Owners have filed 325 complaints
about the 2014 Ford Flex with NHTSA between 2014 and 2026.
The largest single group is the steering.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 11 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 71
Against the median year of the Ford Flex. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 51
9.8% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 25
15% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Body
939.1%
Exhaust System
313.0%
Door
313.0%
Rearview System Braking
28.7%
Warnings
28.7%
Fuel Pump
28.7%
Body Control Module/Bcm
14.3%
Pump
14.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
31.4%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
94.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
104.8%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
4119.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
6129.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
4822.9%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
3416.2%
150,000+ miles
41.9%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2014 Ford Flex SUV FWD
—
—
—
16.4% risk
2014 Ford Flex SUV AWD
—
—
—
15.1% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 2014peak 9Jul 2026
Recalls on the 2014 Ford Flex
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202005115,281 units in Canada
Suspension
Issue: On certain vehicles, the rear suspension toe link(s) could break. This could cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability. Note: Vehicles previously repaired under Ford Campaign 19R01 or 19S18 do not require repair under this recall. For the Taurus model, only the SHO Performance Package model is included in this recall. Safety Risk: A loss of vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to install improved rear suspension toe links.
Recall 201928112,211 units in Canada
Suspension
Issue: On certain vehicles, a buildup of dirt and mud could cause the rear suspension toe links to break. This could result in a sudden loss of vehicle stability. Note: This problem affects vehicles operated in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The unique soil properties in this region could make a toe link more likely to break. Safety Risk: A loss of stability could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to install improved rear suspension toe links.
Recall 20164117,249 units in Canada
Powertrain
On certain vehicles, the fuel pump electric module may be damaged due to high electrical current loads. This could cause the fuel pump to stop operating, which would result in the engine stalling or failing to start. A loss of motive power could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the fuel pump electric module. Note: Failure of the fuel pump electric module would cause the malfunction indicator light to illuminate.
Recall 201450419,975 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, a defect in the manually-adjustable seat tracks may cause the occupant classification system to incorrectly register the weight of the seat occupant. This could affect or disable the airbags and other supplemental restraint systems, and could increase the risk of injury to the seat occupant in a crash that warrants airbag deployment and/or other supplemental restraint system function. Correction: Dealers will adjust seat track spacing and recalibrate the occupant classification system.
Recall 20142808,173 units in Canada
Powertrain
On certain vehicles, the right-side halfshaft retention clip may not have been fully engaged, and could allow the halfshaft to separate. If this were to occur while the vehicle is being driven, it could result in a loss of motive power. If this were to occur while the vehicle is parked on an incline without the parking brake applied, it could result in unintended vehicle movement. Both situations could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will inspect halfshafts for full retention and affect repairs as necessary.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
San Luis Obispo, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After reporting to work on [XXX], I discovered that the front of my vehicle was on fire. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and employees on site attempted to contain the fire using fire extinguishers. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter and successfully extinguished the fire. Despite these efforts, the vehicle was ultimately deemed a total loss. Later that day, my sister advised me to review footage from our Ring camera from that morning. The video shows visible sparks coming from underneath my vehicle prior to my departure. At that time, I drove approximately nine miles to work, unaware of any issue with the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11713105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Luis Obispo, CAFire
ENGINE
After reporting to work on [XXX], I discovered that the front of my vehicle was on fire. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and employees on site attempted to contain the fire using fire extinguishers. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter and successfully extinguished the fire. Despite these efforts, the vehicle was ultimately deemed a total loss. Later that day, my sister advised me to review footage from our Ring camera from that morning. The video shows visible sparks coming from underneath my vehicle prior to my departure. At that time, I drove approximately nine miles to work, unaware of any issue with the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11713105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amboy, WACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The backup camera experiences intermittent error messages, doesn’t turn on, and 90% of the time the image is reversed like in a mirror
NHTSA complaint #11634489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,000 milesChesterfield, MICrash
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while her wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly after the steering wheel jerked in the right direction. As a result, the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a dividing wall on the side of the roadway. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with both control arms. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who was able to duplicate the failure but was unable to provide a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Safety Recall 15S18. The contact also stated that before the control arm failure, upon entering the vehicle and attempting to start the ignition, the vehicle failed to start as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The contact repaired the vehicle herself upon replacing the fuel pump control module. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Safety Recall 16S31. The manufacturer was notified of both failures but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 138,000.
