Engine
3.5L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 252 of 253 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 110 of 253 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Driver assistance
155 complaint records1 crash report
"1. Rear Camera, yes 2. Unable to see behind car thus unable to see people and/or vehicles. 3. Intermittent 4. No 5. Camera unavailable, camera no signal..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse driver assistance parts in the directory →
Body & structure
59 complaint records3 crash reports
"B Pillar trim on drive-side door has fallen off multiple times when driving at speeds i’d say about 50mph. Have been lucky not to have lost it as it was barely held on by the keyless entry cord...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse body & structure parts in the directory →
Electrical system
22 complaint records
"upside down camera- this is a known ford problem, just not linked to my VIN number. Can you please add my VIN so that I can get it fixed...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE25007 opened Aug 2025 | closed Aug 2026 | Structure | B-Pillar Trim Detachment - led to recall 25V732 On August 7, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25007 to investigate instances of B-pillar trim detachment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Flex vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. |
| PE24030 opened Oct 2024 | closed Feb 2026 | Back Over Prevention | Rear-view Camera Failure - led to recall 25V695 On October 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24030) to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera in Model Year (MY) 2019 Ford Flex vehicles. |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25V732000 | Structure | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. | Normally free |
| 25V695000 | Back Over Prevention | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang... | Normally free |
| 24V951000 | Back Over Prevention | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Flex, Fiesta, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. | Normally free |
| 18V548000 | Electrical System | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, 2019 Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026328 2026-07-01 | Structure | 5,302 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the exterior B-pillar trims on the front and rear driver-side and passenger-side doors may not be properly attached. As a result, the trim(s) could loosen and separate from the vehicle. |
| 2025588 2025-10-24 | Structure | 6,040 | This recall was replaced by Transport Canada recall no. 2026-328. Issue: On certain vehicles, the exterior B-pillar trims on the driver and front passenger doors may not be properly attached. |
| 2024777 2024-12-20 | Visual System | 587 | Issue: On certain vehicles, the rearview camera image may not display correctly or at all. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display correctly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25E10-S1 Sep 2026 | Unknown Or Other | 25E10-S1 Owner letter | |
| 25E10-S1 Jul 2026 | Electrical System | NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E10 - Supplement #1 Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles With 3.3L Engines and 2016-2019 Model Year Explorer, Taurus, and Flex Vehicles With 3.5L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming | |
| SSM 54601 Feb 2026 | Electrical System | Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. | |
| TSB 25-2570 Nov 2025 | Electrical System | This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice... | |
| SSM 54366 Nov 2025 | Power Train | Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. |
Show 44 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 53040 Oct 2024 | Unknown Or Other | While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. | |
| TSB 24-2165 May 2024 | Unknown Or Other | This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019... | |
| SSM 52476 Apr 2024 | Equipment | All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. | |
| SSM 52314 Mar 2024 | Power Train | During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical. Incorrect torque may allow the bolt to loosen resulting in the timing gear breaking and engine damage. | |
| SAN-Vol1 I1 Jun 2023 | Equipment | The Service Awareness Newsletter is an informal communication that contains information that may not be presently available in a TSB, SSM, GSB, or other electronic communication. This article includes information on warranty, technical service tips and other service information. | |
| SSM 51536 Apr 2023 | Structure | For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. | |
| SSM 50975 Jul 2022 | Electrical System | Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPassÃÂÃÂÃÂî/LincolnWayÃÂÃÂÃÂî app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode. | |
| SSM 50502 Feb 2022 | Seats | Some 2017-2018 Focus/MKX/C-MAX, 2017-2019 MKC/Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2017-2020 Fusion/MKZ/Continental, 2017-2022 Mustang/Edge/Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility/Escape/F-150/F-Super Duty, 2018-2022 Expedition/Navigator, 2019-2022 Ranger/Nautilus, 2020-2022 Corsair/Aviator, and... | |
| SSM 50375 Dec 2021 | Electrical System | Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due to an incomplete installation of the SYNC map software. | |
| SSM 50067 Aug 2021 | Electrical System | Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. | |
| SSM 50039 Aug 2021 | Electrical System | Some 2016-2021 Ford or Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 or SYNC 4 may exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in transport mode. This is considered normal due to the power saving features enabled while in transport mode. | |
| TSB 21-2175 Jun 2021 | Electrical System | Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC... | |
| SSM 49821 May 2021 | Power Train | Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. | |
| SSM 49541 Feb 2021 | Equipment | Some 2018-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with TCU and WiFi Hotspot, May display Vehicle Hotspot feature not enabled on this vehicle when attempting to enter the Hotspot menu. | |
| TSB 20-2427 Dec 2020 | Structure | Some 2016-2019 Flex vehicles equipped with a factory keyless entry keypad may exhibit a loose driver side B-pillar front door upper moulding. This may be caused by a lack of adhesion of the front door upper moulding to the door. | |
| SSM 49284 Oct 2020 | Electrical System | Some 2018-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with TCU and WiFi Hotspot, May display Vehicle Hotspot feature not enabled on this vehicle when attempting to enter the Hotspot menu. | |
| SSM 49210 Sep 2020 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Some 2009-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbochargers may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket. Although oil may collect on the turbocharger, it is very rare for a turbocharger to leak oil. | |
