Ford Flex Engine Problems
Owners have filed 183 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Ford Flex across 11 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (36). The words owners use most often: “water pump” (17% of reports).
- 183engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%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.
- Water pump: mentioned in 32 of 183 complaints (17%)
- Throttle body: mentioned in 15 of 183 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Ford Flex at $5,500, and half of them between $3,050 and $10,050.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2026), 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 engine problems happen?
Based on 144 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 183 complaints, 7 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford Flex engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Model years: 2016, 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My car randomly over heated ON XXX around 3:23 pm and when I pulled over to a parking lot there was antifreeze pouring out of the bottom front passenger side. I tried to allow it to cool down so that I could safely get it to the shop .5 mile away and the vehicle started to shake and stall and the…
The car is experiencing turbo failure that lines up with the recall for the same model vehicle produced within the same 2016-2017 date. But for some reason this vin isnt included in the recall
2019 Flex , Odometer reading 58,190. Coolant seen on lower part of engine along with low coolant level. Took to dealership who confirmed the water pump failed and was leaking. We were lucky it was caught early before coolant leaked into the engine, causing the engine to stop while driving and…
An antifreeze leak is very hard to locate because Fordâs design placed the water pump INside the engine rather than on the OUTside, which would be more the norm. If antifreeze leaks enough, it gets into the oil and the entire engine stands to be destroyed. Our heater quit blowing warm air…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? INTERNAL WATER PUMP/ TIMING CHAINS/ VVT SOLENOIDS/ CAM PHASERS/ CAM SENSORS/ RELATED SEALS How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ENGINE FAILURE - SUDDEN STOP OF VEHICLE Has the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Flexs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 183 owner complaints about engine for the Ford Flex. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Flex engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Ford Flex?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,500 (half paid between $3,050 and $10,050), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Ford Flex?
The most frequent phrase is “water pump”, in 32 of 183 complaints, followed by “throttle body” (15).
Other Ford Flex problems
- Electrical System problems (396)
- Steering problems (381)
- Back Over Prevention problems (234)
- Structure problems (192)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (165)
- Suspension problems (107)
- Power Train problems (105)
See all Ford Flex problems.