Wrench.Pro

2012 Ford Flex: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2012 / ford / flex
known issues8 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-09)
complaints64 on file (2012-08-01 → 2025-12-30)
recalls2
investigations0
fars5 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Power steering assist failureSTEERING23 complaints2014-08 → 2025-12ford-flex-2012-power-steering-assist-failure
  • 11645654 The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle intermittently became difficult to maneuver. The failure occurred on several occasions, including while the contact was driving
  • 11524479 Vehicle power steering will stop working while driving and notification of (power steering assist failure) will appear. Vehicle becomes extremely unsafe to operate as the steering wheel is very difficult to move
  • 11022692 POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS; DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING, SOMETIMES UNEXPECTEDLY. VERY DANGEROUS! IT IS SPORADIC--SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT WORK
Power transfer unit fluid leakPOWER TRAIN3 complaints2017-02 → 2020-02ford-flex-2012-ptu-fluid-leak
  • 11311999 2012 FORD FLEX LI HAS 70K THOUSAND MILES. WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED TO HUM. SUDDENLY CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND GRINDING NOISES COMING FROM CENTER OF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE BECOMES DISABLED IN MID-STREAM DRIVING. VEHICLE SMELLS OF BURNT TRANSMISSION OIL
  • 10954357 HAVE A 2012 FORD FLEX WITH 72XXX MILES THATS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE PTU (POWERTAKE OFF UNIT). LEARNED THAT FORD HAS THIS PROBLEM IN MANY VEHICLES FLEX,EDGE, MTX
  • 11112726 THE FRONT AWD MECHANISM (BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEELS - PTU????) IS LEAKING AND THE OIL HAS SHAVINGS AND "DIFFERENT COLORS" IN THE FLUID
Water pump failureUNKNOWN OR OTHER2 complaints2021-10 → 2022-04ford-flex-2012-water-pump-failure
  • 11462538 Bad design of water pump , under parts would fail one day , but the water pump is a bad design. It failed too soon and hurt the engine
  • 11435176 The water pump has faliure and is causing expensive repair. It seems to be a know defect. We some pending law suits
Rear suspension toe link failureSUSPENSION3 complaints2021-04 → 2024-05ford-flex-2012-rear-toe-link-failure
  • 11588893 I was driving around 55 and suddenly lost control and fish tailed to the right, then to the left over the center line, then back to the right. Luckily no other vehicles on the road. The rear driver side toe link broke
  • 11443458 I own a 2012 Ford Flex. It was not included in this recall. The recall included Ford Flex years 2013 through 2018
  • 11407044 MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED JUST A FEW MONTHS SHY OF A RECALL FOR BAD TOE LINKS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED WITH HAVING BAD TOE LINKS AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE ABOUT GETTING MY VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED AROUND THE SAME TIME AS
Brake caliper seizing and rotor damageSERVICE BRAKES4 complaints2013-06 → 2016-09ford-flex-2012-brake-caliper-seizure
  • 10904271 BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS STUCK SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, GOING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, WHEN THERE WAS A THUMP FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE (FRONT) WHEEL. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BRAKE PADS WANTED TO FALL OUT
  • 10850521 MY FORD FLEX HAS A TOTAL OF 82000 MILES ON IT. I LIVE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES WHERE THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS STICK AND SEVERELY REQUIRE BOTH PAD AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT
  • 10744806 WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THERE WAS A SUDDEN METAL ON METAL SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER THIS NOISE STARTED THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND THEN VISIBLE SMOKE FROM THE WHEEL
Throttle body failure causing engine stallENGINE7 complaints2012-10 → 2020-09ford-flex-2012-throttle-body-stall
  • 11277966 BAD THROTTLE BODY. STALL WHEN DRIVING AND JERKY MOTION, BOTH WHEN GOING SLOW AND WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RED WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD SHUT OFF AND TURN BACK ON AND DRIVES FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME
  • 10500705 MY 2012 NEW FORD FLEX HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE 3 TIMES 1-27 DRIVING..COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. I CRUISED TO CURB. RESTARTED QUICKLY 2-01 SAME INCIDENT 2-02 REPEAT ON MAJOR STREET DEALERS HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO
  • 10566570 VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE ENGINE POWER: PRESSING DOWN THE THROTTLE HAD NO EFFECT. FIRST I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THE ENGINE DID FUNCTION AGAIN
Electrical system malfunctions (dash, lights, sensors)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7 complaints2014-07 → 2017-06ford-flex-2012-electrical-dash-malfunction
  • 10758660 TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN RAIN STORM, MID MORNING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND SET HEADLIGHT CONTROL TO ALL FOUR POSITIONS AND ALL LIGHTS REMAINED OFF REGARDLESS OF CONTROL POSITION
  • 10993774 DRIVING UP AN ON RAMP TO AN INTERSTATE, SUDDENLY ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. I COULD NOT SEE ANY SPEED OR DRIVING INFORMATION. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART
  • 10823506 THE RIGHT REAR DOOR SENSOR SAYS THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT. TRIED TO CLOSE IT A FEW TIMES BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. NOW I CAN'T LOCK MY CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE MY CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF THINKING THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BREAK IN
Unintended acceleration and vehicle rollawaySERVICE BRAKES4 complaints2012-08 → 2018-01ford-flex-2012-unintended-acceleration
  • 11057995 TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS RAPIDLY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
  • 10468831 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A POST
  • 10903897 WHILE STOPPED AND IN PARK THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING, I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP IN THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT PULL MYSELF ALL THE WAY IN. I WAS ABLE TO YANK THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION AND THEN I COULD NO LONGER RUN ALONG SIDE THE VEHICLE AND I FELL ON THE ASPHALT

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
642012-08-012025-12-3041STEERING:24; ENGINE:11; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:10; SERVICE BRAKES:8; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:5

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
16V24700026/04/2016AIR BAGS:FRONTALFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
15V34000002/06/2015STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. 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.Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-20245legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Ford Flex vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/ford/flex
@misc{wrenchpro_2012_ford_flex_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Ford Flex},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/ford/flex}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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