2016 Ford Flex Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Flex.

20152017
Complaints
107
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2016 Ford Flex Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#118 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:93,132 mi
Crash-related:1
#29 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:54,473 mi
Crash-related:1
#38 complaints

Backup Camera

Avg mileage:111,000 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Ford Flex.

Electrical Faults
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
93,132
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
54,473
Backup Camera
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
111,000
Transmission / Drivetrain
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
68,636
Engine Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
80,125
Steering Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
93,000
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,155
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Flex. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 Ford Flex

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,661,025 vehicles.

25V695000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
~1,448,655 affected

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.

20V072000Suspension:rear
~211,207 affected

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.

16V925000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
~1,163 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Other Ford Flex Years

2016 Ford Flex — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Ford Flex reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2016 Ford Flex has 107 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 18 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 Ford Flex?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (18 complaints, avg 93,132 mi); Suspension Failures (9 complaints, avg 54,473 mi); Backup Camera (8 complaints, avg 111,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Ford Flex?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 82,358 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2016 Ford Flex?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Ford Flex include 5 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 Ford Flex have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,661,025 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 Ford Flex?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Flex reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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