2013 Ford Flex Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the odor of gasoline was constant. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V812000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11632068

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

There seems to be a fuel leak on my vehicle's fuel tank. When the tank is half full and more there is a noticable fuel smell around my car and fuel dripping under my car. When the fuel is less than half full, the fuel seems to stop leaking. I believe the seam in the gas tank is leaking. I have heard of other people with my same year and vehicle having the same issues so I figured it was worth reporting.

NHTSA ID

11567204

Incident

Jan 20, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed; after coming to a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled backwards unintendedly. After depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle responded as designed and was safely driven to the destination. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V621000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

NHTSA ID

11552716

Incident

Oct 18, 2023

Mileage

158,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the vehicle performed as designed; however, the vehicle failed to restart. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V621000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11528837

Incident

Jun 21, 2023

Mileage

77,000 mi

Have difficulty fueling vehicle. “Fuel fill inlet” warning stays on dash. Strong fuel mixture smell in cabin. Fuel will overspill if you try to pump gas at full force. Smells like fuel is leaking. Concerned about possible explosion. Many other drivers having the same issues. Strange clicking sounds from front end.

NHTSA ID

11523595

Incident

May 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "check fuel filler inlet" was displayed. The contact stated while refueling, gasoline spilled back out of the filler inlet. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, there was a strong fuel odor present inside the cabin of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V812000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 222,000.

NHTSA ID

11523422

Incident

May 9, 2023

Mileage

222,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the canister purge valve and throttle body assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to contact NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

NHTSA ID

11433643

Incident

Aug 23, 2021

Mileage

122,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that upon opening the front passenger’s and driver’s side doors, a loud grinding sound was coming from the dashboard. The contact also stated that both doors would intermittently fail to unlock upon depressing the unlock button. The contact also noticed that the vehicle was consuming fuel soon after refueling. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11420472

Incident

May 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC AND APPROACHING A HILL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TO DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH FAILED TO ENGAGED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND DECELERATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. ADDITIONALLY, THE BACK OVER PREVENTION CAMERA FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL FAILURES ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CREST FORD OF NIANTIC (218 FLANDERS RD, NIANTIC, CT 06357, (860) 739-5403) TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FUEL SENSOR AND ACL MODULATOR WERE REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY EMAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ID

11372760

Incident

Dec 9, 2015

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA WOULD GO BLANK, BECOME FUZZY OR DISPLAY IMAGES UPSIDE DOWN WHILE IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A WARNING MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO MCCANDLESS FORD MEADVILLE, INC. (433 BALDWIN ST, MEADVILLE, PA 16335) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE FUEL MODULE. THE CONTACT HAD THE FUEL MODULE REPLACED OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE BACK UP CAMERA WAS NOT REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11362217

Incident

Dec 1, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

THIRD TIME HAVING THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED . PUMP FAILS EVERY 20-30K MILES. CAR WILL STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING ON ROADWAYS, UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. HAD TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND WAIT FOR TOW. 1ST TIME 36,000 MILES 2ND 53,000, 3RD 90,000. ALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY FORD SERVICE CENTER

NHTSA ID

11309111

Incident

Dec 12, 2019

Mileage

36,000 mi

NOW REPLACING THE FUEL MODUAL SENSOR FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 5YRS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR OTHER FORD VEHICLES. CAR WILL NOT START AND NEEDS TO BE TOWED EACH TIME. FRONT PASSENGER DOOR SENSOR DOESN'T WORK AND INTERIOR LIGHT REMAINS ON UNTIL VEHICLE REACHES 10MPH. INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF AND BATTERY DRAINS.

NHTSA ID

11288445

Incident

Dec 5, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO HER HOME. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FILL UP THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL INLET WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. RON CARTER FORD (8837 3005, FM 528 RD, ALVIN, TX 77511, (281) 715-7318) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED THREE MONTHS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

11286601

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

93,000 mi

I TRIED STARTING THE CAR IT WOULD START THEN SPUTTER OUT VERY SHORTLY AFTER, AFTER HAVING THIS OCCUR 3 TIMES THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AT ALL AND HAD TO GET A TOW. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT SAT FOR A DAY THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAR STARTED UP AND THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR WITHOUT AN ISSUE. THEY PRICED THE WORK AT $700+ TO BE COMPLETED. THE RECALL NUMBER 16V621000 (OR 16S31) DID NOT SHOW THOUGH IT IS THE SAME EXACT ISSUE HE DESCRIBED.

