2016 Ford FLEX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford FLEX has 117 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is driver assist/cameras problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: rear park assist camera does not activate when in reverse. read passenger door lock pawl fracture-nhtsa recall. ford refuses to repair the recall because they did not issue the recall. this door has a fractured pawl lock/latch on the rear passenger door. car does not detect key. we paid addi.

4 crash reports 3 injuries

117

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

23 complaints

20%

• REAR PARK ASSIST CAMERA DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN REVERSE. READ PASSENGER DOOR LOCK PAWL FRACTURE-NHTSA RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THIS DOOR HAS A FRACTURED PAWL LOCK/LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. CAR DOES NOT DETECT KEY. WE PAID ADDI
• Rear backup camera fails. It was repaired once under warranty, (7 Jan 2019) second time under extended warranty protection (17 Jun 2021), now has failing for the third time. Local Ford dealer has the information and I have repair invoices.
• The backup camera safety system operates intermittently. We are unable to see behind us when backing up putting us and others at risk. Sometimes it works when in Reverse, but most of the time the touchscreen panel does not even change over to show the camera view at all. The Flex is a large vehic

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

“REAR PARK ASSIST CAMERA DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN REVERSE. READ PASSENGER DOOR LOCK PAWL FRACTURE-NHTSA RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THIS DOOR HAS A FRACTURED PAWL LOCK/LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. CAR DOES NOT DETECT KEY. WE PAID ADDI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

21 complaints

18%

• GAS SMELL AND ELECTRONIC ISSUES. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW. I FIRST NOTICED SMELLING GASOLINE AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE, SO I HAD DRIVEN SEVERAL MONTHS.THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON MY UNDERCOATING STATING THAT'S WHAT I'M SMELLING.IT'S GAS DEFINITELY.I ASKED THEM TO DRIVE IT A WEEK SINCE THE SMEL
• THE BACK UP CAMERA WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO.
• REAR PARK ASSIST CAMERA DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN REVERSE. READ PASSENGER DOOR LOCK PAWL FRACTURE-NHTSA RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THIS DOOR HAS A FRACTURED PAWL LOCK/LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. CAR DOES NOT DETECT KEY. WE PAID ADDI

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

“GAS SMELL AND ELECTRONIC ISSUES. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW. I FIRST NOTICED SMELLING GASOLINE AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE, SO I HAD DRIVEN SEVERAL MONTHS.THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON MY UNDERCOATING STATING THAT'S WHAT I'M SMELLING.IT'S GAS DEFINITELY.I ASKED THEM TO DRIVE IT A WEEK SINCE THE SMEL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

13 complaints

11%

• PURCHASED A NEW 2016 FORD FLEX ON JULY 29, 2016, DROVE IT MOST OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY AND SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES MOSTLY EVERY TIME I EXILIRATED. WENTTO URGENT CARE SICK FROM EXHAUST FUME POISONING, GOT WORSE AS DAY WENT BY AND WENT TO A REGULAR HOSPITAL ER. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON MONDAY AN
• "TAKATA RECALL" MY ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON 2000 MILES BEFORE MY MANUFACTURES WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HAVE A FORD SHOP HERE, BUT THEY ARE RATED SO LOW AND I HEAR NOTHING BUT BAD STUFF ABOUT THEM, SO I CALLED THE NEXT CLOSEST 95 MILES AWAY IN SPEARFISH, SD. I EXPLAINED TO THE GUY WHAT CODE THE ENGINE THRE
• THE INTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR WELL WAS FILLED WITH WATER WHILE PARKED. WATER LEAKS THROUGH WEEP HOLES AT BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD

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

“PURCHASED A NEW 2016 FORD FLEX ON JULY 29, 2016, DROVE IT MOST OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY AND SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES MOSTLY EVERY TIME I EXILIRATED. WENTTO URGENT CARE SICK FROM EXHAUST FUME POISONING, GOT WORSE AS DAY WENT BY AND WENT TO A REGULAR HOSPITAL ER. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON MONDAY AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

10 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, A SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AIRPORT MARINA FORD (310-574-2641, LOCATED AT 6701 CENTER DR W, STE 925, LOS ANGELES, CA 90045) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. RAY HASKEL
• RECALL FROM FORD MARCH 2020 REAR TOE LINK SUSPENSION HAVE CALLED DEALER ABOUT REPAIR THEY ANSWER NO PARTS YET. THIS COULD INCREASE RISK OF CRASH. ITS BEEN 6 MONTHS AND NO PARTS . UNSAFE TO DRIVE . ONLY HAS 36000 MILES ON IT WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, A SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AIRPORT MARINA FORD (310-574-2641, LOCATED AT 6701 CENTER DR W, STE 925, LOS ANGELES, CA 90045) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

8 complaints

• CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WARNING LIGHT WITH WRENCH AND "CHECK MANUAL" APPEARED. DEALER INDICATED RECALL 16B32 AND REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. *TR
• FRONT WHEELS LOCK AS THE VEHICLE IS REVERSING. LOUD RATTLE NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE TRANSMISSION.
• MY 2016 FORD FLEX I JUST BOUGHT LESS THEN 6MTHS AGO! AND I HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT! I WAS HEARING LOTS OF NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND ALSO I WOULD HEAR IT WHEN MY CAR WAS IN GEAR AND ALSO WHEN I WENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WERE TURNING YOUR STEERING WHEEL!! TOOK IT IN TO THE

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

“CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WARNING LIGHT WITH WRENCH AND "CHECK MANUAL" APPEARED. DEALER INDICATED RECALL 16B32 AND REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 117 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: REAR PARK ASSIST CAMERA DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN IN REVERSE. READ PASSENGER DOOR LOCK PAWL FRACTURE-NHTSA RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ISSUE THE RECALL. THIS DOOR HAS A FRACTURED PAWL LOCK/LATCH ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. CAR DOES NOT DETECT KEY. WE PAID ADDI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: GAS SMELL AND ELECTRONIC ISSUES. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW. I FIRST NOTICED SMELLING GASOLINE AFTER THE FIRST OIL CHANGE, SO I HAD DRIVEN SEVERAL MONTHS.THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON MY UNDERCOATING STATING THAT'S WHAT I'M SMELLING.IT'S GAS DEFINITELY.I ASKED THEM TO DRIVE IT A WEEK SINCE THE SMEL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PURCHASED A NEW 2016 FORD FLEX ON JULY 29, 2016, DROVE IT MOST OF THE DAY ON SATURDAY AND SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES MOSTLY EVERY TIME I EXILIRATED. WENTTO URGENT CARE SICK FROM EXHAUST FUME POISONING, GOT WORSE AS DAY WENT BY AND WENT TO A REGULAR HOSPITAL ER. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON MONDAY AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, A SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AIRPORT MARINA FORD (310-574-2641, LOCATED AT 6701 CENTER DR W, STE 925, LOS ANGELES, CA 90045) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)