Is the 2013 Ford Flex a bad year?
581 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Flex years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2013 Ford Flex are in line with other Flex years. Electrical system, fuel system, body structure and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Flex owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 56,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 201 (35%) | 43k–77k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 72 (12%) | 56k–84k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 69 (12%) | 40k–75k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 150 (26%) | 71k–133k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 37 (6%) | 18k–87k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 37 (6%) | 44k–82k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 21 (4%) | 50k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 11 (2%) | 50k–85k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Suspension | 17 (3%) | 57k–116k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Stability control | 24 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 56,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 581 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 9 report an injury · 23 say the car was towed.
13 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Water pump failed in the internal engine part on 2013 Ford flex. A known problem by Ford motor co for years and Ford refuses to issue a recall.
Tonight was the second time it happened. While I was driving, thank goodness I was not driving fast and was still on our driveway that the engine just stalled for no reason.
There is a dead spot in the engine when you take off or when you accelerate to pass another vehicle or when you want to get onto the highway.(Dead spot aka no response from the gas pedal).
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 56,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Ford Flex: 6
The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump. 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.
In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning. If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 67
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Ford Flex. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A…
Some vehicles may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM)
2013-2017 Edge/MKX/Flex/MKT/MKZ/MKS/Taurus/Taurus Police/Explorer/Explorer Police/Continental vehicles equipped with a 3.5L or 3.7L engine…
Neighbouring years
2012 Flex: 66 complaints, keep it · 2014 Flex: 249 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Flex year
2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Flex years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Ford Flex a bad year?
581 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Flex years. At 56,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Flex?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (201), fuel system (72), body structure (69), steering (150), engine (37).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Flex have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 20V-072), Fuel system (NHTSA 16V-621), Fuel system (NHTSA 15V-812), Steering (NHTSA 15V-340) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.