NHTSA complaint #11575771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,000 milesChesterfield, MICrash
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while her wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly after the steering wheel jerked in the right direction. As a result, the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a dividing wall on the side of the roadway. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with both control arms. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, who was able to duplicate the failure but was unable to provide a diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Safety Recall 15S18. The contact also stated that before the control arm failure, upon entering the vehicle and attempting to start the ignition, the vehicle failed to start as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The contact repaired the vehicle herself upon replacing the fuel pump control module. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Safety Recall 16S31. The manufacturer was notified of both failures but referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 138,000.
NHTSA complaint #11575771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 116,598 milesChino, CACrash3 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH when the contact heard a noise coming from the vehicle and shortly after lost control of the vehicle resulting in the contact hitting a parked vehicle with no air bags deploying. There were 3 injured, the son and daughter sustained bruising over arms and legs. The mother sought medical treatment and sustained injuries to the back. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed to a tow lot then towed to an insurance lot where it was awaiting diagnosis. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
NHTSA complaint #11438432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Wichita, KS
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Hello, I was driving my Ford Flex at 60mph yesterday with my 15 year old friend helping me move. The engine completely died for several seconds and continued running. That night the engine was idling rough which was a new symptom. Today, I made it to my destination and the car died, then it did not start after cranking. The Fuel pump module Aa8a-9d412-ca was faulty and now I am out $142+ from Ford to replace a part myself that is a known problem on the Ecoboost engines for this vehicle. This is a liability and I am seeking reimbursement for this known issue. Please issue a recall for this fuel pump module, everyone's safety is at risk that still has this faulty part installed that Ford has not addressed. Thank you for your time.
NHTSA complaint #11752265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I noticed about 6 months ago, the Backup camera has been cutting out randomly, and has been getting worse. I noticed that there is a recall for 2015 - current models of Ford Flex for this issue. Not sure why the 2014 model isn't a part of the recall, as my car seems to be doing the exact thing described in the recall.
NHTSA complaint #11750617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BACK UP CAMERA IS DISABLED WHEN BACKING UP. IT IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH BACKING UP MAKING IT A SAFETY CONCERN. THE BEEPING SEEMS TO WORK BUT THE CAMERA WILL BE BLACK.
NHTSA complaint #11723479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wichita, KS
STEERING
I was driving down a main road going 45 MPH when my steering wheel locked up and I got a message on my dash to service advanced steering. I was unable to turn my steering wheel in any direction and had to pull over in order to not be involved in a collision.
NHTSA complaint #11720819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesGainesville, FL
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera displayed a black screen, and the message “Camera not Available” was displayed. The contact stated that turning off and restarting the vehicle, and waiting for the cellphone to connect to Bluetooth on the radio, the camera operated as needed and provided an image of the rear of the vehicle while reversing. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and diagnosed with a camera failure. The mechanic performed a troubleshooting of the camera and determined that the camera needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
NHTSA complaint #11717008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Luis Obispo, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
After reporting to work on [XXX], I discovered that the front of my vehicle was on fire. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and employees on site attempted to contain the fire using fire extinguishers. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter and successfully extinguished the fire. Despite these efforts, the vehicle was ultimately deemed a total loss. Later that day, my sister advised me to review footage from our Ring camera from that morning. The video shows visible sparks coming from underneath my vehicle prior to my departure. At that time, I drove approximately nine miles to work, unaware of any issue with the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11713105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Luis Obispo, CAFire
ENGINE
After reporting to work on [XXX], I discovered that the front of my vehicle was on fire. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and employees on site attempted to contain the fire using fire extinguishers. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter and successfully extinguished the fire. Despite these efforts, the vehicle was ultimately deemed a total loss. Later that day, my sister advised me to review footage from our Ring camera from that morning. The video shows visible sparks coming from underneath my vehicle prior to my departure. At that time, I drove approximately nine miles to work, unaware of any issue with the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11713105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BACKUP CAMERA FAILED Safety was put at risk because there was no functional camera while the vehicle was in reverse. Dealer confirmed backup camera failure. Dealer inspected the backup camera and determined it needed to be replaced. There were no warnings, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Mileage 163,483 Replaced 12/31/2024
NHTSA complaint #11708029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eutawville, SC
STRUCTURE:BODY
I know that the 2015-2019 Ford Flex is being recalled for rear camera issues and "B" pillar mldgs. coming loose. My 2014 Flex has these same issues. What about earlier models?
NHTSA complaint #11697945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eutawville, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I know that the 2015-2019 Ford Flex is being recalled for rear camera issues and "B" pillar mldgs. coming loose. My 2014 Flex has these same issues. What about earlier models?
