2014 Ford Flex Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
78/100
#3 most-complained of 10 Flex years
The 2014 Ford Flex has a Complaint Index of 78, ranking 3rd worst of 10 model years, with 249 complaints and 4 recalls. Steering, at 27% of complaints, is the top problem area, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Flex years.
- Complaints
- 249
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 11 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 10 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 23 hwy
Top 2014 Ford Flex problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering66 (27%)
- Electrical System57 (23%)
- Fuel System50 (20%)
- Engine27 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (11%)
- Other25 (10%)
- Structure & Body16 (6%)
- Brakes10 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras8 (3%)
What owners report
- Some owners report the rear axle fracturing while driving around 40 mph, causing the front tire to detach and the vehicle to jerk uncontrollably.
- Owners describe the rear suspension dropping suddenly at highway speed with a popping noise, leading to loss of control.
- Several owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate-speed collisions, including highway impacts near 45-73 mph.
- Owners describe the transmission and brakes failing together while moving in drive, with grinding noises and no brake response.
- One owner reported a bad raw fuel smell after every engine shutoff, tied to a Ford technical bulletin, with concern about possible fire.
- An owner reported the front of the vehicle catching fire, resulting in the vehicle being declared a total loss.
2014 Ford Flex recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V072000Feb 10, 2020Suspension, Wheels & Tires211,207 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
- 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.
- NHTSA 14V710000Nov 7, 2014Structure & Body113,418 vehicles
Seats
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford F-150 and Flex vehicles manufactured March 1, 2014, to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles were manufactured with a reduced clearance between the seat frame and the seat track assembly. This can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to inaccurately register passenger weight and improperly suppress the passenger front airbag when the passenger seat is occupied by an adult passenger. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Improper suppression of the passenger airbag increases the risk of an injury to the seat occupant in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front passenger airbag.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will widen the gap between the seat frame and seat track assembly and recalibrate the seat OCS, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14C10.
2014 Ford Flex fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 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.
2014 compared with other Flex years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Ford Flex reliable?
- Compared to other Flex model years, the 2014 ranks 3rd worst out of 10 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 78 and 249 complaints logged with NHTSA.
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Flex?
- Steering issues make up 27% of complaints, followed by Electrical System problems at 23% and Fuel System problems at 20%, according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2014 Ford Flex have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2014 Ford Flex, covering Suspension/Wheels/Tires, Fuel System, Structure & Body, and Transmission & Powertrain components.
- At what mileage do 2014 Ford Flex problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 65,000 miles overall, with steering complaints reported at a median of 77,500 miles.
- How does the 2014 Ford Flex compare to other years?
- The 2014 Flex's Complaint Index of 78 is worse than 2012 (11), 2015 (33), 2017 (0), and 2018 (22), but better than 2013 (100), the worst year in the lineup.