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Ford FlexModel year report

2011 Ford Flex Problems

Compared with other Ford Flex years

Typical for this model

51/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2012

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
144filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
73,500miles, 117 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Ford Flex (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Ford Flex most often report loss of power steering assist, usually appearing as a warning message followed by a steering wheel that needs heavy effort, and many complaints link the symptom to a steering recall campaign their vehicle was not included in. The rest of the reports cluster around engine and cooling problems (water pump, head gasket, coolant in oil), transmission hesitation or harsh engagement, and second-row seat release handles that fail.

  1. Steering

    Power steering assist loss / hard steering

    • 46 complaints (32%)
    • median 120,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (35 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2010–2025

    Owners describe the power steering assist cutting out, often with a warning message in the cluster, leaving the wheel very hard to turn at low speed or during turns; some say it comes and goes and returns after restarting the vehicle. Complaints describe dealers diagnosing a failed steering gear, rack and pinion, steering control module or pump, and several owners state their vehicle was not covered by the steering recall. Some report the problem returning after a repair. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 175,000 miles, at all times of year and sometimes on the first start of the day.

    Recall 15V3400001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the steering recall work (campaign 15V340000) was performed on this VIN, and have a pre-purchase inspection confirm the steering assist works at low speed and while parking. A service bulletin describes updated diagnostic procedures for steering noises on these vehicles.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My current problem and has been for the last two years is the steering. As of around two years ago I have on multiple occasions the power steering losing the power and resulting in a very hard to control steering wheel while driving and very dangerous. This has happened roughly 6 times in two years. The problem would usually correct within around five seconds or so. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11139001, filed 2018-10, 85,000 miles

    “The steering rack and pinion went out on my 2011 Ford FLEX. The is a recall on Ford FLEX 2011-2013 but Ford keeps telling us it is not under warranty!!! We had this replaced and it went out again 4 months later. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed by Ford.”

    NHTSA complaint #11322535, filed 2020-04, 160,000 miles
  2. Engine

    Coolant loss, water pump and head gasket

    • 14 complaints (10%)
    • median 101,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • filed 2016–2026

    Owners report overheating while driving, sometimes at highway speed, with diagnosis pointing to a failed water pump and coolant mixing with the engine oil. Some complaints describe a blown head gasket after the overheating event and a vehicle that had to be towed. According to the complaints, dealers identified the water pump and the manufacturer declined assistance in some cases. Reported from around 85,000 to 150,000 miles, often during highway driving.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check the coolant level and look for coolant residue or a milky tint in the oil; ask whether the water pump has ever been replaced. A service bulletin describes oil consumption and smoking from the tailpipe on these engines.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Traveling along the interstate at regular speed, the engine began to overheat. A leak from the water pump occurred and flooded the engine and oil reservoir causing the vehicle to immediately smoke and overheat. After allowing the vehicle to sit and cool down so not to start a fire when the hood is lifted, the damage to the engine took place. The head gasket blew and antifreeze mixed in with the motor oil.”

    NHTSA complaint #11360648, filed 2020-09, 126,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2011 Ford FLEX. The contact called on behalf of her son. The contact stated that the water pump on the vehicle failed. The contact stated that her son called an unknown Ford dealer and informed them of the failure. The dealer informed him that it was the water pump that failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was undrivable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11365168, filed 2020-10, 100,000 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission hesitation and harsh engagement

    • 9 complaints (6%)
    • median 21,000 mi at 1.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2011–2026

    Complaints describe the vehicle feeling as if it is in neutral when pulling away from a stop, followed by the transmission banging or lurching into gear. Owners report the same hesitation before a harsh bump when rolling to a stop, and say dealers were often unable to reproduce or find a stored code. Some complaints also mention limp mode and rough running. Reported from very low mileage (under 5,000 miles) through roughly 60,000 miles and beyond.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Drive the vehicle from several rolling stops and low-speed pull-aways and note any delay, thunk or lurch; ask whether the transmission has been serviced or reprogrammed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “It has happened since 2012 sept, when I bought it at 4000km. I was about to start from a traffic light. I let go my brake and 'slightly' onto gas. Nothing at all happened. I push a bit harder and it crank into another gear as I felt like 'galloping'. I brought it to the body shop I knew (8 pm) and was told to go to dealers for transmittion check up. Did so, in 3 days - 'no code' no problem. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10872685, filed 2016-06, 3,450 miles

    “Transmission on FLEX often hesitates and thunks with a lurch. The lurch is so bad it now feels like we are being hit. It has happened in both forward and reverse. Tried to get it repaired twice at dealer - haven't been able to fix. Online forums with owners and service bulletins describe similar problem. Ford not acknowledging issue or helping.”

