YearToAvoid

2010 Ford Flex Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 45 engine complaints for the 2010 Ford Flex, 32% of all complaints filed for that model year, with a median failure mileage of 70,000. There is one reported fire and no related recall on file for this engine problem area.

Engine complaints
45
32% of 139
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
70,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Turbo failure causing oil to burn through the motor, producing heavy smoke from the exhaust and, in one case, a fire.
  • Sudden engine stall and loss of power steering and power brakes while turning at low speed.
  • Loss of power and stalling at highway speeds tied to a defective throttle body, sometimes requiring a tow.
  • Check engine light illumination paired with stalling and an inoperable accelerator pedal at moderate speeds.
  • Engine shutting down during rolling stops in stop-and-go traffic or while slowing for a turn.
  • Loss of power, shaking, and stalling during acceleration on EcoBoost-equipped engines, sometimes ending in a dead engine.

When 2010 Ford Flex engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 23, 2010, latest Oct 31, 2023.

2010 Ford Flex engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2010Sep 2011Sep 2013Dec 2014Aug 2016Nov 2017Sep 2019Sep 2022
45 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2010 to Oct 2023; peak May 2012 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Ford Flex

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Flex model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201045 (32%)
  2. 201133 (23%)
  3. 201214 (22%)
  4. 201338 (7%)
  5. 201427 (11%)
  6. 201512 (11%)
  7. 201613 (13%)
  8. 20171 (2%)
  9. 20181 (1%)
  10. 20197 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2010 Ford Flex have?
NHTSA lists 45 engine complaints for the 2010 Ford Flex, which is 32% of all 139 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Ford Flex engine?
No related recall is listed for the engine problem area in the NHTSA data provided.
At what mileage do 2010 Ford Flex engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2010 Ford Flex is 70,000 miles.
Are 2010 Ford Flex engine problems dangerous?
NHTSA records one fire and zero crashes or injuries tied to engine complaints for the 2010 Ford Flex, though owners describe stalling with loss of power steering and brakes in some cases.
Is the engine problem rate improving in later Ford Flex model years?
The share of complaints tied to the engine problem area drops in most later years, falling to 2% in 2017 and 1% in 2018, compared to 32% in 2010.

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.