NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 Ford Flex Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2011 Ford Flex has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 144 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 Ford Flex, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2011 Ford Flex owner complaints

Owners have filed 144 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Flex, describing incidents dated October 9, 2010 to May 2, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Steering 57 complaints
  • Engine 32 complaints
  • Power Train 19 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 11 complaints
  • Electrical System 9 complaints
  • Service Brakes 8 complaints

Of the 144 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 144 complaints, owners report 9 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11736911 · Filed

    I have had this vehicle since about August 2025, the brakes and wheel bearings have failed twice, the strut failed, the power steering system has messed up repeatedly, the coolant came FLYING out of the car (while parked) FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON! There have been multiple warning lights on since I…

  • ODI #11734241 · Filed

    Went to put car in reverse and it kept driving forward- no weird sound or anything. Proceeded to put the car in park and it was still moving forward. Transmission was stuck on drive.The shifter is disconnected from the transmission with no warning .Just looked and the transmission shifter bushing is…

  • ODI #11694945 · Filed

    I had changed all my bulbs and fuses to my car for my brake lights several times and they still don’t work. My car almost got hit with me and my kids in it due to my break lights not working. Also my car keeps saying service advance trac and keeps saying it every time I drive. My car also keeps…

Read all 144 complaints

Air Bag Second Stage may not Inflate Properly

NHTSA #16V247000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported April 26, 2016 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 695 vehicles

Repair completion: 84.32% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 16C06 · Owners notified June 9, 2016 · Vehicles built June 17, 2008 – October 6, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Safety consequence

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist

NHTSA #15V340000 · Steering — Electric Power Assist System · NHTSA notice

Reported June 2, 2015 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 393,623 vehicles

Repair completion: 69.35% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 15S18 · Owners notified July 21, 2015 · Vehicles built September 7, 2010 – February 28, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Ford Flex model years

Check your 2011 Ford Flex VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Flex at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Ford VIN