2016 Ford Flex
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 33 of 98 complaints (34%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Suspension, Wheels & Tires include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 105 in 2015 to 98 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100–3,450 | 3,100–3,450 | 3,300–3,650 | 3,300–3,650 | 3,300–3,650 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–20 | 18–20 | 17–19 | 17–19 | 17–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–18 / 23–25 | 16–18 / 22–25 | 15–16 / 21–23 | 15–16 / 21–23 | 15–16 / 21–23 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 437–483 | 438–481 | 481–523 | 468–523 | 468–523 | |
| Complaints filed | 249 | 105 | 98 | 42 | 65 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 11 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Flex have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Ford Flex?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 33 of 98 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford Flex get?
EPA rates it 17–19 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Ford Flex?
EPA estimates $3,300–$3,650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 16 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 19 mpg (high) | $3,300 (low) | 481 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg (high) | 22 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 491 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 25V695000 · Oct 14, 2025
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 20V072000 · Feb 11, 2020
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · Campaign 16V925000 · Dec 22, 2016
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.