    NHTSA complaint #10484463, filed 2012-11, 34,000 miles
  4. Seats

    Second-row seat release handle stuck

    • 7 complaints (5%)
    • median 29,551 mi at 4.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2021

    Owners report the release handle on the second-row seat pulling fully without unlatching the seat, so the seat stays stuck and third-row passengers cannot get in or out. Complaints also describe the power-fold seat moving forward with force that owners found concerning. In the reports, the failure was not always diagnosed and some dealers did not repair it. Reported from around 10,000 miles up to about 130,000 miles.

    What to check: Operate both second-row release handles and the power fold on a test drive and confirm the seats unlatch and slide for third-row access.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The middle row seats behind the passenger, that has a hand bar pull for folding the seat flat then up has broken. The handle lifts fully but no action happens once pulled to fully. The seat is stuck in the seated position now.”

    NHTSA complaint #11406883, filed 2021-04, 10,000 miles

    “Bench seat...second row behind passenger seat. To gain access to third row....have to hit button and seat automatically flips and folds forward to allow you access to third row. The second row seat flips forward with such force it absolutely presents a hazard to either a child and even an adult that gets in the way. Also...sunroof model and sun shades that block out the sun in second and third row go back with such a force....little fingers could get slammed in that. Nothing to buffer it. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10621039, filed 2014-08, 35,000 miles

Buying note. Check the steering assist carefully at low speed and confirm whether the steering recall applies to the VIN, and have a mechanic inspect for coolant loss and transmission behavior. Records of water pump replacement and transmission service are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 144 consumer complaints for the 2011 Ford Flex. 117 of the complaints include a mileage, and 30% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 73,500 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 9 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 44 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Ford Flex model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 51 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (4), Tires (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Air bags (2), Electronic stability control (2), Equipment (2), Exterior lighting (2), Suspension (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “Driving the vehicle the electronic power steering failed while driving straight.. I was driving approximately 55 MPH. A service power steering and service advanc trac system code appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle is extremely hard to steer. I believe the electronic power steering system failed in the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11191324, filed 2019-03, 101,850 miles

Engine: “Car has meticulous service record, I had 86k miles on car. The car would not start towed to dealership. The ceramic water pump exploded, causing coolent to mix with oil. Now I need new engine $8,000. I have used same dealership for car maintenance for last 7 years.”

NHTSA complaint #11041520, filed 2017-10, 86,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Ptu failure - I have had my FLEX since 2012. I have never had an issue with anything in that vehicle. I am in the military, and I travel a lot. I have that oil changed and tires rotated religiously. Fluids are always topped off. I just turned over 120,000 miles on my 2011 FLEX, 85 percent of those miles were highway. My FLEX started hesitating, occasionally. An occasional jerk into gear. Then started making metal-grinding noises, then sputtering. This happened over a 3 month period. I find out my ptu is shot, of course I am over the mileage for the warranty - shocker. …”

NHTSA complaint #11012327, filed 2017-08, 120,000 miles

Other or unknown: “We are seeing alot in the new media about Ford explorers and exhaust issues. About a year ago we experienced similar issues with our FLEX. My husband has a 30-35 minute highway commute to work, was arriving at work and coming home feeling ill to the point where he would need to sit or lay down, it would eventually pass. We noticed a strong rotten egg smell in the vehicle. Ford dealer had the car for 2 weeks, was able to duplicate the odor - related to running A/C at highway speed - unable to figure out what was causing it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11012246, filed 2017-08, 50,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

30% of the 117 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 123,000 miles.

14%0–103%10–2513%25–5021%50–759%75–10030%100–15010%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (117 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 73,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’11’1418’17’20’23’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 Ford Flex. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Flex · SUV AWDnot rated———4 · 15.1% risk
Flex · SUV FWDnot rated———4 · 16.4% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Ford Flex version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Flex AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162218$3,700
Flex AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162118$3,700
Flex FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172419$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 Ford Flex → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 44 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 44 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford Flex

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201925750,0004—1950 · TypicalRising
20186960,0003—1931 · FewerRising
20174278,5004—190 · FewerRising
201610162,1553—1929 · FewerRising
201511556,8004—2053 · TypicalStable
201424965,0004—2078 · MoreFalling
201358065,0006—20100 · MoreFalling
20126465,0062—1925 · FewerStable
201114473,5002—1951 · TypicalStable
201013972,0001—2047 · TypicalStable
200918160,0001—1973 · MoreFalling

All Ford Flex model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Flex?

Owners of the 2011 Ford Flex most often report loss of power steering assist, usually appearing as a warning message followed by a steering wheel that needs heavy effort, and many complaints link the symptom to a steering recall campaign their vehicle was not included in. The issues reported most often: Power steering assist loss / hard steering; Coolant loss, water pump and head gasket; Transmission hesitation and harsh engagement.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Ford Flex have?

NHTSA recorded 144 consumer complaints for the 2011 Ford Flex as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Ford Flex is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 57 complaints (40% of the total), followed by engine with 25.

Has the 2011 Ford Flex been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Flex get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Ford Flex (Flex FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Ford Flex reported?

Among the 117 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 73,500 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 123,000 miles; 30% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.