2016 Ford Flex Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Ford Flex most often write about the rearview camera, which they say fades, blurs, flips upside down or goes blank when reversing; many mention that a camera recall was announced but that parts were still unavailable at the time they filed. A second recurring theme is loss of power steering assist, often reported with a warning chime and a steering message. The rest of the complaints are spread across suspension and rear toe-link concerns, engine cooling and turbo issues, door latches, and a small number of transmission and electrical reports.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera blank, blurry, flickering or upside down

   • 30 complaints (30%)
   • median 69,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the backup camera image fading in and out, appearing blurry, tinted blue or green, showing upside down, or going completely blank with a 'Camera Unavailable' message when reverse is engaged. Some say the problem appeared gradually and others that it simply stopped working. Several owners had the camera replaced, in some cases more than once and partly at their own expense, and report the problem returning. Multiple complaints mention being told that recall parts were not yet available. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 25,000 to over 180,000 miles, with several reports between 40,000 and 80,000 miles.

   Recall 25V695000

   What to check: Put the vehicle in reverse and watch the screen through a full cycle, ideally more than once and at night; ask whether the camera has ever been replaced and whether recall 25V695000 has been completed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear back up camera first started flickering in and out when I would go in reverse and now it doesn’t work at all. No warning before it went out just the flickering and now nothing. Then I seen where other vehicles my year had problems with their camera systems and thought it’s probably the same thing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11662971, filed 2025-05

   “camera recall number is 25S72 (NHTSA 25V442000). I own a 2016 Ford Flex and its having the same issue. I had the camera replaced at the dealership out of pocket once before and its still not working. I feel my issue is the same as this recall just affecting a different model.”

   NHTSA complaint #11686837, filed 2025-09
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine coolant loss, turbo and throttle-body issues

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners of the turbocharged 3.5L describe white smoke from the exhaust and a sudden loss of power, with service centers reporting low boost, failed turbochargers and coolant leaks that washed out the engine oil. Others report coolant intrusion requiring engine replacement, and some describe the engine stalling or cutting out without warning at low mileage. Complaints also mention a strong exhaust or fuel smell inside the cabin. Spread from under 10,000 miles to about 160,000 miles, with the turbo and coolant reports mostly in the 100,000-plus range.

   Recall 16V925000

   What to check: Check coolant level and look for residue or white smoke at the tailpipe, ask whether the turbo oil supply tubes were addressed under recall 16V925000, and request service records for coolant or turbo work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall my engine light went on 2000 miles before my manufactures warranty expired. I have a Ford shop here, but they are rated so low and I hear nothing but bad stuff about them, so I called the next closest 95 miles away in spearfish, sd. I explained to the guy what code the engine threw, but my light is now off. He said not to come in, until my engine light came back on. Meanwhile my engine still hisses and the exhaust odor is so strong inside and outside of the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11154082, filed 2018-11, 32,000 miles

   “The vehicle was in motion and was turning left from a stop at a stoplight. We were preparing to enter a highway on-ramp. The engine suddenly quit (no warning) and would not restart. Had this happened a few moments later (merging into heavy highway traffic), an accident would have been likely. We were not able to restart the engine and the vehicle had to be towed. It only has 31,000 miles. It gave no signs of impending problems, the engine failure was completely without warning. (there was plenty of fuel in the tank also).”

   NHTSA complaint #11194529, filed 2019-04, 31,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Loss of power steering assist while driving

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes on start-up, often accompanied by a steering warning light or a 'Power Steering Assist Service Required' message. Owners say much more effort is needed to turn the wheel. According to the complaints, dealers diagnosed a faulty steering control module or rack in some cases, while others were told the VIN was not covered by a recall. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 135,000 miles, with a few reports at very low mileage.

   What to check: Ask whether the power steering control module or rack has been replaced, and during a test drive note any warning messages or unusually stiff steering at low speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drove my 2016 Ford FLEX I tried to avoid animal on road and steering assist light came on couldnt steer and hit a pole. The dealership wouldnt look at cause I had it towed there told me I had to go where my inusrance would fix it I had no car for four months theres no recall on it cause its a new truck there were problems with this FLEX in 2010-2016 getting the brushoff from my dealer”

   NHTSA complaint #10953900, filed 2017-02, 11,000 miles

   “As I was driving turning at a light to go right all of a sudden my steering wheel got super hard and It almost caused me to get into an accident. I didn't have the strength to grip the steering wheel. Shortly after the advanced traction control service light came on. Luckily there was an auto parts store near the incident. I stopped left my vehicle running and got it scanned. There was a code that came up U0420-81 it was odd because my wheels where straight but the steering wheel was completely off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11748120, filed 2026-07
4. 4
   Suspension

   Rear suspension noise and toe-link failure

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 66,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report clunking or knocking from the rear or dashboard area, and some describe the rear end stepping sideways or the vehicle pulling unexpectedly, in one case after a toe-link repair had already been done. Others mention squeaks over bumps traced to strut mounts. Several complaints were filed mainly to note that a rear suspension recall remedy was still unavailable long after the notice. Appears from about 35,000 miles upward, with several reports between 60,000 and 70,000 miles.

   Recall 20V072000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 20V072000 was completed and whether the rear toe links have been replaced; listen for rear-end clunks over bumps and check for uneven rear tire wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford FLEX. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v072000 (suspension) however, the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11325531, filed 2020-05, 69,893 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notice of an unknown recall associated with the right rear toe link, that was previously repaired. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 5 MPH, she observed a loud snapping noise emanating from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that as his wife attempted to steer the vehicle into the drive way the vehicle the vehicle began steering to the right. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it has yet to be diagnosed as of yet. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11737652, filed 2026-05, 115,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Door latches and locks not holding or releasing

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe door ajar warnings at start-up, doors that are hard to close securely, and a latch that fractured internally, with the dealer identifying a broken spring that also damaged the striker. One owner also reports the vehicle not shutting off properly when the ignition was turned off while the door lock was malfunctioning. Reported from around 16,000 miles to about 133,000 miles.

   What to check: Open and close every door several times, listen for a solid latch click, and ask whether any door latch assemblies have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear park assist camera does not activate when in reverse. Read passenger door lock pawl fracture-NHTSA recall. Ford refuses to repair the recall because they did not issue the recall. This door has a fractured pawl lock/latch on the rear passenger door. Car does not detect key. We paid additional for fob annual replacements, Ford refuses to replace the fobs even when its faulty. I recorded this call...and every other call.”

   NHTSA complaint #11391013, filed 2021-02, 62,155 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front and rear door latches malfunctioned making it difficult to securely close the doors. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11442881, filed 2021-12, 80,000 miles

Buying note. Check the backup camera and power steering closely on a test drive, and confirm which of the open recalls for this model year - camera, rear suspension and turbo oil tubes - have actually been completed on the specific vehicle. Service records showing coolant, turbo or steering work are worth asking for before deciding.

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.