NHTSA ID

11280259

Incident

Nov 12, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

FORD HAS ALREADY RECALLED THE FUEL PUMP REGULATOR MODULE ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED. FUEL PUMP REGULATOR MODULE LEFT MR AND DISABLED CHILE STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. NO HELP FROM FORD. PASSENGER DOOR SENSOR OUT, LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF INSIDE CAB UNTIL YOU REACH 10 MPH. IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE TO BACK UP AT NIGHT OR TO SEE OUT OF VEHICLE TO DRIVE. DRIVER SEAT WONT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT TO MOVE. 2ND ROW DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BROKEN FORD WONT REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11267006

Incident

Jan 18, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, EVEN ON HIGHWAY OR INTERSECTION OR FILLING GAS AND THE VEHICLE DON'T RESTART RIGHT AWAY ' ENGINE LIGHTS MISFIRE. AND ENGINE THROTTLE BODY SENSORS/OXYGEN SENSORS BROKE. HAVE FIXED WITHOUT RESOLVE TO ISSUES (RECURRENT). ON MULTIPLE DATES AND MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.

NHTSA ID

11258971

Incident

May 7, 2019

MY 2013 FORD FLEX HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE FORD EXPLORER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM SANDERSON FORD IN GLENDALE AZ AND NOTICED AFTER A HARD ACCELERATION WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SET TO RECIRCULATE. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE AND I TOOK IT BACK HOME. YEARS PAST AND IT WAS TAKEN BACK AGAIN AND SAME THING THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE DUE TO THERE WAS NO MECHANIC THAT COULD DRIVE IT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I INCLUDED A FORD FLEX FORUM THAT EXPLAINS THE ISSUE AND SHOWS THAT IT DOES EXIST OUT THERE. PLEASE ADD THE FORD FLEX TO THE "RECALL" FIX OF THESE ISSUES. IN THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS UNDER 49 CFR 393.83 THE EXHAUST SHALL NOT LEAK / DISCHARGE SO THAT IT ENTERS A SLEEPER COMPARTMENT OF A TRUCK TRACTOR. WE HAVE THE SAME THING HERE THE EXHAUST LEAKS INTO THE COMPARTMENT OF WHERE THE DRIVER IS AT. HTTPS://WWW.FORDFLEX.NET/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=17923

NHTSA ID

11240399

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

1,000 mi

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP FOR MY MODEL YEAR BUT NOT MY VIN. I HAD THE SAME STALLING ISSUE. IT WAD STATIONARY WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE FINAL TIME, WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND JUST WOULDNT START.

NHTSA ID

11232694

Incident

Dec 13, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING AS IF VEHICLE HAD NO GAS. GAS TANK WAS FULL AND VEHICLE SHOWED ME A WRENCH SIGN AS I WAS LOOKING AT MY DASHBOARD

NHTSA ID

11231651

Incident

Jul 13, 2019

Mileage

786,475 mi

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND THE FUEL DELIVER ON MY FLEX. IN BOTH CASES I FOUND RECALL NOTICES THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS NOTED IN THE RECALLS. IN THE CASE OF THE POWER STEERING THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NOW I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BUT THE DEALER STILL SAYS MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES THAN ORIGINALLY DETERMINED THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER IN THIS CASE IS VILLAGE FORD, 23535 MICHIGAN, DEARBORN, MI. 48124. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING WHILE I WAS WORKING (9 HOURS) AND WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START.

NHTSA ID

11229135

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

85,104 mi

FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 90,000 MILES. EXACT ISSUE WAS RECALLED ON SOME MODELS IN THE SAME YEAR, JUST NOT MY VIN. PUMP IS IN HIGH DEMAND, PRICES ARE THUS HIGHER THAN USUAL AND ALSO UNAVAILABLE THRU ANYONE BUT FORD DIRECTLY. MY CAR WAS, THANKFULLY, IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED AND WAS TOWED TO LOCAL SHOP.

