What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Flex?

Steering leads with 57 complaints. Engine has 32 and power train has 19.

Does the 2011 Ford Flex have recalls?

Yes. The by-year data shows 2 recalls for 2011, and they are listed in the Recalls section.

What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Ford Flex?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.

Is the 2011 Ford Flex reliable?

Owner reports focus on steering, engine and power train issues. Compare with other years in the by-year section.

2011 Ford Flex Problems, Recalls and MPG

Q: How many complaints does the 2011 Ford Flex have?

NHTSA has 144 owner complaints on file.

NHTSA has 144 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Ford Flex^[1]. Steering is the biggest group, with 57 complaints^[2].

144owner complaints^[1]

2recalls^[3]

18–19MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners name most often, biggest first.

Steering. 57 complaints^[2]. Owners describe power assist dropping out without warning, a wheel that gets hard to turn, and dash messages about the steering system. Some say the car shut off while moving and the dealer could not find a cause.
Engine. 32 complaints^[5]. In the stories we read, owners mention the car shutting down while driving, odd smells in the cabin, and rust on exhaust parts.
Power Train. 19 complaints^[6]. Owners describe a hesitation when pulling away, then a hard jolt as the gear engages. Some say repeat dealer visits did not fix it.
Unknown Or Other. 11 complaints^[7]. These reports do not fit a single named component.
Electrical System. 9 complaints^[8]. Owners describe sudden loss of power while driving, dash controls going dark, and a key fob that affected another car.
Brakes. 8 complaints^[9].
Seats. 7 complaints^[10].
Wheels. 5 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 Flex is necessarily included.

Air Bags › Frontal (16V247), April 2016. About 695 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Steering › Electric Power Assist System (15V340), June 2015. About 393,623 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, steering problems, loss of power. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Flex FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	17 / 24 / 19	$3,550
Flex AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive^[14]	16 / 22 / 18	$3,700
Flex AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[15]	16 / 21 / 18	$3,700

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[16]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	15.1%
SUV FWD^[17]	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	16.4%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2011 Ford Flex with electric motor^[18]	262 hp
2011 Ford Flex with 3.5L 6-cylinder^[19]	355 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
FLEX 5DR CUV AWD SEL/LIMITED/TITANIUM^[20]	202 in	76 in	68 in	118 in	4,641 lb
FLEX 5DR CUV FWD SE/SEL/LIMITED^[21]	202 in	76 in	68 in	118 in	4,469 lb

How 2011 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Flex model year. The 2011 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2009	181	1
2010	139	1
2011	144	2
2012	64	2
2013	580	6
2014	249	4
2015	114	4
2016	100	3
2017	42	4
2018	68	3
2019	256	4

NHTSA's counts for the Flex show 144 complaints and 2 recalls for 2011^[3]. Among the 11 model years listed, 6 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 4 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2017 (42) and the most are for 2013 (580)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2011 Flex?

The 2011 Flex has 144 complaints on file^[1]. Steering stands out as the largest group at 57 complaints^[2]. Engine has 32^[5] and power train has 19^[6]. These are unverified owner reports. Recalls also exist for this year, so check the Recalls section before you buy^[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Flex?: Steering leads with 57 complaints^[2]. Engine has 32^[5] and power train has 19^[6].
Does the 2011 Ford Flex have recalls?: Yes. The by-year data shows 2 recalls for 2011, and they are listed in the Recalls section^[3].
How many complaints does the 2011 Ford Flex have?: NHTSA has 144 owner complaints on file^[1].
What is the gas mileage of the 2011 Ford Flex?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2011 Ford Flex reliable?: Owner reports focus on steering, engine and power train issues^[2]^[5]^[6]. Compare with other years in the by-year section.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Ford Flex

2009 181 complaints, 1 recall
2010 139 complaints, 1 recall
2011 this page
2012 64 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 580 complaints, 6 recalls
2014 249 complaints, 4 recalls
2015 114 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 100 complaints, 3 recalls
2019 256 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Ford Flex

Other Ford models from 2011

2011 Ford Ranger 235 complaints, 5 recalls
2011 Ford Taurus 187 complaints, 4 recalls
2011 Ford Crown Victoria 23 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Ford Edge 1,803 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 Ford Escape 1,355 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Ford Fiesta 730 complaints, 3 recalls

All Ford models

Similar cars from 2011: suvs

2011 Nissan Pathfinder 45 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Nissan Xterra 24 complaints, 2 recalls
2011 Toyota 4Runner 163 complaints, 10 recalls
2011 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 complaints, 5 recalls
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan 162 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 Acura MDX 70 complaints, 0 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 144 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Ford Flex (5 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 9 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
57 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 118,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Ford Flex model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Flex FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
32 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,650). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 58,195). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,512). NHTSA vehicle records
9 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,500). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 52,255). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the seats component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,551). NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 16V247, filed April 26, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V340, filed June 2, 2015: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Flex AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Flex AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Ford Flex with electric motor: rated 262 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2011 Ford Flex with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 355 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FLEX 5DR CUV AWD SEL/LIMITED/TITANIUM: length 202 in, width 76 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 118 in, curb weight 4,641 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FLEX 5DR CUV FWD SE/SEL/LIMITED: length 202 in, width 76 in, height 68 in, wheelbase 118 in, curb weight 4,469 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2011 Ford Flex: problems, recalls and fuel economy