Ford Flex engine problems

ENGINE

The car is experiencing turbo failure that lines up with the recall for the same model vehicle produced within the same 2016-2017 date. But for some reason this vin isnt included in the recall

NHTSA complaint #11757878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

2019 Flex , Odometer reading 58,190. Coolant seen on lower part of engine along with low coolant level. Took to dealership who confirmed the water pump failed and was leaking. We were lucky it was caught early before coolant leaked into the engine, causing the engine to stop while driving and permanently damage engine. There are no warnings for this when it happens (coolant leaking into engine),we were just fortunate to notice low coolant. Because there are no coolant warnings, it can lead to catastrophic engine damage while operating vehicle.There are no guarantees that this will not happen again, only parts are under two year warranty. After research, Ford knew this was an issue with this engine when we bought it, not only on the Flex but same engine on other models, yet continued to sell them. Cost $3,391.71 to repair. Because it is over 5 year warranty no help offered, yet is under 60K miles. There are other complaints regarding this same issue yet Ford continues to not acknowledge faulty design of engine. 2) still waiting for rrecall/repair of backup camera, 3) also waiting-recall/repair for plastic pillar covers. Both of these are under a recall for over a year. NHTSA has other complaints of this from consumers.

NHTSA complaint #11741616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

An antifreeze leak is very hard to locate because Ford’s design placed the water pump INside the engine rather than on the OUTside, which would be more the norm. If antifreeze leaks enough, it gets into the oil and the entire engine stands to be destroyed. Our heater quit blowing warm air recently and after intently searching we discovered that we had an antifreeze leak inside of our engine, and antifreeze was slowly leaking out through a weephole in the engine. The water pump had gone bad and needed replacing. The hours required to replace this water pump are intense and they are long. Almost the entire engine needs to be dismantled in order to perform the work. Not only does the pump need changed, but so does the timing chain, hoses, seals, gaskets, tensioners and other engine parts, all at the same time, making this a VERY costly out-of-pocket expense for us elderly people who have long relied on Ford’s standard of doing what’s right by its people. In our research we found that the water pumps in Flex engines are failing, regularly, once the vehicle is close to having 80,000 miles on it. This repair most DEFINITELY should be covered by recall since it is happening so regularly. We have just been forced to pay for this repair on our own and I would like to please ask for your help in recovering what we’ve had to spend. Will you please provide contact information as to where we can reach out for assistance in this matter? Your help is VERY much appreciated! Thank you!

NHTSA complaint #11740471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? INTERNAL WATER PUMP/ TIMING CHAINS/ VVT SOLENOIDS/ CAM PHASERS/ CAM SENSORS/ RELATED SEALS How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ENGINE FAILURE - SUDDEN STOP OF VEHICLE Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? YES, IS AWARE AND HAS ACKNOWLEDGED VIA SERVICE AND TECH BULLETINS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND REPEATED ISSUE. ISSUE IS KNOWN AND COMMON WITH ALL 3.7L AND 3.5L FORD ENGINES. MANUFACTURER HAS HAD PETTY AND CLASS ACTION SUITS RELATED TO THIS FAILURE AND IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO REMEDY ASIDE FROM A "EXTENDED WARRANTY" FOR CERTIAN COUNTRIES BUT SAID WARRANTY DOES NOT HELP THOSE WHO PURCHASED VEHICLES USED AND HAVE NO VEHICLE HISTORY TO SEE IF THE "SERVICE INTERVALS" WERE MET LEAVING THOUSANDS OF OWNERS WITH REPAIR BILLS THAT COST AT MINIMUM OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? YES. MULTIPLE TECHNICIANS ON MY VEHICLE AD WELL AS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE WORLD. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO LAMPS. ONLY POSSIBLE WAY YOU CAN EVEN TELL IS BY THE TIME ITS TOO LATE AND THE COOLANT AND OIL MIX RESULTING IN MILKY LIKE MIXTURE ON DIPSTICK OR IN OIL PAN OR ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #11736541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

In October of 2025 the vehicle began to make engine noises. Within a day the vehicle stalled and shut down completely. I had my mechanic examine the car and they advise coolant had leaked into the engine cause damage. The engine had to be replaced. No warranty coverage and 4k later.

