2016 Ford Flex Problems and Recalls (97 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2016 Ford Flex is Rear camera / backup safety (22% of 97 owner reports). There are 3 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 97 complaints · 3 recalls

What problems show up on the 2016 Ford Flex?

21 of 97 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 Electrical (11 reports).

There are 3 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, 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 2015 has 104 reports on file; this year has 97. 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 2016 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.

Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 3 campaigns on file below.
Rear camera / backup safety. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed.
Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
Skim a few owner reports below for Rear camera / backup safety. Look for the same symptom repeating.
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 21 complaints · 21.7% of the file

Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:

Crashes 4
Fires 0
Injuries 3
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.

“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)	21	21.7%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)	11	11.3%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION)	9	9.3%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)	8	8.3%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING)	6	6.2%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE)	6	6.2%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE)	3	3.1%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)	3	3.1%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)	3	3.1%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover	34	35.1%	2 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.

Campaign 25V695000 was reported 1,715 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

View timeline records as a table

Date	Record type	Count	Record identifier
2016-Q3	Owner reports	2
2016-Q4	Owner reports	1
2017-Q1	Owner reports	1
2018-Q1	Owner reports	1
2018-Q2	Owner reports	1
2018-Q4	Owner reports	3
2019-Q1	Owner reports	2
2019-Q2	Owner reports	2
2019-Q3	Owner reports	3
2020-Q1	Owner reports	1
2020-Q2	Owner reports	1
2020-Q3	Owner reports	2
2020-Q4	Owner reports	2
2021-Q1	Owner reports	4
2021-Q3	Owner reports	1
2021-Q4	Owner reports	1
2022-Q1	Owner reports	3
2022-Q2	Owner reports	1
2022-Q4	Owner reports	1
2023-Q1	Owner reports	2
2023-Q2	Owner reports	3
2024-Q1	Owner reports	1
2024-Q2	Owner reports	3
2024-Q3	Owner reports	2
2024-Q4	Owner reports	5
2025-Q1	Owner reports	2
2025-Q2	Owner reports	3
2025-Q3	Owner reports	12
2025-Q4	Owner reports	4
2026-Q1	Owner reports	6
2026-Q2	Owner reports	11
2026-Q3	Owner reports	10
Dec 2016	Recall campaign	1	16V925000
Feb 2020	Recall campaign	1	20V072000
Oct 2025	Recall campaign	1	25V695000

NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (3)

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

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

Recall campaign 16V925000

Engine

Report date

Dec 22, 2016

Component:

Engine (ENGINE)

Consequence:

An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 20V072000

Suspension

Report date

Feb 10, 2020

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 →
Recall campaign 25V695000

Rear camera / backup safety

Report date

Oct 13, 2025

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

Showing 9 of 97 complaints · page 1 of 4

2026-09-02Body / frame (STRUCTURE)

NHTSA ODI 11761520

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a blank or distorted image. The contact made several attempts to notify the dealer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

2026-08-28Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11760311

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to perform the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in Reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed an inverted image. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

2026-08-19FUEL SYSTEM

NHTSA ODI 11757878

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The car is experiencing turbo failure that lines up with the recall for the same model vehicle produced within the same 2016-2017 date. But for some reason this vin isnt included in the recall

2026-08-15Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)

NHTSA ODI 11757098

CrashFireInjuryDeath

Radio making crackling noises, screen goes blank, cannot control a/c from touch screen and causes the a/c not to work on front vents. Vehicle inside died while the engine was still running in traffic and was unable to start/stop vehicle from running, a/c ran hot then vehicle stop running.

2026-08-03Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11754494

CrashFireInjuryDeath

There is a current recall on the backup camera that has been pending since 2025. Parts are still not available as of today even though Ford stated parts and instructions were going to be available before end of 2nd quarter, June 30, 2026. Camera has not worked since mid 2025, Ford has been aware since end of 2025.

2026-07-20Body / frame (STRUCTURE)

NHTSA ODI 11751565

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera failed to display an image of the rear of the vehicle. A black screen was displayed on the screen while in reverse. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact paid out of pocket for the dealer to replace the camera. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

2026-07-20Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11751564

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The rearview camera became intermittently inoperative. The contact stated that the intermittent failure made it difficult to safely reverse the vehicle while the rearview camera was inoperable. While reversing in a parking lot, the rearview camera became inoperative. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

2026-07-17Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11751064

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blank or distorted screen. In addition, the contact stated that the rear-view camera flickered on and off and the rear-view camera unavailable message was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

2026-07-13Body / frame (STRUCTURE)

NHTSA ODI 11750080

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse(R), the rear-view camera failed to display a clear image on the center display. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ford Flex?

Owners named Rear camera / backup safety most often — 21 of 97 reports (22%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Ford Flex?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, 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 2016 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

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