Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2014GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly steering and fuel system
184 serious complaints of 249, the most about steering (66) and fuel system (46); per car on the road, 1.4× this model's usual year. 4 recalls.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2014 ford flex. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle loss power steering assist and became difficult to steer in either direction. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column was defective and needed to be replaced.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the steering, Jul 2020
“The contact owns a 2014 ford flex. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel drive module shorted out internally and the fuel pump failed. The vehicle was repaired.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the fuel system, Nov 2016
249 owner complaints · 4 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 18–20 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2014 trims and features
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
Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl, 288–355 hp; 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 288–355 hp · Drive: AWD, FWD
2014 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…
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.