2015 Ford Flex Problems and Recalls (104 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2015 Ford Flex is Rear camera / backup safety (22% of 104 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Rear camera / backup safety — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 104 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2015 Ford Flex?

23 of 104 filings named Rear camera / backup safety (22% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Steering (18 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system, Suspension, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2014 has 248 reports on file; this year has 104. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2015 Ford Flex

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Rear camera / backup safety. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed.
  3. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  4. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Rear camera / backup safety. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Rear camera / backup safety 23 complaints · 22.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 0
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
All Ford Flex years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) appears in 23 of 104 owner complaints (22.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION): 23 complaints, 22.1% of reports Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 23 · 22.1% Steering (STEERING): 18 complaints, 17.3% of reports Steering (STEERING) 18 · 17.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 15 complaints, 14.4% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 15 · 14.4% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 11 complaints, 10.6% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 11 · 10.6% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 7 complaints, 6.7% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 7 · 6.7% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 7 complaints, 6.7% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 7 · 6.7% Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 3.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 4 · 3.9% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 2 complaints, 1.9% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 · 1.9% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 2 complaints, 1.9% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 2 · 1.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 14 complaints, 13.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 14 · 13.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 23 22.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 18 17.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 15 14.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 11 10.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 7 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 7 6.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 4 3.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 1.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 2 1.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 14 13.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 2015; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2015. 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2026-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2026-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 Owner reports Jul 2015 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 15V464000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V464000 Recall campaign 16V621000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V621000 Recall campaign 20V072000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V072000 Recall campaign 25V695000 ◆ Recall campaign 25V695000
  • Campaign 16V621000 was reported 350 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V072000 was reported 62 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 25V695000 was reported 284 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 3
2016-Q3 Owner reports 7
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 2
2017-Q3 Owner reports 5
2017-Q4 Owner reports 2
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q3 Owner reports 3
2018-Q4 Owner reports 4
2019-Q1 Owner reports 3
2019-Q2 Owner reports 3
2019-Q4 Owner reports 2
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 6
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 4
2021-Q3 Owner reports 4
2022-Q3 Owner reports 3
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q2 Owner reports 6
2025-Q3 Owner reports 7
2025-Q4 Owner reports 2
2026-Q1 Owner reports 8
2026-Q2 Owner reports 7
2026-Q3 Owner reports 5
Recall campaign 1 15V464000
Recall campaign 1 16V621000
Recall campaign 1 20V072000
Recall campaign 1 25V695000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system, Suspension, and Rear camera / backup safety.

  1. Recall campaign 15V464000

    Safety recall 15V464000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C07.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 16V621000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 20V072000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 25V695000

    Rear camera / backup safety

    Report date
    Component:
    Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 104 complaints · page 1 of 5
2026-08-26Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
NHTSA ODI 11759631
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while in reverse(R) on several occasions, the rear-view camera screen was black with the message "Contact Dealer" displayed. The contact stated that the home screen on the rear-view camera failed to turn on. The contact stated that on three occasions while in reverse(R), an individual was nearly struck by the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that there was no current fix for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
2026-08-25Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11759521
CrashFireInjuryDeath
UNKNOWN The rear camera (when available) is UPSIDE DOWN! At night, the image also has wide lines running through it. Sometime, the camera just shows a message that it is unavailable. So FRUSTRATING!
2026-08-14Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
NHTSA ODI 11756966
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact stated that upon reversing the vehicle the rearview camera display would display upside down and then display blank and no warning lights were illuminated, however the following warning message would display on the instrument panel "camera unavailable, please contact your local dealer". The local dealer was contacted however the vehicle was not repaired as the contact was advised that the remedy for NHTSA campaign number :25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) was not yet available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
2026-08-13Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
NHTSA ODI 11756805
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera was blank. There was no warning light illuminated; however, the message was "Camera not Available - Please Contact your Dealer" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted but was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
2026-08-05Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11755127
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear view camera under recall. Told by Ford for 3 months in a row that should receive paper in mail for recall repair. Have not received paper. Very dangerous backing up.
2026-06-29Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11747139
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear Camera no working. This Ford recall has been out for 3 years now and we still cannot get a remedy for our vehicle!
2026-06-25Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
NHTSA ODI 11746476
CrashFireInjuryDeath
See attached document for complaint.
2026-06-23Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11745990
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear (Backup} camera malfunctioning. Recall 25V6595. Two (2) Dealers state that there is no recall (Fritt's Ford, Raceway Ford Riverside Ca). VIN [XXX] This is ongoing. There was no accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2026-06-23Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
NHTSA ODI 11745889
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. While reversing, the back over prevention camera image appeared upside down, or the message “Camera Not Available" was displayed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 160,000.
2026-04-27Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
NHTSA ODI 11733962
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that on several occasions, while in reverse (R), the image was flipped upside down or the screen was blank. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2015 Ford Flex?

Owners named Rear camera / backup safety most often — 23 of 104 reports (22%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2015 Ford Flex?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system, Suspension, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2015 Ford Flex?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources