FaultScore

Ford Flex headlight problems

43 of the 2,511 complaints filed about the Ford Flex are about the lighting — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2013.

43

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

2010 Flex 1 2.3%

Median failure at 39,000 miles

2011 Flex 2 4.7%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

2012 Flex 1 2.3%

Median failure at 60,012 miles

2013 Flex 37 86.0%

Median failure at 55,000 miles

2014 Flex 2 4.7%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

What owners said

2011 Ford Flex Detroit, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 from making that loud noise while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11694945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 131,785 miles San Diego, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact recently purchased the vehicle. When the vehicle was purchased, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle had a failure with the steering wheel. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The message "Service Advancetrac" was displayed on the instrument panel, and an unknown message about the steering was displayed. In addition, while in reverse(R), the contact used force to turn the steering wheel. Most recently, the contact stated that when the turn signal lever was activated, the turn signal lever failed to stay down as intended. The contact had to hold the turn signal lever down to signal a right or left turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the dealer related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (STEERING). However, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 131,785.

NHTSA complaint #11691920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex Blue Springs, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The front drivers door latch. When the door is shut their is an alarm stating that the door is ajar. Per Ford their is a Customer Satisfaction Program 19N09 for it. I bought this vechicle Monday June 20, 2022. Per Ford they notified me of this issue as well but they will not fix it as it is past the 84,000 miles/7 years as well as the 120,000 miles and July 31, 2020. This vechile per the records has been services at Thoroughbred Ford in Kansas City, MO since the day it was bought and yet it has not been fixed? And now they are not willing to fix it.

NHTSA complaint #11470631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford Flex at 80,000 miles Cape Canaveral, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF INSIDE CAR SAYS THERE IS A DOOR OPEN MAKES IT VERY UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE RUNS DOWN CAR BATTERY ALARM GOES OFF EVERY NIGHT DUE TO THIS ELECTRICAL FLAW

NHTSA complaint #11299946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex BAY Shore, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NOW REPLACING THE FUEL MODUAL SENSOR FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 5YRS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR OTHER FORD VEHICLES. CAR WILL NOT START AND NEEDS TO BE TOWED EACH TIME. FRONT PASSENGER DOOR SENSOR DOESN'T WORK AND INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINS ON UNTIL VEHICLE REACHES 10MPH. INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF AND BATTERY DRAINS.

NHTSA complaint #11288445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Flex at 39,000 miles Cherry Valley, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BLUE FLASHING LIGHT HAS COME ON LEFT SIDE DRIVERS SIDE ABOVE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UNDERSIDE OF THE DASH. STAYS ON EVEN AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF.

NHTSA complaint #11257213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 23,000 miles Cortland, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LEFT PASSENGER DOOR AJAR ALARM COMES ON RANDOMLY AND CAUSES THE DOME LIGHT TO STAY ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY. UNSAFE WHEN IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AS IT IS HARD TO SEE THE ROAD AND CAUSES STRESS TO THE DRIVER AND TO PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AS THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK WHOLE MOVING.

NHTSA complaint #11256592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Ford Flex at 85,000 miles Batavia, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY CURRENT PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS IS THE STEERING. AS OF AROUND TWO YEARS AGO I HAVE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING LOSING THE POWER AND RESULTING IN A VERY HARD TO CONTROL STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AND VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ROUGHLY 6 TIMES IN TWO YEARS. THE PROBLEM WOULD USUALLY CORRECT WITHIN AROUND FIVE SECONDS OR SO. I HAVE FOUND THERE ARE MANY ISSUES ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS FORD PROBLEM THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE COMES WITHIN A MONTH OF THE RECALL SO NO HELP FROM THE DEALER. THEY WANT AROUND 3000-3500 FOR REPLACEMENT. WORD IS THEY HAVE DOUBLED THE COST OF THE PART TO MAKE UP FOR THE RECALL MONEY THEY ARE OUT. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND FORD NEEDS TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE. I AM TOLD THE STEERING IS ELECTRICAL. MY SECOND ISSUE IS AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AROUND TWO YEARS ALSO. THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT EACH AT DIFFERENT TIMES. IF I REACH DOWN AND TURN THE SWITCH OFF AND ON AGAIN THEY WILL COME BACK ON AND CORRECT, BUT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. ONE MIGHT GO OUT AND THEN ONE STAY ON. A DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURS WHEN THEY BOTH FAIL. TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND OFF ALWAYS TURNS THEM ON. PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS. NEITHER ARE NOT FIXED AT THE MOMENT.

NHTSA complaint #11139001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 173,654 miles Jamesburg, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PASSENGER FRONT DOOR AJAR WARNING IS DISPLAYED, EVEN THOUGH DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED. BECAUSE THE COMPUTER THINKS THE DOOR IS OPEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON CAUSING A VISIBILITY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING THE DOORS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR 10-15 MINUTES.THIS WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO THE VEHICLE AND LET PASSERBY'S VIEW THE INTERIOR CONTENTS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE FOR POSSIBLE THEFT. THIS STARTED AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND NOW IS CONSTANT EVERY TIME THE DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED, THERE IS NO CHANGE OF THE PASSENGER DOOR AJAR STATUS.

