2018 Ford Flex: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2018 Ford Flex
On the 2018 Ford Flex, the failure owners report most often is backup camera failure, with 9 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 52,500 miles. Overall it scores 63 out of 100, high risk for a 2018.
High risk for a 2018 — 247th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. 85 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2018 Ford Flex
Owners have reported 31 named failure modes on the 2018 Ford Flex, and the three most-reported carry 28% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Backup camera failure leads with 9 reports and about 0.1 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other body or interior problem follows with 8 reports, median 70,000 miles.
Other suspension problem follows with 7 reports, median 70,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into infotainment (13), engine (10) and body (9).
When these failures get reported
28 of the reports on the 2018 Ford Flex came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 52,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 50% by 50,000 miles, 82% by 100,000 miles and 93% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 21% of the dated reports.
36% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 31. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 12 mention a crash. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.72, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: backup camera failure at $250–$1,200, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, other suspension problem at $350–$2,000 and other driver assistance problem at $250–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
20% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 8 | 5 | — | 68k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 7 | 3 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 5 | 2 | — | 93k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 4 | 1 | — | 50k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 55k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 3 | 1 | — | 35k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 3 | 1 | — | 65k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 2 | 1 | — | 105k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 116k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 1 | — | 600 | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 2 | 1 | — | 75k | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 2 | — | 17k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 400 | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 53k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 50k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 9 | 1 | — | 900 | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2018 Ford Flex draws about 1.2 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 74th percentile of complaint rates among 2018 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 72,432 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2018 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other body or interior problem
When the vehicles front left and right tires are retracted into the wheel well, for example when going over a speed bump or curb too fast, there is a sharp piece of metal that sticks out of the body where the plastic cowling and the fender meet. I've had to replace two tires so far on the front right wheel because of this metal piece that sticks out. In both instances the vehicle was doing about 5 miles an hour turning into a driveway.
Recalls on the 2018 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2018 Ford Flex, affecting an estimated 114,947 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover structure:body, back over prevention: sensing system: camera and suspension:rear. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
STRUCTURE:BODY
92,347 vehicles 2025-10-24- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
- Consequence
- Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 28, 2025.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
1,448,655 vehicles 2025-10-13- Defect
- 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.
- 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)…
SUSPENSION:REAR
211,207 vehicles 2020-02-10- Defect
- 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.
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2018 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2018 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2018 — 247th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 11 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2017 comes out best at 62 and 2009 worst at 77, with 2018 itself at 63.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2018, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2013–2019 generation specifically, 2017 is the strongest year at 62 and 2013 the weakest at 68.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2013-2019 generation, 2017 Ford Flex scores best at 62 and 2013 Ford Flex worst at 68.
The limits of complaint data
85 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 85 reports, 28 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 33% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Flex?
The most-reported failures are backup camera failure (9 reports), other body or interior problem (8 reports, median 70,000 miles) and other suspension problem (7 reports, median 70,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2018 Ford Flex reliable?
It scores 63 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 247th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2018 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Ford Flex is best?
Within the 2013–2019 generation, 2017 scores best at 62 out of 100 and 2013 worst at 68. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed