Ford Flex problems
578 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Steering: 149 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 70,000–134,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Car battery dying. Said synch line is in, but it's not. Door ajar lights for both driver and passenger side are always on. When come to a stop, beeps and says engine on, shift to park. Can't lock doors. Have to manually lock doors, otherwise the alarm always goes off. So cannot…
3 out of the 4 doors on the flex will not lock, I called Ford again today and was told we are not a part of the 2.4 million cars recalled. My children cannot lock the doors while we are traveling and it is very concerning to us, Ford suggested I pay for new locks and if we are…
While driving, the radio turns off and the climate control system malfunctions causing the heater to engage to high with no way to turn the system off. All controls are disabled and there is no way to turn the system off. Unplugged the battery for 30 minutes as suggested,…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford flex. The contact stated that the door ajar warning indicator illuminated even when the doors were closed. The contact stated that due to the failure, the interior lights did not cease to function, the doors would not lock, and the horns would…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2013 Ford Flex reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 578 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Ford Flex is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Ford Flex?
The 2013 Ford Flex is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Steering: 149 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 70,000–134,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Ford Flex?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is electrical, with 189 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 60,385 miles. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The electrical is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $850 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 60,385 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford Flex has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Ford Flex?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 578 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $850, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.