2013 Ford Flex Steering Problems
Owners have filed 149 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2013 Ford Flex, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 100,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering assist” (30% of reports).
- 149steering complaints
- 100,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering assist: mentioned in 44 of 149 complaints (30%)
- Wheel became: mentioned in 19 of 149 complaints (13%)
- Difficult turn: mentioned in 16 of 149 complaints (11%)
- Electric power: mentioned in 10 of 149 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2013 Ford Flex at $2,700, and half of them between $2,350 and $3,050.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 107 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 149 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Ford Flex steering complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
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.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, with the power steering fault warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The…
While driving, the power steering warning light illuminated and steering assist was lost. The steering became extremely hard, especially at low speeds. The vehicle makes grinding/whining noises when turning, and the car vibrates while in Drive. This creates a serious safety concern, especially…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Ford Flexs have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 149 owner complaints about steering for the 2013 Ford Flex (26% of the 580 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Ford Flex steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 100,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2013 Ford Flex?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,700 (half paid between $2,350 and $3,050), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2013 Ford Flex?
The most frequent phrase is “steering assist”, in 44 of 149 complaints, followed by “wheel became” (19).
Other 2013 Ford Flex problems
See all 2013 Ford Flex problems or steering problems across all Flex years.