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Ford · Midsize / large SUV

2016 Ford Flex

Gas

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

69 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical3

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA98

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

Fuel economybest combined, EPA19 mpg

2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Ford Flex is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Flex FWD, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 98 complaints, most often about the back over prevention.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Flex FWD	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	16	23	19	$3,300
Flex AWD	Gas	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl	16	22	18	$3,450
Flex AWD	Gas	AWD	3.5L 6-cyl turbo	15	21	17	$3,650

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37187, 37189, 37190.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Back Over Prevention

25SA9

1,448,655 vehicles

ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.RiskA rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâ€™s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford'

NHTSA campaign 25V695000reported Oct 13, 2025Ford Motor Company

▲high

Suspension

20S04

211,207 vehicles

ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.RiskA fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall i

NHTSA campaign 20V072000reported Feb 10, 2020Ford Motor Company

!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

16S46

1,163 vehicles

ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.RiskAn oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

NHTSA campaign 16V925000reported Dec 22, 2016Ford Motor Company

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

98complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 21 · 2026: 28

Most-cited components

Back Over Prevention28

Electrical System23

Unspecified14

Suspension10

Structure9

Power Train8

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera was inoperable. The message that the camera was unavailable was displayed on the screen. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufactur…”Oct 3, 2024 · Back Over Prevention · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed…”Aug 12, 2024 · Steering · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The steering warning light was illuminated. The contact was unable to add power steering fluid. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who provided the contact with an estimate for the r…”Jul 25, 2024 · Steering · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★★☆	15%
SUV FWD	not rated	not rated	not rated	★★★★☆	16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Flex model years

2019 Ford Flex

4 recalls · 243 complaints

2018 Ford Flex

3 recalls · 65 complaints

2017 Ford Flex

4 recalls · 42 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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