRIVE FROM THE SAN DIEGO AREA TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FUMES, WHICH KEPT ENTERING THE CABIN AND MADE ALL PASSENGERS NAUSEOUS, INCLUDING AN ELDERLY FEMALE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“NEW 2013 FORD FLEX HAS CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO CAR WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP AND FORD KNOW OF THIS. COULD POTENTIALY BE DEADLY. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

70 complaints

• I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND SOMETHING POPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE CURVE, AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE LEMON-FORD-FLEX THAT WAS S
• UPON HARD ACCELERATION EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. GO TO HTTP://FORDFLEXFORUM/TOPIC/596-FUMES-IN-CABIN/PAGE-2 FOR ACTUAL CARBON MONOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS TEST RESULTS PERFORMED BY A FIRE DEPARTMENT. *TR
• "DOOR AJAR" MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AFTER DRIVER'S DOOR IS CLOSED. MULTIPLE CLOSING ATTEMPTS ARE REQUIRED TO RECTIFY, OFTEN FIVE OR MORE. DOORS CANNOT BE LOCKED WHILE MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER HAS SAID IT IS SWAMPED WITH RECALL WORK AND CANNOT ADDRESS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 777 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE MARCH 2013 AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE PROCESS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE - SYNC ISSUES, DEAD BATTERY AND THREE SEATBELT REPLACEMENTS. MY VEHICLE HAS REAR AIRBAG SEATBELTS SUPPOSEDLY FOR SAFETY. INSTEAD, MY KIDS HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THE BELTS ARE SO POOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND SOMETHING POPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE CURVE, AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE LEMON-FORD-FLEX THAT WAS S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE VEHICLE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS SAYING THAT THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SECURELY SHUT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND WE THOUGHT WE DIDN'T GET THE DOOR SHUT TIGHTLY. HOWEVER, MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 7-10 DAYS THE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS GO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: NEW 2013 FORD FLEX HAS CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO CAR WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP AND FORD KNOW OF THIS. COULD POTENTIALY BE DEADLY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)