| SSM 49067 Aug 2020 | Electrical System | Some 2019 Flex vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 without navigation may exhibit a compass that is stuck and/or does not indicate the correct direction. This may be due to the calibration in the accessory protocol interface module (APIM). | |
| TSB 20-2255 Aug 2020 | Electrical System | Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F150/Focus/CMAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/ Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC... | |
| TSB 20-2233 Jul 2020 | Structure | This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. | |
| SSM 48908 Jun 2020 | Electrical System | Some 2016-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a SYNC 3 Touchscreen may experience the volume control unresponsive from the Front Control Interface Module (FCIM) and steering volume controls when using Apple Car Play. | |
| SSM 48757 Apr 2020 | Electrical System | Some customers may experience a notification in the FordPass and/or LincolnWay apps that indicates their vehicle has entered "deep sleep mode". This mode is enabled due to the vehicle not being started for 14 consecutive days or battery voltage is at/or below 9.5 volts. | |
| SSM 48619 Mar 2020 | Electrical System | SSM 48619 - Various Vehicles - Perimeter Alarm Armed And Original Vehicle Keys Cannot Be Accessed to Enter Vehicle - CAN Protection Strategy Some 2013-2016 Model Year Vehicles may exhibit a concern in which the Perimeter Alarm is active and the original keys cannot be accessed... | |
| SSM 48423 Dec 2019 | Power Train | Some 2015-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. | |
| SSM 48482 Dec 2019 | Electrical System | Some 2019 Flex vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 without navigation may exhibit a compass that is stuck and/or does not indicate the correct direction. This may be due to the calibration in the accessory protocol interface module (APIM). | |
| SSM 48340 Nov 2019 | Electrical System | Some 2016-2019 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a map displayed on the left half of the SYNC screen with no other information/soft buttons present after updating to the latest version of V3.0 software. | |
| SSM 48135 Aug 2019 | Equipment | Some 2013-2020 vehicles equipped with an EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function. To support the proper diagnosis of this compressor, the EVDC control valve tester has been provided to each U.S. dealership (339-EVDC100). | |
| SSM 48130 Aug 2019 | Visibility | Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent. | |
| SSM 48123 Aug 2019 | Electrical System | For Ford and Lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal replacement, it is not necessary to replace the complete battery cable harness (14300 and 14301) for this concern. | |
| TSB-2212 Jul 2019 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Some 2018-2019 Explorer/Flex/Taurus/MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), powertrain malfunction (wrench) lamp, Service AdvanceTrac message, Hill Start Assist Not Available message, and/or lack of power... | |
| TSB 19-2212 Jul 2019 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Some 2018-2019 Explorer/Flex/Taurus/MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), powertrain malfunction (wrench) lamp, Service AdvanceTrac message, Hill Start Assist Not Available message, and/or lack of power... | |
| SSM 48070 Jul 2019 | Equipment | Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. | |
| SSM 48053 Jun 2019 | Electrical System | Some 2016-2019 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 not at the latest software level may exhibit Various Performance Related concerns such as Display Operation, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Phone Pairing, Applink, Travel Link, Slow System Response, etc. | |
| TSB 19-2183 Jun 2019 | Power Train | Some 2018-2019 Explorer/Flex/Taurus/MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), powertrain malfunction (wrench) lamp, Service AdvanceTrac message, Hill Start Assist Not Available message, and/or lack of power... | |
| SSM 47976 May 2019 | Power Train | On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was not applied from the factory. | |
| SSM 47967 May 2019 | Equipment | Some 2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM). | |
| SSM 47850 Apr 2019 | Electrical System | Some 2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM). | |
| SSM 47948 Apr 2019 | Engine | SSM 47948 - 2010-2019 Various Vehicles - Turbocharged Engines - Oil Supply Filter Replacement When Replacing The Turbocharger Or The Turbocharger Oil Supply Tube For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines, when diagnosing and/or replacing turbo related concerns,... | |
| SSM 47797 Feb 2019 | Equipment | Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. | |
| SSM 47749 Jan 2019 | Equipment | Some 2012-2019 Vehicles may require repairs to the Smartlink system. Smartlink is a Ford Licensed Accessory which has a warranty provided by the accessory manufacturer. | |
| SSM 47711 Dec 2018 | Electrical System | Some 2016-2019 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 and a 6, 8 or 10 inch screen may show a pop-up message every key cycle that states 'SYNC can check for updates when connected to a WiFi network'. | |
| SSM 47662 Nov 2018 | Engine And Engine Cooling | For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines, when diagnosing and/or replacing turbo related concerns, all steps within the Workshop Manual (WSM) procedure must be followed including replacement of all mandatory discarded parts. | |
| SSM 47571 Oct 2018 | Equipment | Some 2019 Flex vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 without navigation may exhibit a compass that is stuck and/or does not indicate the correct direction. This may be due to the calibration in the accessory protocol interface module (APIM). | |
| SSM 47509 Sep 2018 | Equipment | Some 2019 Flex vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 without navigation may exhibit a compass that is stuck and/or does not indicate the correct direction. Do not attempt any repairs at this time. Engineering is investigating, monitor OASIS for updates. |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Try the camera, sensors, and any driver-assist features in a parking lot.A blank or frozen backup camera image and phantom sensor alerts are this vehicle's driver-assistance complaints.
- Walk the body slowly in daylight.Panel gaps, rust at the rockers and wheel arches, and cracked trim are this vehicle's structure complaints. Open and close the liftgate or trunk and look at the latch area.
- Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 4 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Ford Flex →