2017 Ford Flex problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Flex, most often about suspension. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
39
Recalls
4
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Median mileage
80,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Suspension is the most-reported problem area, named in 13 of 39 complaints (33%).
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (7) and visibility & wipers (4) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 80,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury.
  • The 2017 Ford Flex has 4 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 8th of 11 Ford Flex model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 52% fewer complaints than the 2016 model year (82).

2017 Ford Flex problems by category

  • Suspension · 1 crash
    13 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    13 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    7 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    4 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    3 complaints
  • Electrical System
    3 complaints
  • Steering
    3 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    2 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    2 complaints
  • Engine
    1 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    1 complaints
  • Airbags · 1 crash
    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
Suspension13
Unknown or other13
Back over prevention6
Visibility/wiper4
Electrical system3
Steering3
Structure3
Power train2

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k110k–30k130k–60k760k–100k1100k–150k1150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2017 Ford Flex complaints that list mileage.

2017 Ford Flex recalls (4)

  • Recall 25V732000Oct 24, 202592,347 vehicles
    STRUCTURE:BODY

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

    Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 28, 2025.

  • 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • PE25007Opened Aug 7, 2025Closed Aug 5, 2026led to recall 25V732

    B-Pillar Trim Detachment

    On August 7, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25007 to investigate instances of B-pillar trim detachment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Flex vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. During the investigation, MY 2011-2018 Ford Flex vehicles were analyzed as peer vehicles, and subsequently incorporated into the subject population because they use B-pillar trim pieces that are substantially similar to those used on the MY 2019 Ford Flex vehicles. In July 2025, prior to the opening of PE25007, ODI and Ford met to discuss B-pillar trim detachment in Ford Flex vehicles. For…

Recent 2017 Ford Flex complaints

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

  1. Filed Jul 24, 2026190,000 miTXBody & StructureDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V829000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a blank image while in reverse(R). In addition, the contact stated that the driver’s side…
    NHTSA complaint #11752577 · source
  2. Filed Jul 22, 202685,000 miILDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera displayed a distorted image. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had…
    NHTSA complaint #11752005 · source
  3. Filed Jun 18, 2026CADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the rear-view camera…
    NHTSA complaint #11745001 · source
  4. Filed May 21, 202680,000 miMIBody & Structure
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side B-Pillar Applique Trim detached and flew off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V732000 (Structure) however the parts were unavailable. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11739237 · source
  5. Filed Apr 17, 2026OHEngine
    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…
    NHTSA complaint #11731995 · source
  6. Filed Mar 19, 2026NYBody & StructureDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2017 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V732000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11725556 · source
  7. Filed Mar 11, 2026FLElectrical SystemOther / UnknownVisibility & Wipers
    Hello, I recently submitted a safety complaint regarding my 2017 Ford Flex. The complaint number is XXX. I would like to add additional information that I forgot to include in the original report. The vehicle’s power liftgate has intermittently opened on its own while the vehicle was parked. There have been occasions where I came outside and found the liftgate open overnight in my driveway. This issue appears to be intermittent and part of the same electrical problems…
    NHTSA complaint #11723541 · source
  8. Filed Mar 11, 2026FLElectrical SystemOther / UnknownVisibility & Wipers
    My 2017 Ford Flex has an open safety recall for the rearview camera system (Ford Recall 25S49 / NHTSA Recall 25V695). The recall states the camera may display a blank image or show the message “Camera Unavailable” when the vehicle is placed in reverse. My vehicle is actively experiencing this exact failure. The screen frequently displays “Camera Unavailable,” preventing the rearview camera safety feature from functioning when the vehicle is put in reverse. I received the…
    NHTSA complaint #11723530 · source

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Other 2017 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