KnownCarProblems2013 Ford Flex Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 580 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Flex, most often about the electrical (35% of complaints, typically around 55,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Flex model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2013 Ford Flex problems
Electrical
201 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
Driver's door latch ajar sensor malfunctioning. Reads "door ajar" with door closed, have to repeatedly open and close door to get the sensor to read correctly, and it still doesn't work right. Anti-theft alarm will randomly engage because the sensor is telling it the door is opened after being locked.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the door ajar sensor was illuminated, indicating that the door was open although it was closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the door latch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure…
Steering
149 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, rack and pinion, gear box (other than rack and pinion).
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. While attempting to pull out of the driveway at approximately 3 MPH, the power steering ability became difficult and "service power steering assist" illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to smart Ford (1103 martin luther king blvd, malvern, ar 72104) where it was…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. While driving out of the driveway, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called stevens Ford of milford (located at 717 bridgeport ave, milford, ct 06460, ([phone]) and scheduled a…
Other or unspecified
78 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles.
Door sensor working intermittently on passenger side. Especially when cold outside, passenger door is closed but car thinks it is open, will not allow automatically locking of doors, which represents a safety hazard. Doors can be locked manually but all doors remain unlocked or spring unlocked when "door lock" switch…
Upon entering and starting vehicle displays door ajar when it is clearly closed and locked. Requires several hard closes of the door to deactivate sensor. Also randomly triggers car alarm. Appears to work properly in cooler weather. Dealer recommends a door latch replacement for an estimated of $500
Fuel system
72 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
Vehicle shut off while pulling away from a stop light. Pulled to side of road and the aa8a-9d412-ca fuel pump relay was extremely hot and vehicle would crank but not start. Pulled connector and let the relay cool. Reinstalled connector and vehicle started with no issues. When I returned home I ordered a new relay and…
This is the 3rd time this has happened in the past month. After driving the car to a location, turning the car off then returning to the car to leave, the engine will turn over, but will not fire. The indicators show the car running, I.e. Dash lights on even after getting out of the car. The smell of gasoline is…
Body and structure
69 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Driver's door latch ajar sensor malfunctioning. Reads "door ajar" with door closed, have to repeatedly open and close door to get the sensor to read correctly, and it still doesn't work right. Anti-theft alarm will randomly engage because the sensor is telling it the door is opened after being locked.
Door ajar sensor is faulty. This prevents auto locks from working, prevents proximity unlock from working, prevents door from locking properly and sometimes not at all, and may drain battery as well. This happens whether the car is stationary or moving.
Lights
38 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal.
Driver side door warning keeps lighting up and beeping. The door is not ajar, but constantly getting the message to put it in park and re-shut the door, even while driving. Interior lights now not working properly because the car thinks the driver door is constantly ajar. Interior lights no longer come on when I open…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the interior lighting remained illuminated after the vehicle was shut off. In addition, the door ajar warning indicator illuminated and the interior lighting would sporadically illuminate even with no driver or passenger in the vehicle. The contact also stated…
Engine
37 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles.
Ithe interior lights stayed on, door sensors malfunctioned, engine power went off, and alarm would go on intermittantly. These problems happened while the car was moving and when it was parked.
Water pump failed in the internal engine part on 2013 Ford Flex. A known problem by Ford motor co for years and Ford refuses to issue a recall. Because the water pump is an internal part of the motor, the cost to repair is over $2000 .
Stability control
24 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.
Both passenger door ajar sensors are malfunctioning keeping the interior lights on which is draining battery. Lights will not go off until a certain speed is reached while driving.(clearly a safety issue!!!) also alarm keeps going off randomly and the frequency is increasing.
-passenger door, rear passenger door, and hatch door ajar signal stays on when door is closed. -interior light stays on -alarms goes off in the middle of the night -faulty latch -ignition key switch dings until I put key in and turn key back and forth and then take out again. Dome light stays on and creates a night…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Ford Flex recalls
Suspension: rear
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on march 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of september 2020. The recall began october 28, 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20s04.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 lincoln mkt and ford flex and taurus vehicles with the police interceptor or sho performance pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel pem part number and replace the fuel pem, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on december 1, 2016. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16s31.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 ford taurus, ford flex, lincoln mks and lincoln mkt vehicles equipped with 3.5l gtdi ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 ford taurus police interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (pem) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on december 21, 2015. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13s04-s1.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 explorer, explorer police utility, taurus, taurus police interceptor, flex, lincoln mks, and lincoln mkt vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Steering: electric power assist system
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 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: axle shaft
Risk: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2014. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14s10.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 ford edge and lincoln mkx vehicles manufactured september 2, 2010, to november 30, 2013; 2013-2014 ford taurus and lincoln mks vehicles manufactured august 25, 2011, to november 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 ford flex and lincoln mkt vehicles manufactured september 12, 2011, to november 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on july 20, 2013. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13s04.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 explorer, taurus, flex, fusion, police interceptor sedan and police interceptor utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 lincoln mks, mkt, and mkz vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2013 Ford Flex
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Flex?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (201 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); steering (149 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); other or unspecified (78 complaints, typically around 63,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Flex have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 10, 2020 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Ford Flex?
- It is the most complained-about Flex model year since 2000, with 580 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.