YearToAvoid

2010 Ford Flex Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2010 Ford Flex has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 6th worst of 11 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate at 32% of complaints, and NHTSA lists one recall for a driver airbag module.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#6 of 11 Flex years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
139
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
9
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
4
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 22 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2010 Ford Flex problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine45 (32%)
  2. Steering32 (23%)
  3. Brakes18 (13%)
  4. Fuel System16 (12%)
  5. Electrical System14 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain12 (9%)
  7. Other9 (6%)
  8. Airbags8 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body8 (6%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some owners report turbo failures that burn oil through the motor and send smoke out the exhaust.
  • Frontal and side airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including a rear-end collision and a head-on impact.
  • Owners describe sudden power steering loss while turning, making the wheel impossible to move back to center.
  • A power transfer unit reportedly leaked fluid that caught fire near the exhaust, damaging the transmission housing.
  • Sudden unintended acceleration was reported while parking, ending in a crash into a building.
  • Suspension components, including a suspected broken toe link, reportedly failed at highway speed and caused loss of control.
2010 Ford Flex complaints: complaints filed per quarter92010 Q12011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42017 Q32019 Q32021 Q22024 Q3
139 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2025 Q3; peak 2014 Q4 (9).

2010 Ford Flex recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V247000Apr 26, 2016Airbags695 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

2010 Ford Flex fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Flex years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Caution70181118.5
2010Caution50139118
2011Caution60144218
2012Best1064218

All Ford Flex years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Ford Flex a good year?
NHTSA data gives the 2010 Flex a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst out of 11 model years for this model based on owner complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Ford Flex?
Engine problems are the top complaint category, making up 32% of the 139 complaints filed for this model year, with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Ford Flex have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2010 Flex, covering a driver frontal airbag module that Ford will inspect and replace as needed.
How does the 2010 Flex compare to other years?
Its complaint index of 50 is better than 2013 (100), 2014 (80), and 2019 (90), all rated Avoid, but worse than 2012, 2017, and 2018, which rate Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Ford Flex?
The 2010 Flex gets an EPA-rated 18 mpg combined (16 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.