2013 Ford Flex Interior & seats Problems

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? MULTIPLE DRIVER AID FUNCATIONS IN-OP. DRIVER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK, DRIVER DOOR LOCK AND UNLOCK SWITCH WILL NOT OPERATE ANY LOCKS, PASSENGER DOOR MIRROR WILL NOT MOVE, SEAT MEMORY WILL NOT SAVE, REAR VIEW MIRROR WILL NOT AUTO DIM AND THERE IS NO MANUAL OPTION TO ADJUST THE MIRROR RESULTING IN IMPACTED NIGHT VISABLITY, REAR VIEW CAMERA DOES NOT DISPLAY ON SCREEN BUT WILL BEEP WHEN CLOSE TO AN OBJECT. NOT CODES OR DASH WARNINGS DISPLAYED TO STORED. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? IMPACTED VISIBLY WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO ADUST PASSENGER MIRROR TO SEE BLINK SPOT OR ALONG PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. UNABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK DRIVER DOOR, IF LOCKED ITS NOT ALLOWING ME TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND HAVE TO ENTER VIA PASSENGER DOOR. AUTO DIM IMPACTS VISABLITY WITH DRIVING AT NIGHT. REAR BACK UP CAMERA IN-OP IS DAMGEROUS IN NUMEROUS ASPECTS. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? PROBLEM IS CONSTANT. NOT TAKING TO A DEALER DUE TO RIDICULOUS PRICES AND DIAG FEES. I'M A TECH AND TRIED TO DIAGNOSE ISSUES WITH NO ANSWERS. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NOT YET. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? UNKNOWN. PURCHASED PRIVATE PARTY WITH ISSUES (05/01/2026). LOOKED AT 3 OTHER FORD FLEXS FROM THIS GENERATION THAT ALL HAD THE SAME ISSUES WHEN LOOKING TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE AND NO ONE HAD A SOLUTION FOR IT.

NHTSA ID

11736539

Incident

May 1, 2026

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, I was driving my 2013 Ford Flex with the driver’s seat heater activated. After a period of use, I began to notice an unusual electrical burning smell inside the vehicle. There were no dashboard warning lights or system alerts. I turned the seat heater off immediately once I detected the smell. I did not initially notice an injury at that time. The following day, I experienced significant pain and discovered burns on my buttocks in the area consistent with seat contact. I sought medical evaluation three days later and was diagnosed with second- to third-degree burns. Prescription treatment was provided. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for the cause of the overheating or odor. Based on the location and pattern of injury, and the timing of the electrical smell while the heated seat was activated, the burn appears to have resulted from a malfunction of the seat heating element.

NHTSA ID

11720492

Incident

Feb 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that she attempted to close the rear passenger’s side door however, the door failed to latch. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the latch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact then stated that while closing the front driver’s side door, the door failed to latch securely. Due to the failure, the contact had to drive holding the door closed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided the number to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11496459

Incident

Dec 6, 2022

Mileage

84,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Flex. The contact stated that on several occasions while stopped or attempting to drive over 10 MPH, the door ajar warning light illuminated, indicating that the front and rear passenger’s side doors were open however, the doors were closed. The contact then stated that while attempting to lock all the doors, the doors unlocked instead and activated the interior lighting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the door sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000

NHTSA ID

11492641

Incident

Nov 3, 2022

Mileage

170,000 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

I had a recall for the driver door latch to be replaced. The very day that it was replaced, I get in, start my vehicle and the passenger door light comes on showing that it's open but it wasn't. I immediately go back inside to ask the service department since they literally just replaced the recalled drivers door latch. They stated that "it's a coincidence " and that it would cost to fix it. I drove it for as long as I could but my alarm would randomly go off and lights start blinking. I was afraid I'd come out oand my vehicle not start due to the battery being dead because of the alarm and lights going off. I broke down and paid to have the passenger door light fixed which the Ford service department told me it would. The EXACT same thing happened and now my back passenger door light keeps coming on!! Alarm randomly goes off and lights blink. I can't afford to gix this again. They told me it would fix the problem yet once they replaced the recalled door latch this has now happened with other doors.

