2013 Ford Flex: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Ford Flex: 6 recalls, 580 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #13V227000 · 2013 · 390,783 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module May develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #14V393000 · 2014 · 83,250 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip May not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft May move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
Why it matters: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle May roll away despite the transmission being placed in…
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014.
Steering Vehicle recall #15V340000 · 2015 · 393,623 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l engine and Lincoln mkz hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford taurus, Ford flex, Lincoln mks, and Lincoln mkt vehicles equipped with a 3.5l gtdi engine and 2013 Ford taurus, Ford flex, Lincoln mks, and Lincoln mkt vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that May shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the power steering control module (pscm) for diagnostic trouble codes (dtc). 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…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #15V812000 · 2015 · 868 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module May crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #16V621000 · 2016 · 77,502 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l gtdi ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford taurus police interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (pem) May overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
Why it matters: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel pem part number and replace the fuel pem, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016.
Suspension Vehicle recall #20V072000 · 2020 · 211,207 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear suspension toe links May fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Why it matters: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford 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…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (201): the most common themes are door / lock issues (173), electrical failure (65), warning light on (37).
- Steering (149): the most common themes are steering problems (144), warning light on (33).
- Other / unknown (78): the most common themes are electrical failure (22), warning light on (7).
- Body & structure (69): the most common themes are door / lock issues (65).
The 2013 Ford Flex has 580 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 11 Flex model years for complaints (3.3× the average Flex year). Complaints peaked in 2016 (100 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 65,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (64 complaints, 2 recalls), 2014 (249 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Ford Flex.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Ford Flex have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Ford Flex. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Flex problems?
Owners have filed 580 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (201), steering (149), other / unknown (78).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford Flex get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Ford Flex repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.