NHTSA complaint #11119788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 48,000 miles Lakeville, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE VEHICLE INCORRECTLY BELIEVES THE DOORS ARE OPEN WHEN THEY ARE SHUT. THIS PREVENTS THE DOORS FROM LOCKING AT ALL SPEEDS, WHICH IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. IF AN OCCUPANT TRIES TO LOCK THE DOORS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKS THE DOORS. THE ISSUE ALSO CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES AN APPROPRIATE SPEED WHEN IN USE. THE OPEN/CLOSED STATE OF THE DOOR CHANGES AT RANDOM (WITHOUT THE ACTUAL DOOR BEING OPENED OR CLOSED) AND CAUSES THE ALARM TO RANDOMLY GO OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THE COMBINATION OF THE LIGHTS STAYING ILLUMINATED AND THE ALARM GOING OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED DRAINED AND RUINED THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE. JUMP STARTING THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK AND THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #11104157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 61,251 miles Victorville, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FAULTY DOOR SENSORS. DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS SHUT. MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AS THE DOME LIGHT REMAINS ON FOR MINUTES AFTER DRIVING MAKING REDUCING VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. WITH THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DOOR IS OPEN OR CLOSED. DUE TO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT, THE DOME LIGHT CONSTANTLY REMAINS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BATTERY. FIXED ONE SENSOR ALREADY, NOW ANOTHER DOOR SENSOR IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, ALONG WITH MY TRUNK SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING EVERY TIME I HIT ANY LITTLE BUMP. THE LIGHTS COME ON AS SOON AS WE START THE CAR, WHETHER MOVING OR PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #11094063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 110,000 miles Lakeside, AZ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE A 2013 FORD FLEX AND THE DOORS ALWAYS SAY THEY ARE OPEN EVEN THOUGHT THEY ARE CLOSED. IT CAUSES ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO LOCK MY DOORS, THE DOME LIGHT TO STAY ON WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN REVERSING AT NIGHT OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, AND I BELIEVE IT'S UNSAFE BEING THAT I HAVE CHILDREN AND I CAN'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE DOORS ARE CLOSED ACCURATELY. I'VE CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND GET THE RUN AROUND. THE DOME LIGHT WILL STAY ON UNTIL I'VE HIT 10MPH. REVERSING WITH A BRIGHT DOME LIGHT ON IS VERY DANGEROUS. I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #11084746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex Round Rock, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SENSOR KEEPS SAYING THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT'S CLOSED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SAYS SHIFT TO PARK AND CONSTANTLY ALERTS BECAUSE IT THINKS THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN AND WON'T ALLOW THE DOORS TO LOCK. THE CAR ALARM GOES OFF RANDOMLY EVEN WHEN IT'S LOCKED AND YOU AREN'T ABLE TO USE THE BUTTONS TO TURN OFF THE ALARM WITHOUT MANUALLY INSERTING THE KEY IN THE DOOR WHILE PRESSING THE BUTTON.. AND THE LIGHT ON IN THE CAR WILL STAY ON ALL NIGHT BECAUSE IT THINKS THE DOOR IS OPEN. I HAVE SEEN THIS AS AN ISSUE FOR MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE FORD FLEX AS WELL. WITH THE DOORS NOT LOCKING DURING DRIVING AND BATTERY DRAINAGE THIS CONCERNS ME AS A MOTHER.

NHTSA complaint #11084401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex ST Petesburg, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR KEEPS SAYING AJAR WHEN CLOSED. INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DOORS SHUT AND CAR IS IN MOTION.. OPEN AND SHUT DOOR SEVERAL TIMES BUT INDICATOR STAYS ON. ALARM GOES OFF RANDOMLY AT ANYTIME CAR IS PARKED. DOORS DO NOT LOCK ANYMORE WHEN CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. SAFETY CONCERNS THAT DOOR IS NOT SHUT WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA complaint #11082631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 98,000 miles Detroit, MI 1 injured

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BOTH OF THE TAIL LIGHTS HAVE WATER INTRUSION ABOUT 3 0Z OF WATER WITHIN THE CHAMBER. I HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES.SHORTENING OUT WHICH HAS CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH SAFETY AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #11080337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 60,000 miles SAN Angelo, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS SHOWING THAT IT IS OPEN RANDOMLY WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. (DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED) THE LIGHTS AND ALARM WILL COME ON AND MAKES IT UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DOOR SENSOR IS A ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #11076159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 62,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SENSOR/LATCH/ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. DOOR IS AJAR WARNING DOES NOT TURN OFF. DOORS CANNOT LOCK WHEN DRIVING. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR KIDS IN BACK SEATS. ALARM GOES OFF ANYTIME RANDOMLY. DRAINS BATTERY AND AFFECTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FAULTY BACK UP CAMERA. 2. WATER PUMP FAILURE UNDER ENGINE. COVERED BY 6YR/60K WARRANTY, FAILED AT 62K MILES. REPLACEMENT COST IS AN EXTREME HIGH COST OF $2700.

NHTSA complaint #11065444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex Mayfield, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS COME ON OFTEN WHEN I ATTEMPT TO DRIVE CAR AT NIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THEY DO GO OFF AFTER I DRIVE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #11047241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 91,000 miles Gonzales, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PASSENGER SIDE DOORS GIVE FALSE DOOR AJAR NOTIFICATIONS. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS REPAIRED JUNE 2017. REAR PASSENGER DOOR NOW SHOWS THE NOTIFICATION AS OF NOVEMBER 2017. FALSE NOTIFICATION LEADS TO DOME LIGHTING AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON. BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND REPLACED IN JUNE 2017. DOORS FAIL TO LOCK USING AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WHILE IN MOTION. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY WHICH SEEMS TO BE IMPACTING OTHER FORD VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #11045042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Flex at 50,000 miles Clackamas, OR

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DRIVER DOOR SENSOR FAILURE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, DOOR IS CLOSED AND LATCHING, BUT SYSTEM DOESN'T THINK IT IS. UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS, INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS STAY ON CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES AT NIGHT. PLUS ANNOYING DINGING ALERTS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC

NHTSA complaint #11034375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford Flex problems