It is no surprise that the Blue Oval has its presence in almost every segment of utility vehicles, and with the Ford Flex, the brand “flexed” its brilliance in design. Launched recently in 2009, the SUV has already gained several accolades for being an affordable yet reliable machine. The 2011 Ford Flex remains unchanged and so does its impressive reliability too. For the current model year, the crossover has seen only 119 complaints to date along with 2 recalls. The recalls were issued to address the loss of power steering failure issue and improper deployment of airbags issue. In the complaint department, the power steering and powertrain have seen more complaints than any other aspects of the SUV. The last year’s model also faced a similar scenario in terms of complaints as well. In its class, the Ford Flex challenges the Buick Enclave, the Honda Pilot, and the Mazda CX-9.
Ford Flex user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Turbocharger failure: A couple of reports mentioning turbocharger failures were reported against the 2011 Ford Flex. As a result of the failure, the engine lost power while driving. The dealership replaced both the turbochargers but the issue recurred. Afterward, a single turbocharger among the two was changed again. In another case, the turbochargers failed only at 62,000 miles and there were metal shavings in the engine oil. The owner claimed that the engine was possibly damaged.
- Engine backfiring issue: One owner complains regarding a backfiring issue. While driving the SUV, he experienced shuddering and shaking from the powertrain which was accompanied by backfires. The issue aggravates during heavy moisture conditions such as snow or rain. Furthermore, the issue persisted in dry weather conditions as well.
- Water pump failure: In one instance, the water pump of the engine failed. Due to the failure, the timing belt fractured and the valves were bent by the pistons.
Interior problems
- Seat latch problems: The second-row seats of some 2011 Ford Flex units malfunctioned. By design, the seats are supposed to give access to the third-row seats whereas the seats get locked up in an upright position, trapping the third-row passengers or preventing access to the seats as well.
Miscellaneous problems
- Power steering failure: Quite a number of 2011 Ford Flex units were affected by the power steering failure issue. All the complainants mentioned in their reports that while driving, the power steering of their vehicles failed. As a result, the vehicles became hard to control and the steering wheels were almost locked up.
2011 Ford Flex recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
June 2, 2015 |
15V340000 |
Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist |
If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. |
Ford will notify the owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module for Diagnostic Trouble Codes. If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. |
|
2 |
April 26, 2016 |
16V247000 |
Airbag Second Stage may not Inflate Properly |
An improperly inflated airbag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash. |
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal airbag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. |
Should you buy a used Ford Flex?
The Ford Flex has been awarded the most reliable SUV from the Blue Oval as well as in its segment too, according to Consumer Reports. Moreover, it is evident from the number of complaints the SUV had to face in the last couple of years while a couple of issues such as the power steering failure and the airbag deployment problems did bug some owners. However, the automaker issued a couple of recalls to fix the problems. Also, the brand needs to make the EcoBoost engines more reliable since a handful of owners complained about turbocharger failures that occurred at a premature stage. Getting a used Ford Flex would be a great idea given the handsome list of features and the comfort it offers at attractive price tags. However, do inspect the used models for the turbocharger issues and the power steering issues as mentioned earlier.
