2016 Ford Flex problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Flex, most often about driver assistance & safety tech. There are 3 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
82
Recalls
3
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Median mileage
80,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech is the most-reported problem area, named in 30 of 82 complaints (37%).
  • Electrical System (22) and body & structure (12) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 80,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries.
  • The 2016 Ford Flex has 3 recalls on file.
  • It ranks 4th of 11 Ford Flex model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 9% more complaints than the 2015 model year (75).

2016 Ford Flex problems by category

  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech · 1 crash
    30 complaints
  • Electrical System · 1 crash
    22 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    12 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    11 complaints
  • Suspension · 1 crash
    9 complaints
  • Engine
    6 complaints
  • Steering
    6 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    3 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    3 complaints
  • Brakes
    2 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    2 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    2 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    1 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Electrical system21
Back over prevention18
Unknown or other11
Suspension9
Structure:body6
Steering6
Back over prevention: rearview system braking5
Engine5

When problems happen (mileage)

1Under 10k210k–30k630k–60k1160k–100k7100k–150k6150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2016 Ford Flex complaints that list mileage.

2016 Ford Flex recalls (3)

  • Recall 25V695000Oct 13, 20251,448,655 vehicles
    BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

  • Recall 20V072000Feb 10, 2020211,207 vehicles
    SUSPENSION:REAR

    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.

    Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 16V925000Dec 22, 20161,163 vehicles
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

    Risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

Recent 2016 Ford Flex complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Sep 2, 2026MIBody & StructureDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a blank or distorted image. The contact made several attempts to notify the dealer…
    NHTSA complaint #11761520 · source
  2. Filed Aug 28, 202680,000 miFLDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to perform the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in Reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed an inverted image. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
    NHTSA complaint #11760311 · source
  3. Filed Aug 19, 2026COEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    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 · source
  4. Filed Aug 15, 2026TNElectrical System
    Radio making crackling noises, screen goes blank, cannot control a/c from touch screen and causes the a/c not to work on front vents. Vehicle inside died while the engine was still running in traffic and was unable to start/stop vehicle from running, a/c ran hot then vehicle stop running.
    NHTSA complaint #11757098 · source
  5. Filed Aug 3, 2026OHOther / Unknown
    There is a current recall on the backup camera that has been pending since 2025. Parts are still not available as of today even though Ford stated parts and instructions were going to be available before end of 2nd quarter, June 30, 2026. Camera has not worked since mid 2025, Ford has been aware since end of 2025.
    NHTSA complaint #11754494 · source
  6. Filed Jul 20, 202668,000 miMABody & StructureDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera failed to display an image of the rear of the vehicle. A black screen was displayed on…
    NHTSA complaint #11751565 · source
  7. Filed Jul 20, 2026130,000 miINDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The rearview camera became intermittently inoperative. The contact stated that the intermittent failure made it difficult to safely reverse the vehicle while the rearview camera was inoperable. While reversing in a parking lot, the rearview camera became inoperative. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer,…
    NHTSA complaint #11751564 · source
  8. Filed Jul 17, 2026140,000 miCADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank or distorted screen. In addition, the contact stated that the rear-view camera flickered on and off and the rear-view camera unavailable message was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer.…
    NHTSA complaint #11751064 · source

Compare the 2016 Ford Flex with another vehicle →

Other 2016 Ford models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology