YearToAvoid

2019 Ford Flex Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2019 Ford Flex ranks 2nd worst of 11 model years, with a complaint index of 90 and 249 complaints, mostly tied to rearview camera failures and body/door trim issues. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for this year, including two separate rearview camera recalls.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
90/100
#2 of 11 Flex years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
249
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Top issue
Collision Avoidance & Cameras
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 22 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2019 Ford Flex problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras140 (56%)
  2. Structure & Body56 (22%)
  3. Other53 (21%)
  4. Electrical System22 (9%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers12 (5%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (3%)
  7. Engine7 (3%)
  8. Lane Departure4 (2%)
  9. Steering3 (1%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain3 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Rearview cameras display blank, distorted, or inverted images, sometimes causing collisions with parked objects while backing up.
  • Rear door panels or B-pillar trim detach from the vehicle while driving.
  • The power liftgate fails to open with the release button or key fob and shows a warning that it is not closed.
  • Steering wheel jerks suddenly at highway speed, causing the vehicle to fishtail, traced to a rear wheel issue.
  • Backup camera works intermittently starting around the same mileage window, described by owners as matching other Ford camera recalls.
2019 Ford Flex complaints: complaints filed per month15Apr 2019Jan 2022Feb 2023Jan 2024Oct 2024May 2025Nov 2025May 2026
249 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2025 (15).

2019 Ford Flex recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V732000Oct 24, 2025Structure & Body92,347 vehicles

    Structure:body

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

    Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 28, 2025.

  2. NHTSA 25V695000Oct 13, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,448,655 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

  3. NHTSA 24V951000Dec 20, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras30,715 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Flex, Fiesta, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.

    Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the drivers view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed January 22, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S75.

See all 4 recalls for the 2019 Ford Flex →

2019 Ford Flex fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
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.

2019 compared with other Flex years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Best042418
2018Best2067318
2019Avoid90249418

All Ford Flex years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Ford Flex reliable?
It ranks 2nd worst among 11 Flex model years with data, carrying a complaint index of 90 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2019 Ford Flex?
Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues dominate, accounting for 140 of 249 complaints (56%), mostly rearview camera failures, with a median mileage at failure of 50,000.
Does the 2019 Ford Flex have a rearview camera recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists two separate camera recalls for this year: campaign 25V695000 covering camera replacement and campaign 24V951000 for blank or distorted images.
Are there other recalls on the 2019 Ford Flex?
NHTSA lists 4 total recalls, also covering B-pillar door trim detachment (25V732000) and starter/alternator power cable securing issues (18V548000).
How does the 2019 Flex compare to other years?
Its complaint index of 90 is well above the 2017 Flex (0, Best) and 2018 Flex (20, Best), making 2019 one of the worse years for this model.

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.