NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The rear suspension toe links can crack under stress, potentially affecting rear suspension function.
What the fix does
This page covers 3 recalls, 247 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2014 Ford Flex.
18–20 mpg combined
11.8–13.1 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
For the 2014 Ford Flex, steering complaints make up the largest share of what owners report, with many describing the electric power steering suddenly locking up or going heavy while driving, often accompanied by a "service advanced trac" or "service steering" warning on the dash. Owners report losing the ability to steer normally at highway speeds, requiring them to pull over. The backup camera is the next most-discussed issue, with owners consistently reporting the display going black or showing a "camera not available" message when shifting into reverse, sometimes intermittently and sometimes as a complete failure confirmed by dealers. The fuel and propulsion system draws a notable cluster of complaints as well, with a smaller number of owners describing engine fires, in some cases resulting in total vehicle loss. The steering lock and backup camera blackout are by far the most repeated patterns across this model year's complaint set.
247
Total Complaints
11
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Ford Flex has 3 recalls, with the most serious being a fuel pump failure and a rear suspension fracture that can each cause sudden loss of vehicle control and raise the risk of a crash.
The fuel pump concern affects Flex models with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine: a component inside the fuel pump module can overheat and cut power to the pump, causing the engine to stall while driving or fail to start at all. On the suspension side, the rear toe links, which help keep the rear wheels properly aligned under the vehicle, can fracture under stress. When a toe link breaks, the rear end of the vehicle can shift abruptly, making the car difficult to control. Note that this suspension recall specifically covers Flex vehicles equipped with the SHO Performance Pack. The third recall involves the manually-adjustable front seat tracks, where a defect can cause the passenger seat sensor to misread the weight of whoever is sitting there. If the sensor registers the seat as empty or occupied by a child when an adult is present, it may suppress or reduce the airbag deployment force in a crash, affecting how well the restraint system protects that occupant.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear suspension toe links can crack under stress, potentially affecting rear suspension function.
What the fix does
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component in the fuel pump's electrical module may overheat, cutting power to the fuel pump.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump electrical module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat track adjustment mechanism may cause the occupant weight sensor to read incorrectly, which could disable airbags and other safety restraints and increase injury risk in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will adjust the seat track spacing and recalibrate the occupant weight sensor system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
