Is the 2015 Ford FLEX reliable?

The 2015 Ford FLEX has 115 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: above-average. Most common issue: STEERING problems.

What are common problems with the 2015 Ford FLEX?

Top problems: STEERING (19 complaints, avg repair $500); DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS (19 complaints, avg repair $500); FUEL SYSTEM (18 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2015 Ford FLEX?

Yes, there are 4 recall(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, PARKING BRAKE, SUSPENSION:REAR, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Ford FLEX?

The 2015 Ford FLEX gets 19 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2526. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2015 Ford FLEX?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2015 Ford FLEX is approximately $1,617/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2015 Ford FLEX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Ford FLEX has 115 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 178. The most common issue is steering problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: my power steering failure indicator came on (while i was driving), indicating a need for immediate service. upon testing, it was determined that the steering gear was faulty...on a 2015 vehicle!! this could have caused an accident if the gear failed while i was driving. i would not expect such a f. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports

115

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

STEERING

19 complaints

17%

• MY POWER STEERING FAILURE INDICATOR CAME ON (WHILE I WAS DRIVING), INDICATING A NEED FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE. UPON TESTING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS FAULTY...ON A 2015 VEHICLE!! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF THE GEAR FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WOULD NOT EXPECT SUCH A F
• ON JULY 5, 2018 I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A CITY ROAD WHEN A WARNING LIGHT WITH THE WORDS "STEERING ASSIST FAULT, SERVICE REQUIRED" SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THE STEERING STOPPED WORKING ALMOST ENTIRELY. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE MANUAL ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR. FORTUNATELY WE WERE ON A VERY WIDE, EMPTY ROA
• POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. SYSTEM WARNED OF VSC FAULT, THEN STEERING ASSIST FAULT, THEN THERE WAS NO POWER ASSIST, AT 50MPH. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON AN AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED FOR A 2 MILES OR SO, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE IGNI

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

“MY POWER STEERING FAILURE INDICATOR CAME ON (WHILE I WAS DRIVING), INDICATING A NEED FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE. UPON TESTING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS FAULTY...ON A 2015 VEHICLE!! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF THE GEAR FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WOULD NOT EXPECT SUCH A F”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2015 Ford FLEX

Based on 78 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 45K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

In line with typicalmedian 29K mi · 15 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 18K mi · 12 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 24K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

Later than typicalmedian 69K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Later than typicalmedian 51K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

High-mileage issuemedian 100K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (4)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP25/08/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.

Risk: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2015 Ford FLEX

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,527

Per month

$211

Per mile

21.1¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$3,001/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$2,087/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2015 Ford FLEX

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,617

Full coverage / month

$135

Liability only / year

$639

vs US avg

-3%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1617

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford FLEX Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2015 FLEX, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 115 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: MY POWER STEERING FAILURE INDICATOR CAME ON (WHILE I WAS DRIVING), INDICATING A NEED FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE. UPON TESTING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING GEAR WAS FAULTY...ON A 2015 VEHICLE!! THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF THE GEAR FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WOULD NOT EXPECT SUCH A F
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the back-over prevention camera screen image displayed an unknown service error message, showed an upside-down image, and displayed a blacked-out image occasionally. No warning light was illuminate
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I WAS ENTERING AT CARPOOL LANES WHEN A DEBRIS HIT THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE, I JUST HEARD A BIG HIT UNDERBODY AND CONTINUE DRIVING AFTER TWO MILES ANOTHER DRIVER NOTICE FLUIDS WERE DRAINING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND URGE ME TO CHECK WHEN I STOPPED I FIND OUT THE DEBRIS HAD MAKE A HEAVY D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR 6-21-16 AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE CAR LOST POWER. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION/REDUCED POWER ICON WAS DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)