2013 Ford Flex

SUV · 2010–2019

2010–2019 Ford Flex — 2010–2019 pictured. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Which year to buy

Best bet2017Fewest serious problems: 0.6× usual Newest we'd buy2019The latest year rated a good buy AvoidNoneNo year stands out as bad Be careful2013More problems; check the recalls were done

usual

’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19

Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.

2013CAREFULSerious complaints 2.4× usual, mostly steering and structure

351 serious complaints of 580, the most about steering (149) and structure (69); per car on the road, 2.4× this model's usual year. 6 recalls.

What owners report

“The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle intermittently experienced a loss of power steering assist. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the steering, Feb 2024

“The contact owns a 2013 ford flex. The contact stated that when the front passenger side door was closed, the front passenger side door ajar warning light illuminated. In addition, the doors failed to lock when the vehicle was operated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the structure, Sep 2015

580 owner complaints · 6 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 18–20 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2013 trims and features

Every Flex year's verdict →

Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.

Trims and features

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl, 288–355 hp; 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 288–355 hp · Drive: AWD, FWD

2013 Flex trims

	Limited	SE	SEL

base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Ford reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Ford aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.

Year by year

Year	Engines	Drive	Fuel economy	Crash rating	Recalls	Owner complaints	Most-reported problem	CarPlay
2019	3.5L 6-cyl, 287–365 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 287–365 hp	AWD, FWD	17–19 mpg	Not rated	4	251	Back over prevention (141)	Yes
2018	3.5L 6-cyl, 287–365 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 287–365 hp	AWD, FWD	17–19 mpg	Not rated	3	67	Unknown or other (19)	Yes
2017	3.5L 6-cyl, 287–365 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 287–365 hp	AWD, FWD	17–19 mpg	Not rated	4	42	Unknown or other (13)	Yes
2016	3.5L 6-cyl, 287–365 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 287–365 hp	AWD, FWD	17–19 mpg	Not rated	3	98	Back over prevention (26)	No
2015	3.5L 6-cyl, 262–355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 262–355 hp	AWD, FWD	18–20 mpg	Not rated	4	110	Back over prevention (29)	No
2014	3.5L 6-cyl, 288–355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 288–355 hp	AWD, FWD	18–20 mpg	Not rated	4	249	Steering (66)	No
2013	3.5L 6-cyl, 288–355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 288–355 hp	AWD, FWD	18–20 mpg	Not rated	6	580	Electrical system (201)	No
2012	3.5L 6-cyl, 262–355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 262–355 hp	AWD, FWD	18–19 mpg	Not rated	2	64	Steering (24)	No
2011	3.5L 6-cyl, 262–355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 262–355 hp	4WD, AWD, FWD	18–19 mpg	Not rated	2	144	Steering (57)	No
2010	3.5L 6-cyl 3.5L 6-cyl turbo	4WD, AWD, FWD	18–20 mpg	Not rated	1	139	Steering (32)	No

Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.

Which years have…

Third row (7+ seats)Blind-spot monitoring

Apple lists CarPlay for: Flex 2017–2019 (Apple).

Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2019	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	4	251
2019	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	4	251
2018	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	3	67
2018	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	3	67
2017	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	4	42
2017	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	4	42
2016	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	3	98
2016	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	3	98
2015	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	No	Optional	4	110
2015	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	No	Optional	4	110
2014	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	4	249
2014	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	4	249
2013	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	6	580
2013	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	Optional	No	6	580
2012	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	64
2012	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	64
2011	Ford Flex SUV AWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	144
2011	Ford Flex SUV FWD	Not Rated	No	No	2	144
2010	Ford Flex 4-DR. w/SAB	Not Rated	No	No	1	139

Source: NHTSA.

Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2019	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	17–18
2019	Flex FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19
2018	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	17–18
2018	Flex FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19
2017	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	17–18
2017	Flex FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19
2016	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	17–18
2016	Flex FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19
2015	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	18–19
2015	Flex FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	20
2014	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	18–19
2014	Flex FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	20
2013	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	18–19
2013	Flex FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	20
2012	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	18
2012	Flex FWD	Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19
2011	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	18
2011	Flex FWD	Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19
2010	Flex AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	18
2010	Flex FWD	Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	20

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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