NHTSA ID

11222750

Incident

Jun 26, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. 70 MILE A HOUR TRAFFIC AND IT JUST DIES. I GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE IT TOWEDVTO A MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME THAT IT IS THE FUEL RELAY SENSOR. WE REPLACE THAT AND THE CAR RUNS FINE FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY HEADED TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOO IT JUST DIES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ONCE AGAIN I CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK AND TAKE IT TO THE MECHANICS AND ONCE AGAIN HE PUTS A NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY SENSOR ON. A GAIN IT WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS AND QUIT AGAIN. FORD TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP AND THAT IT WAS PROBALY ACTING UP AGAIN. I ASKED IF I COULD BRING IT IN TO BE FIXED AND THEY QUOTED ME SOME OUTRAGEOUS PRICE. THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED ON MY CAR. WELL IF IT HAD BEEN FIXED THEN I WOULDNT BE PUT IN THESE DANGEROUS SITUATION S AND AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR FEAR OF GETTING RAMMED BY A SEMI WHEN MY FUEL PUMP JUST OUT OF THE BLUE DECIDES TO SHUT DOWN . PLEASE REOPEN THE RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

NHTSA ID

11204273

Incident

Apr 26, 2019

Mileage

64,000 mi

FAILURE OF ENGINE TO START/RUN DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. CURRENT FORD SAFETY RECALL #16S31 (NHTSA #16V621) IS LIMITED ONLY TO FORD/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE ECOBOOST TURBOCHARGED ENGINE. THE FAULTY COMPONENT ON MY NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE, FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE #AA8Z-9D370-B, IS THE SAME COMPONENT BEING REPLACED ON VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE #16V621 NHTSA SAFETY RECALL. TO AVOID ENGINES SHUTTING OFF AT SPEED OR NOT STARTING, IT APPEARS THAT THE RECALL WILL NEED TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AS WELL. WE WERE FORTUNATE BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE FAILED SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY, NOT AT 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. MY WIFE'S CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HER AND OUR FOUR GRANDCHILDREN IF THIS FAILURE HAD TAKEN PLACE ON THE INTERSTATE IN BUSY TRAFFIC AT 75 MPH. WHY IS THE SAME COMPONENT THAT IS FAILING ON ECOBOOST TURBOCHARGED ENGINES BEING COVERED BY FORD SAFETY RECALL #16S31 NOT BEING RECALLED ON SIMILAR VEHICLES EQUIPPED NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES USING THE IDENTICAL COMPONENT? FAILURE OF THE COMPONENT HAS THE SAME EFFECT OF AN ENGINE THAT CUTS OFF AT SPEED OR WILL NOT START. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS OF THESE POPULAR FORD/LINCOLN FAMILY VEHICLES IS AT STAKE.

NHTSA ID

11190181

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

Mileage

87,853 mi

CAR WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO GARAGE. FUEL PUMP DRIVER AND FUEL PUMP BAD AND MELTED.

NHTSA ID

11182714

Incident

Feb 8, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY 2013 FORD FLEX WAS REPAIRED AT MALLOY FORD IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND FAILED TO START, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP DRIVE MODULE AND THE FUEL PUMP. MY FORD FLEX HAS 69K MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL NOTICES. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THESE REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ' THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND PUMP ' ARE LISTED AS: 1) FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V621000 MANUFACTURER FORD MOTOR COMPANY COMPONENTS FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. FORD'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 16S31. 2) FUEL DELIVERY MODULE MAY CRACK AND LEAK NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V812000 COMPONENTS FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE FORD'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS 13S04-S1. THE FIRST PART OF MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE EITHER OF THESE TWO RECALLS ON ITS OWN WEBSITE, OR IN THE AUTOMATED PHONE DIAL-IN SYSTEM THAT I USED TO REACH CUSTOMER SERVICE; I.E., WHEN I INPUT THE FORD RECALL NUMBERS OF 16S31 OR 13S04-S1, THE MESSAGE I RECEIVED WAS THAT NO SUCH RECALL EXISTED! THE SECOND PART OF MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SUPERVISOR THE RESPONSE WAS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AT A SITE THAT DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEMS COVERED BY THE RECALL. I POINTED OUT THAT THE MANUFACTURING SITE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS; RATHER THE PARTS THAT FAILED WHERE INDEED THE PARTS IN THE RECALL MESSAGES. SUPERVISOR RECOMMENDED THAT I FILE A COMPLAINT AND PROVIDED ME A CASE NUMBER. SO I AM WRITING TO MAKE THIS A FORMAL COMPLAINT. THE BILL WAS $1078.

NHTSA ID

11182089

Incident

Feb 17, 2019

Mileage

64 mi