2015 Ford FLEX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Ford FLEX has 115 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports

115

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

19 complaints

17%

• 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
• Backup camera screen is either black or upside down. It’s been like this for awhile and can’t always see what’s behind me. Available for inspection.
• The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image displayed was upside down and the image was distorted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V951000 (Back Over Prevention)

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

18 complaints

16%

• 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
• APPARENTLY MY "THROTTLE BODY" ELECTRONICS WENT BAD AND CAUSED MY ENGINE TO STOP WHILE I WAS IN FAST LANE OF FREEWAY...BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER. NO WARNING UNTIL AFTER CAR WAS OFF. DEALER WAS "AWARE" OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS 2015 FORD ENGINE ALTHOUGH FORD HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO WARN CUSTOMERS
• OUR CAR HAS STALLED ON US 4 TIMES, ALL WHILE IN TRAFFIC. 1ST TIME AT NIGHT ON A RESIDENTAL STREET MOVING FORWARD, 2ND AND 3RD TIME WHILE ON A 40 MPH ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, 4TH TIME WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A MAIN ROAD MOVING FORWARD. EACH TIME VEHICLE HAS HAD A 1/2 TANK OR MORE OF GAS

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

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

12 complaints

10%

• 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
• VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. ALSO, WHEN THE NEW PART WAS DELIVERED TO FIX THE VEHICLE, THEY DELIVERED A DAMAGED PART AND HAD TO SEND IT BACK AND RE-ORDER A FUNCTIONAL PART.
• REGARDING NHTSA COMPLAINT NO. 10876758. HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. THEY THINK IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY BUT CAN'T REPAIR IT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. SERVICE WRITER SAID HE WOULD CALL ME IF AND WHEN HE GOT AUTHORIZATION (NO IDEA WHEN THAT MIG

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

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

12 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FLEX. WHILE BOTH THE ENGINE AND AIR CONDITIONING WERE ACTIVATED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE INSPECTION REPORT WAS NOT YET CONFIRMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A Y
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FLEX. WHILE BOTH THE ENGINE AND AIR CONDITIONING WERE ACTIVATED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)