NHTSA ID

11420043

Incident

Jun 7, 2021

I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN ON MY 2013 FORD FLEX VIN# [XXX] I HAD A RECALL REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2020 FOR FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 19N09 AS SOON AS I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER THE REPLACED RECALL, THE PASSENGER DOOR LIGHT CAME ON SAYING IT WAS OPEN EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T. I WENT BACK INSIDE AND ASKED ABOUT IT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, THAT ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE WAS. IT WAS VERY STRANGE THAT IT HAPPENED TO POP UP DIRECTLY AFTER GETTING THE RECALL FOR THE DRIVER SIDE REPLACED. AS SOON AS I SAVE ENOUGH MONEY, I WILL GET IT FIXED BUT IF THE DRIVER SIDE HAD A WARRANTY, I FEEL THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULD TOO. THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11387912

Incident

Nov 11, 2020

Mileage

91,722 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK LATCHED SECURELY HOWEVER, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DOORS FAILED TO LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WITH THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED JOHNSON CITY FORD (3519 BRISTOL HWY, JOHNSON CITY, TN 37601), AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR LATCH WOULD BE REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE OTHER DOORS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11337613

Incident

May 10, 2020

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO LOCK THE DOOR SECURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SALERNO DUANE FORD LOCATED AT 267 BROAD ST, SUMMIT, NJ 07901, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT A SIMILAR FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11326812

Incident

Oct 10, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

2ND ROW SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING OR BROKEN. DRIVER SIDE IS NOT LATCHING OR RETRACTING, SO NONE CAN USE THAT SEAT. PASSENGER SIDE THE BUCKLE COVER WONT STAY ON, AND IT HAS SOME SMALL SHARP OBJECTS THAT CAN CUT SOMEONE OR MY KIDS.

NHTSA ID

11306285

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

35,000 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

FRONT SEAT TRACKS WEAR PREMATURELY DUE TO POORLY DESIGNED TEETH. AS A RESULT THE SEAT BECOMES 'WOBBLY' CAUSING IT TO ROCK FORWARDS AND BACK WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE SEAT SHOULD REMAIN FIRMLY IN PLACE. MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF FORD PRODUCTS VS SPECIFICALLY WITH ONE PARTICULAR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11254035

Incident

Sep 8, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO LOCK AND CAUSED THE DOME LIGHT AND DOOR AJAR INDICATOR TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,500. *TT

NHTSA ID

11092275

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

70,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO LOCK AND THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT HER CHILD WOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CENTURY FORD OF MT. AIRY (302 CENTURY DR, MT AIRY, MD 21771, (301) 829-2800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR DOOR LATCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

11080628

Incident

Feb 28, 2018

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TRUNK OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11078790

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL THE VEHICLE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY TO THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, THEY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11033143

Incident

Sep 21, 2017

Mileage

55,000 mi

2013 FORD FLEX SE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DOOR AJAR SENSOR FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR ALARM SOUNDS EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND WOULD NOT LOCK. DUE TO THE DOORS NOT LOCKING, THE INTERIOR LIGHT DO NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF. ALL DOORS MUST BE LOCKED MANUALLY. *JS

NHTSA ID

10980668

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

I AM HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE! FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT IS DOOR LATCHES ARE NOT READING CLOSED WHICH DISALLOWS SAFETY LOCK DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE THE REASON THE ALARM/PANIC RANDOMLY AND QUITE OFTEN GOES OFF. SECONDLY THE THIRD ROW SEATS NO LONGER OPERATE CORRECTLY FROM THE PANEL IN THE REAR CARGO AREA. IT CLICKS AND TRY'S TO MOVE BUT WILL ALWAYS RETURN TO THE NORMAL POSITION MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THEM TO ALLOW EXTRA STORAGE SPACE. LASTLY THE TRACTION ASSIST IS VERY ERRATIC WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW WHICH MAKES THIS VEHICLE LESS THEN DESIRABLE TO DRIVE IN THE SNOW, EVEN WITH THE CONTROL ASSIST OFF IT HANDLES VERY POORLY IN ICY/SNOWY CONDITIONS. OVERALL I HATE THIS CAR IF I WASN'T UPSIDE DOWN IN IT WOULD BE GONE ASAP.

NHTSA ID

10969827

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD CONSTANTLY UNLOCK AND THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLATCH. ALSO, THE DOOR SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THE SENSOR WOULD SHOW THE DOOR AS OPEN. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE CAR ALARM TO GO OFF DURING THE NIGHT. UPDATED 09/07/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10960344

Incident

Feb 27, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALTHOUGH THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, THE DOOR REMAINED CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10960327

Incident

Nov 15, 2016

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOME LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ID

10960310

Incident

Dec 13, 2016

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED AND THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10955258

Incident

Sep 15, 2016

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. WHEN THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOORS DID NOT LOCK AND THE ALARM DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN PROMPTED. THE FAILURES RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10910234

Incident

Mar 1, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID

10892250

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

66,000 mi

THE 2ND ROW SEAT THAT COLLAPSES AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON IS A DEATH SEAT. IF THIS SEAT IS OCCUPIED WHEN THE BUTTON IS ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED EG WHEN GRABBING FOR THE SEAT BELT THE FORCE OF THE SEAT COLLAPSING COULD CRUSH THE OCCUPANT. I DON'T KNOW YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS.

NHTSA ID

10863270

Incident

Jan 1, 2013