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FORD · vehicle model

FORD FLEX

2,324 NHTSA complaints and 14 safety recalls across model years 2009–2019.

Complaints
2,324
Recalls
14
Model years
11

The FORDFLEX appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 2,324 consumer safety complaints and 14 recall campaigns across 11 model years (2009–2019). That averages roughly 211 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 179 investigation files tied to this model, with 6 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
2019215
201856
201741
201699
2015108
2014321
2013769
201289
2011174
2010181
2009271

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 954 in 2017-2021 to 654 in 2022-2026, a fall of 31.4%. That is the 50th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

14
’09
49
’10
44
’11
35
’12
61
’13
111
’14
179
’15
223
’16
222
’17
233
’18
227
’19
168
’20
104
’21
84
’22
119
’23
116
’24
301
’25
34
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare FORDFLEX to Similar Vehicles

FORDFLEX vs GMCSUBURBAN → FORDFLEX vs DODGECHALLENGER → FORDFLEX vs FORDF-350 SD → FORDFLEX vs TESLAMODEL X →

NHTSA Investigations 6 Open

EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen2026-07-31

Timing Belt Failure

DP26004Defect PetitionOpen2026-04-09

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated

EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen2026-01-30

Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed2025-12-18

Timing Belt Failure

DP25001Defect PetitionClosed2025-09-05

Underbody shields detachment

PE25007Preliminary EvaluationClosed2025-08-07

B-Pillar Trim Detachment

PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed2025-03-21

Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

EA25001Engineering AnalysisOpen2025-01-17

Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise

RQ24015Recall QueryClosed2024-11-15

Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment

RQ24014Recall QueryClosed2024-11-15

Loss of Motive Power

View all 179 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the FORD FLEX?▼
The FORD FLEX has received 2,324 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2009 to 2019, with 14 recalls. That averages about 211 complaints per model year.
What years of FORD FLEX are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the FORD FLEX from 2009 to 2019 (11 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the FORD FLEX have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many FORD FLEX model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common FORD FLEX complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the FORD FLEX are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my FORD FLEX has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. FORD FLEX totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.