2013 Ford Flex reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2013 Ford Flex — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 777
- 143 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 199 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 6
- see below
- Reported harm
- 20 reported crashes · 23 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#593
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
+440
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 2011-2015
+482
median 295 complaints in 627 records
Top component share
26%
Electrical System: 199 complaints
What owners report fails — 2013 Ford Flex
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 199
- STEERING 146
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 78
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 59
- STRUCTURE:BODY 58
6 recalls on record for the 2013 Ford Flex
- NHTSA 20V072000 · 2020 · SUSPENSION:REAR A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 16V621000 · 2016 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the ris
- NHTSA 15V340000 · 2015 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, incr
- NHTSA 15V812000 · 2015 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
- NHTSA 14V393000 · 2014 · POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, incre
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2013 Ford Flex
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2013 Ford Flex units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Ford Flex reliable?
NHTSA has 777 consumer complaints on record for the 2013 Ford Flex and 6 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (199 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2013 Ford Flex units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Flex?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (199), steering (146), unknown or other (78), fuel/propulsion system (59). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2013 Ford Flex?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.