YearToAvoid

2014 Ford Flex Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 27 engine complaints for the 2014 Ford Flex, 11% of its 249 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 71,300. No related recall covers this engine issue. Two fires and one injury are reported in this category.

Engine complaints
27
11% of 249
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
71,300 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of engine power while driving at highway speed, with no warning before acceleration stopped.
  • Some vehicles failed to start or the engine shut off unexpectedly, triggering warning lights.
  • Several owners describe a strong exhaust or fuel odor entering the cabin, in one case linked to hospitalization and carbon monoxide in the blood.
  • A raw fuel smell was reported after engine shutoff, with a dealer citing a technical bulletin but no parts available.
  • Some owners noted smoking from the tailpipe during normal operation, and a check engine light tied to a failed fuel canister that Ford declined to cover.

When 2014 Ford Flex engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 20, 2014, latest Jan 24, 2026.

2014 Ford Flex engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2014Oct 2017Apr 2018Feb 2019Jun 2020Feb 2021Mar 2023Jan 2026
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2014 to Jan 2026; peak Apr 2018 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2014 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 NHTSA have for the 2014 Ford Flex?
NHTSA lists 27 engine-related complaints for the 2014 Ford Flex, which is 11% of the 249 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2014 Ford Flex engine problems?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Flex engine problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for these engine complaints is 71,300 miles.
Are the engine problems dangerous?
Among the 27 engine complaints, NHTSA records include 2 fires, 1 crash, and 1 injury.

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.