2011 Ford Flex recalls & problems

2 recalls 144 complaints

2recalls
144owner complaints
5crashes reported
1fires reported
17 / 3injuries / deaths

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2011 Ford Flex and 144 owner complaints. The part owners complain about most is steering (57 reports), followed by engine (25). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers – enter your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your car still has an open recall.

2011 Ford Flex recalls

Air Bags · NHTSA 16V247000 · Apr 26, 2016

Problem: 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)…

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

Fix: 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.

695 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

Steering · NHTSA 15V340000 · Jun 2, 2015

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…

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…

393,623 units potentially affected · Full recall details →

2011 Ford Flex problems by component

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering 57
100
Engine 25
002
Power Train 19
000
Unknown or Other 11
213
Electrical System 9
111
Service Brakes 8
100
Engine and Engine Cooling 7
001
Seats 7
002
Wheels 5
000
Fuel/Propulsion System 5
002
Structure 4
102
Tires 3
000
Visibility/Wiper 2
000
Air Bags 2
212
Exterior Lighting 2
000
Equipment 2
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc) 2
002
Suspension 2
000
Vehicle Speed Control 2
000
Seat Belts 1
000
Visibility 1
000
Fuel System, Diesel 1
000
Child Seat 1
000

Latest owner complaints

Suspension · May 10, 2026 · MI

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 got the vehicle and I have been told they are just sensors from multiple…

Steering · May 10, 2026 · MI

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 got the vehicle and I have been told they are just sensors from multiple…

Service Brakes · May 10, 2026 · MI

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 got the vehicle and I have been told they are just sensors from multiple…

Power Train · Apr 28, 2026 · RI

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 disconnected. Also saw that this part is a recall on other ford vehicles. Had…

Steering · Oct 22, 2025 · MI

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 running out of power steering fluid every two week I have to add more to keep it…

Exterior Lighting · Oct 22, 2025 · MI

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 running out of power steering fluid every two week I have to add more to keep it…

Electrical System · Oct 22, 2025 · MI

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 running out of power steering fluid every two week I have to add more to keep it…

Service Brakes · Oct 18, 2025 · MI

My brakes locked up suddenly on the rear end causing me to get stuck in the middle of the road and unable to move it, even to tow it. I had to take 2 days almost to fix it in the middle of the road, since yesterday morning. They also began locking up suddenly on the front end, the wheel bearing, CV Joint, Tie Rods, CV Axles, CV Boots, and sway bars began failing out of nowhere…

Wheels · Oct 18, 2025 · MI

My brakes locked up suddenly on the rear end causing me to get stuck in the middle of the road and unable to move it, even to tow it. I had to take 2 days almost to fix it in the middle of the road, since yesterday morning. They also began locking up suddenly on the front end, the wheel bearing, CV Joint, Tie Rods, CV Axles, CV Boots, and sway bars began failing out of nowhere…

Power Train · Oct 18, 2025 · MI

My brakes locked up suddenly on the rear end causing me to get stuck in the middle of the road and unable to move it, even to tow it. I had to take 2 days almost to fix it in the middle of the road, since yesterday morning. They also began locking up suddenly on the front end, the wheel bearing, CV Joint, Tie Rods, CV Axles, CV Boots, and sway bars began failing out of nowhere…

Steering · Aug 18, 2025 · 170,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the power steering assist warning light illuminated, and the steering wheel became firm. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering module link needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…

Steering · May 8, 2025 · WV

Electric Power Steering lights up and steering wheel locks up, can hardly make it move at it. We turn the car off and turn it back on. Sometimes the power steering returns, sometimes it doesn't and we can't drive the car. We called the dealer after this happened and they said it was an ECOBOOST Flex and wasn't included in the Safety Recall 15S18 National Highway Traffic Safety…

Other Ford Flex years

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Ford Flex have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls covering the 2011 Ford Flex, the most recent one (16V247000) for air bags. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Flex?

Based on 144 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most reported areas are steering (57), engine (25), power train (19).

Have there been crashes or injuries linked to the 2011 Ford Flex?

Owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 17 injuries and 3 deaths in complaints to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports, not findings of fault.