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2013 Ford FlexProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 581 owner complaints about the 2013 Ford Flex, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-072 the manufacturer reports only 60% of affected cars repaired.

2013 Ford Flex
21
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.7× the Flex median · #1 of 11 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 60%Owner complaints58121 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage55kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 5, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Michael Sheehan, CC BY 2.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2013 Ford Flex has problems

581 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system2012
Steering1507
Structure692
Fuel/propulsion system591
Exterior lighting371
Engine330
Electronic stability control (ESC)240
Latches/locks/linkages210
Suspension173
17 other systems899

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2013 Ford Flex recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

60%repaired · 2022 Q3

Suspension: rear

Recall 20V-072 · Feb 10, 2020 · 211,207 vehicles · 126,232 repaired

Risk. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

81%repaired · 2018 Q1

Delivery: fuel pump

Recall 16V-621 · Aug 25, 2016 · 77,502 vehicles · 62,945 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

80%repaired · 2017 Q1

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 15V-812 · Dec 2, 2015 · 868 vehicles · 696 repaired

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

69%repaired · 2016 Q4

Steering: electric power assist system

Recall 15V-340 · Jun 2, 2015 · 393,623 vehicles · 272,633 repaired

Risk. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
90%repaired · 2015 Q4

Axle assembly: axle shaft

Recall 14V-393 · Jul 2, 2014 · 83,250 vehicles · 75,189 repaired

Risk. If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Mileage at failure

When do electrical system problems start?

55kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 154 electrical system complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
8under 30k miles140under 100k miles14100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Electrical system

17 owners mentioned a cost

$400median

Middle half: $230 – $700

Steering

13 owners mentioned a cost

$2,000median

Middle half: $2,000 – $2,100

Unknown or other

8 owners mentioned a cost

$500median

Middle half: $300 – $613

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2013 vs. every other Flex year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Flex median. How we score

'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2013 Ford Flex safety ratings

2013 Ford Flex SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 4 stars (15.1% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Flex owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

UNKNOWN So we bought the car used from the dealer exactly how they received it, and it was working normally but then a few weeks or a month or two we were going somewhere and one of the headlights would go out and we'd have to turn the switch off and back on to get it to turn back on, and it was…
Complaint 11766599 · Sep 24, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? MULTIPLE DRIVER AID FUNCATIONS IN-OP. DRIVER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK, DRIVER DOOR LOCK AND UNLOCK SWITCH WILL NOT OPERATE ANY LOCKS, PASSENGER DOOR MIRROR WILL NOT MOVE, SEAT MEMORY WILL…
Complaint 11736539 · May 8, 2026
Power steering. While I was driving in my neighborhood the power steering went out and I could not make a turn. It locked up while driving. I could have got into a head on collision/accident becasue the road turns. Yes, I reported it to Ford and they told me my flex did not have a recall despite…
Complaint 11702594 · Dec 2, 2025

Own a 2013 Flex?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.