YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Flex Fuel System Problems

The 2013 Ford Flex has 72 fuel system complaints to NHTSA, 12% of all complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 67,000. Ford issued three related fuel system recalls covering fuel delivery module and fuel PEM replacement, and NHTSA logs 4 injuries in this category.

Fuel System complaints
72
12% of 579
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
67,000 mi
Related recalls
3

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Fuel odor or gasoline fumes enter the cabin, sometimes strong enough to cause nausea and to linger in a garage or home overnight.
  • Vehicle stalls without warning at speeds ranging from 20 mph to 70 mph, often diagnosed afterward as a failed fuel pump or fuel pump module.
  • Fuel gauge readings drop suddenly from a quarter tank to empty within seconds, followed by the vehicle shutting off while driving.
  • Fuel leaks appear when refueling, with fuel pooling on the garage floor and odor persisting for days afterward.
  • Owners report carbon monoxide entering the cabin during acceleration, a concern flagged directly to the dealer and Ford.
  • Repeated fuel pump or fuel pump control circuit failures recur even after a first repair attempt.

When 2013 Ford Flex fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 25, 2013, latest Dec 23, 2024.

2013 Ford Flex fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2013Mar 2016Jan 2017Jan 2018Aug 2018Mar 2019Nov 2019Sep 2021
72 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2013 to Dec 2024; peak Jan 2018 (5).

Fuel System recalls for the 2013 Ford Flex

  1. NHTSA 16V621000Aug 25, 2016Fuel System77,502 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.

    Risk: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

  2. NHTSA 15V812000Dec 2, 2015Fuel System868 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.

  3. NHTSA 13V227000May 31, 2013Fuel System390,783 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.

Fuel System complaints by Flex model year

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

  1. 201016 (12%)
  2. 20116 (4%)
  3. 20127 (11%)
  4. 201372 (12%)
  5. 201450 (20%)
  6. 201518 (16%)
  7. 20163 (3%)
  8. 20170 (0%)
  9. 20182 (3%)
  10. 20190 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2013 Ford Flex have?
NHTSA lists 72 fuel system complaints for the 2013 Ford Flex, which is 12% of the 579 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Flex fuel system?
Yes. Ford issued three related recalls: campaign 16V621000 for the fuel PEM, 15V812000 for the fuel delivery module, and 13V227000 also covering the fuel delivery module.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Flex fuel system problems typically occur?
The median mileage at failure for fuel system complaints on the 2013 Ford Flex is 67,000 miles.
Were there any injuries linked to 2013 Ford Flex fuel system complaints?
NHTSA complaint data shows 4 injuries associated with fuel system complaints for the 2013 Ford Flex, with no reported crashes or fires.

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.