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Ford FlexModel year report

2019 Ford Flex Problems

Compared with other Ford Flex years

Typical for this model

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

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2016, 2017, 2018

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
257filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,000miles, 112 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2019 Ford Flex (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Ford Flex most often describe problems with the rearview camera and with exterior trim coming loose. Camera complaints typically report a blank, blue, distorted or upside-down image when reversing, and many owners say they were told the recall repair parts were unavailable. A second cluster of complaints describes B-pillar and door trim detaching while driving, sometimes letting water in or exposing wiring.

  1. Back-over prevention (rear camera)

    Rearview camera blank, blue, distorted or upside-down

    • 170 complaints (66%)
    • median 50,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (87 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2022–2026

    When shifting into reverse, owners describe the screen going blank or blue, showing a distorted or inverted image, or displaying a message that the camera is not available. Many say the problem started intermittently and became more frequent over time. Several owners were told by the dealer that the camera needed replacement but that parts were on backorder, and some had the camera replaced at their own expense. A number of complaints reference recall notifications and describe waiting months for the remedy parts. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 35,000 miles to over 110,000 miles, with many clustered between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles.

    Recall 25V695000Recall 24V951000

    What to check: On a test drive, shift into reverse and watch the screen for a blank, blue or inverted image. Ask whether recall 24V951000 or 25V695000 has been performed on the vehicle and whether any camera replacement was done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking space, the back over prevention camera became blurry, making it difficult for the contact to properly see an image in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 29,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #11523299, filed 2023-05, 29,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the rearview camera was intermittently inoperable, and the image was distorted while reversing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the rearview camera was replaced at the owner's expense. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V951000 (Back Over Prevention). …”

    NHTSA complaint #11720088, filed 2026-02, 34,226 miles
  2. Body and structure

    B-pillar and door trim detaching while driving

    • 67 complaints (26%)
    • median 50,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (39 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2023–2026

    Owners describe the driver or passenger side B-pillar trim applique coming loose and in some cases flying off the vehicle while driving. Some report wind noise afterward, water leaking into the cabin through the gap, and in one case damage to wiring that was left exposed. Dealers reportedly diagnosed the detached trim and replaced it on some vehicles, while other owners were told the repair parts were unavailable. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 75,000 miles, with a few at much higher mileage.

    Recall 25V7320001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Push and pull gently on both B-pillar appliques and look for gaps, loose edges, water stains on the headliner or carpet, and wind noise on a highway test drive. Ask whether recall 25V732000 has been completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side B Pillar Trim Appliques detached and fell off. The dealer ws made aware of the failre, the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #11741807, filed 2026-06, 62,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera was inoperable. Additionally, the driver's side door B-Pillar trim had detached from the vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11753273, filed 2026-07, 40,000 miles

Buying note. The two most common themes here are the rearview camera and loose B-pillar trim, both covered by recalls, so confirm with a dealer that the recall work has actually been completed before buying. Also check the camera on a reverse test and look for water leaks or loose exterior trim.

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 257 consumer complaints for the 2019 Ford Flex. 112 of the complaints include a mileage, and 45% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 50 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 50 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: Air bags (2), Engine cooling (2), Seat belts (2), Equipment (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Back-over prevention (rear camera): “Rear view camera shows a black or blue screen on display. This happened the other day in the middle of backing my vehicle and caused a near miss with an person crossing behind vehicle. This is a major safety issue and i see ford has recalled almost every make and model for this same issue but not the flex.”

NHTSA complaint #11569170, filed 2024-01

Body and structure: “B pillar (keypad) on drivers side flew off on the highway and cracked in half, the lower part was still attached to the wiring harness. The upper part flew onto the roadway. I had to pull over and strap the lower part to the window/door frame and drive the rest of the way with my window down in hot weather for 60+ miles. This is part of a recall, but no remedy is currently available from Ford.”

NHTSA complaint #11752867, filed 2026-07

Other or unknown: “Occasionally when I am turning left or right there is a clunking noise under the front end of my car. I typically back into a parking space and when I am lining up my car to back in is mostly when the noise occurs. It is a loud sound that almost sounds like a popping or snapping. It does not matter the temperature outside, nor does it matter whether it is dry or wet. It isn't happening every time either. It is frightening, though, because I had a tie rod snap on a car one time and it always makes me think of that. …”

NHTSA complaint #11312000, filed 2020-02, 6,500 miles

Electrical system: “Along with problems from the current recalls (that still don't have remedies), our 2019 Ford Flex also has a faulty gas gauge. Not sure what component it would be considered, but even when we fill the tank up with gas, it doesn't register properly how much gas we have in the tank. It shouldn't be a guessing game as to how much gas is in the vehicle. I used to love Fords, but the combination of safety issues is concerning.”

NHTSA complaint #11734597, filed 2026-04

Mileage when problems were reported

45% of the 112 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 74,561 miles.

4%0–104%10–2536%25–5030%50–7515%75–1009%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (112 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20192020202120222023202420251002026
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 2019 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

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2019 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2019 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 automatic152117$3,950
Flex FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162319$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 2019 Ford Flex → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

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. 50 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 50 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 2019 Ford Flex?

Owners of the 2019 Ford Flex most often describe problems with the rearview camera and with exterior trim coming loose. The issues reported most often: Rearview camera blank, blue, distorted or upside-down; B-pillar and door trim detaching while driving.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019 Ford Flex have?

NHTSA recorded 257 consumer complaints for the 2019 Ford Flex as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2019 Ford Flex is reported most often?

Back-over prevention is named most often, in 145 complaints (56% of the total), followed by body and structure with 59.

Has the 2019 Ford Flex been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2019 Ford Flex get?

The EPA rates the 2019 Ford Flex (Flex FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 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 2019 Ford Flex reported?

Among the 112 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,000 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 74,561 miles; 45% 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.