YearToAvoid

2011 Ford Flex Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 33 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Ford Flex, 23% of its 144 total complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 89,300. No related recall covers this engine issue.

Engine complaints
33
23% of 144
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
89,300 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine loses power suddenly at highway speed, with owners reporting turbo booster failures that required dealer replacement.
  • Vehicle stalls or nearly stalls when wet, including in rain, snow, car washes, or puddles, sometimes in the middle of an intersection.
  • Sudden loss of power from a stop with hesitation, jerking, or a 'galloping' feel before the engine catches into gear.
  • Water pump failure leading to a broken timing belt and bent engine valves, causing the engine to stall and require towing.
  • Strong sulfur or exhaust-like smell in the cabin after hard acceleration that dealers could reproduce but not fix.

When 2011 Ford Flex engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 28, 2010, latest Jan 18, 2024.

2011 Ford Flex engine complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2010Jul 2012Jul 2014Oct 2016Jan 2018Apr 2019Apr 2022Jan 2024
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2010 to Jan 2024; peak Jun 2016 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2011 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 2011 Ford Flex have?
NHTSA lists 33 engine-related complaints for the 2011 Ford Flex, which is 23% of the 144 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Ford Flex engine problems?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine issue on the 2011 Ford Flex.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Flex engine problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints on the 2011 Ford Flex is 89,300 miles.
Did the 2011 Ford Flex engine problems cause any injuries?
NHTSA data shows 3 injuries associated with complaints in this area, with no reported crashes or fires.
How does the 2011 Flex compare to other years for engine complaints?
The 2011 Flex had 33 engine complaints (23% share), lower in share than 2010's 32%, but higher than most later years like 2015 through 2019.

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.