NHTSA complaint #11697945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Conroe, TX
STEERING
Auto “steering assist failure” occurred, very difficult to steer, very dangerous and could have caused wreak if actively driving when it failed. Dash light indicates steering assist failure. Appears this is an ungoing problem with ford flex vehicles since 2010 I do not see recall for my 2014 flex but same issues had recalls for flex up to 2013. I am reporting due that I believe this is a very serious issue on ford flex vehicles and has great potential to cause severe accident if occurring while driving. I believe there should be recalls for this issue requiring Ford to repair the safety risk.
NHTSA complaint #11696235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tyler, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear backup camera is upside down. The rear backup distance alarm doesn't work. This has been recalled in other years. The price to repair in unreasonable. Its like not having a rear camera. This is a common Problem. Please help.
NHTSA complaint #11691453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tyler, TX
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The rear backup camera is upside down. The rear backup distance alarm doesn't work. This has been recalled in other years. The price to repair in unreasonable. Its like not having a rear camera. This is a common Problem. Please help.
NHTSA complaint #11691453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesCleveland, OH
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that occasionally, while attempting to reverse, the image on the back over prevention camera was displayed upside down. Additionally, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11688905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesCleveland, OH
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that occasionally, while attempting to reverse, the image on the back over prevention camera was displayed upside down. Additionally, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11688905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dickinson, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Rear camera view is inverted or not displayed when reversing. Unsafe to back vehicle due to this failure. Has not been diagnosed/repaired by a service center. Has not functioned properly for 7-8 years.
NHTSA complaint #11686649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grants Pass, OR
STEERING
Without warning, the vehicle's power steering stopped working in an intersection while turning. The hazard lights came on automatically and I used my full body strength to steer the car out of the intersection. Inspection showed a computer module failure within the steering rack. Because the computer module is built into the steering rack, the whole steering rack needed to be replaced. This was a critical repair and cost over $3500.
NHTSA complaint #11685817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grants Pass, OR
SUSPENSION
Without warning, the vehicle's power steering stopped working in an intersection while turning. The hazard lights came on automatically and I used my full body strength to steer the car out of the intersection. Inspection showed a computer module failure within the steering rack. Because the computer module is built into the steering rack, the whole steering rack needed to be replaced. This was a critical repair and cost over $3500.
NHTSA complaint #11685817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grants Pass, OR
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Without warning, the vehicle's power steering stopped working in an intersection while turning. The hazard lights came on automatically and I used my full body strength to steer the car out of the intersection. Inspection showed a computer module failure within the steering rack. Because the computer module is built into the steering rack, the whole steering rack needed to be replaced. This was a critical repair and cost over $3500.
NHTSA complaint #11685817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murrieta, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The back-up camera is malfunctioning. Either appear blank or will work for about 5 seconds then go blank. Took to mechanic and was confirmed as malfunctioning per codes, but wasn't able to completely diagnose.
NHTSA complaint #11684342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murrieta, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The back-up camera is malfunctioning. Either appear blank or will work for about 5 seconds then go blank. Took to mechanic and was confirmed as malfunctioning per codes, but wasn't able to completely diagnose.
NHTSA complaint #11684342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I own a 2014 Ford Flex, and I have been experiencing recurring issues with the rear backup camera. The problems included the camera intermittently going in and out of service, displaying fuzzy or unclear images, and at times showing the video feed upside down. These issues closely resemble known problems covered under existing Ford recalls related to backup camera malfunctions caused by software update errors. Due to ongoing safety concerns, I took my vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership on August 21, 2025, for diagnosis and repair. The dealership confirmed the failure of the backup camera system. To resolve the issue, they diagnosed, replaced the rear backup camera, and reprogrammed the system. The total cost of the service was $638.78. Given the similarity of this failure to the symptoms covered under previous Ford recalls, I believe this issue may be related and warrants further review.
NHTSA complaint #11683468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Within the last 90-120 days the back up camera on our 1014 Ford Flex has started not working properly. It sometimes works, sometimes only a video with now parking lines, sometimes nothing at all and a blank screen. Sometimes it does all of the above in the same instance.
NHTSA complaint #11675811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Derry, NH
STEERING
The power steering system failed and requires brute force to turn the wheel. The software system was reflashed but this did not fix the problem. There was a recall for this issue from 2011-2013, but not for our year. There is not a warning light on.
NHTSA complaint #11673744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tyler, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The camera shows upside down and rear parking aid doesn't work. Recall 25v442000 is for the same thing. But ford dealer said it doesn't apply.
NHTSA complaint #11673584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.