NHTSA complaint #11735238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I am submitting this complaint to report a serious and potentially dangerous safety defect involving the internal water pump design in the 3.5L Duratec V6 engine used in my 2017 Ford Flex. The water pump in this engine is mounted internally behind the timing chain cover. When the pump fails, coolant is not externally visible but instead leaks directly into the engine oil. This design prevents early detection and warning, leading to rapid and catastrophic engine failure without adequate notice to the driver. In my case, the water pump failed suddenly, allowing coolant to contaminate the engine oil. This resulted in total engine failure and immediate loss of vehicle operability.

NHTSA complaint #11731995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I am getting a "Transmission Not In Park" error that will also sometimes flash "Door Ajar" while driving. Door appears to be closed - not sure if it's latched, transmission is obviously NOT in park because the car is moving. I'm concerned that this shouldn't be driven and is a safety issue.

NHTSA complaint #11693894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

ENGINE

The car kept misfiring and it completely stoped on me 2 times in the street it also overheated due to the cooling system

NHTSA complaint #11682676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I am submitting a formal complaint regarding multiple premature and potentially safety-related failures on my 2019 Ford Flex, purchased new on 11/25/2019. These include: ⚠️ 1. Rear Suspension / Rear Toe Link Concern Although my vehicle is not included in Ford’s rear toe link recall (20S62), it is experiencing the same symptoms: Rear-end instability and drifting Uneven or premature rear tire wear Clunking or loose feeling from the rear suspension I have an appointment scheduled for August 6, 2025 to inspect the rear toe bar links, as I suspect they are defective or misaligned — the exact condition the recall addresses. 💧 2. Water Pump Failure The engine water pump failed before 100,000 miles, requiring a full replacement. This is a known issue in several Ford engines, and repair was required out-of-pocket despite the vehicle being well maintained. 🚗 3. Exterior Trim Detachment Multiple exterior trim pieces detached from the vehicle while driving, posing a road hazard to myself and others. These parts did not appear to be securely fastened from the factory. 🛞 4. Premature Tire Wear Rear tires wore out far earlier than expected — possibly linked to suspension or alignment issues, including the toe link concerns mentioned above. ⚡ 5. Ongoing Electrical Failures Since August 2022, I have had to return to the dealership multiple times for electrical system issues: 8/3/2022 11/2/2022 2/14/2024 These included battery/electrical drain issues and warning system malfunctions, which affect the vehicle’s reliability and safety. These problems began less than 3 years after purchasing the car new. These issues raise serious concerns about the overall build quality and long-term safety of the 2019 Ford Flex. I am concerned that my vehicle may have: Been excluded from critical recalls, despite showing identical failure patterns Undergone multiple early mechanical and electrical repairs Developed safety-related defects that compromise both driver & public safety.

NHTSA complaint #11676254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check coolant warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the engine had experienced coolant intrusion and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.

NHTSA complaint #11672354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Coolant Intrusion - Water pump leaked inside the engine, causing engine failure. The engine has to be replaced. This has been a known problem with this model and has been fixed/covered by the warranty.

NHTSA complaint #11668622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds; the vehicle lost automotive power and the steering wheel was pulling to the left and was difficult to turn in either direction. No warning light was illuminated. An appointment with the local independent dealer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the Year, Make, and Model being outside the selected VIN range. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to an unidentified NHTSA Campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,400.

NHTSA complaint #11657816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The water pump and timing cover gaskets are faulty. The water pump is internal and causes major engine malfunction when it breaks.

NHTSA complaint #11657792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,050.

NHTSA complaint #11656376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking excessively and the vehicle briefly hesitated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #11656269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine temperature gauge increased, and the air conditioner would not blow cool air. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who discovered that the engine coolant level was extremely low, and that the water pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Recently while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA complaint #11576066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The contact coasted to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact would make several attempts to start the vehicle to regain normal functionality; however, the failure would recur within several hours or several days. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH in a School Zone from a stop, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the traction control, engine, battery, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering box had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic had not repaired the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed the VIN was not under recall, nor were the repairs covered under warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 125,436.

NHTSA complaint #11566270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

There is far to much to list

NHTSA complaint #11563389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.