RoadVitals

2016 Ford Flex Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jan 3, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 94 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Ford Flex submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 3, 2024

There is far to much to list

NHTSA ID
11563389
Incident
Jan 3, 2024
Mileage
154,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 29, 2023

The power transfer unit otherwise referred to as a transfer case exploded from the inside with under 50k miles on the Flex resulting in the transmission cracking and breaking as well. AAA inspected and replaced both transmission and transfer case. They say they see a lot of them for these models and is a common issue. We kept old transfer case as proof. Car is not used for towing as it has no hitch and as stated before had under 50000 miles when it destroyed itself with myself and kids in the car driving 45 mph.

NHTSA ID
11529654
Incident
May 26, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 18, 2020

I NOTICED ONE DAY WHEN I DROVE TO WORK AND GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE IT SMELLED LIKE TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FLEX THAT THE TRANS FLUID AND COOLANT WERE GETTING MIXED TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THE A/C CONDENSOR ETC.... IF IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY HASNT IT BEEN RECALLED? ON TOP OF THAT IT COST ME $900+ TO FIX AND I TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE IT STILL SMELLED LIKE TRANS FLUID WAS BURNING AND WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY STILL JUST BURNING OFF FROM WHAT HAD LEAKED. 5 ALMOST 6 MONTHS LATER IT STILL SMELLS?

NHTSA ID
11318562
Incident
Oct 30, 2019
Mileage
75,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 5, 2019
Crash reported

ON THE 4TH OF JULY MY VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. I HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE LEAVING THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN WHILE I WALKED UP MY DRIVEWAY TO CLEAR AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE GARAGE DOOR SAFETY EYES. WHEN I GOT TO THE GARAGE DOOR I TURNED BACK AND SAY MY FLEX REVERSING UP THE DRIVEWAY QUICKLY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY BACKED IN AND WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE GARAGE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE FLEX CONTINUED TO REVERSE UP THE DRIVEWAY (UPHILL) WITH THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN. AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY THE OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR CONTACTED A BASKETBALL POST WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT BENT THE CONCRETE FILLED POST AND FOLDED THE DRIVER'S DOOR INTO THE LEFT FENDER BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN I ORIGINALLY EXITED THE FLEX THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE REAR BACK-UP CAMERA HAD NO DASH DISPLAY. THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO INDICATE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS OTHERWISE UNATTENDED AT THE TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE THE SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THEN REVERSE UPHILL AT A BRISK RATE OF SPEED WHILE UNATTENDED. AT THIS TIME THE FLEX IS SECURED IN MY GARAGE AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR INSPECTED IN ANTICIPATION OF REPAIR OR APPRAISAL. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE PCM AND ACM IMAGED HOWEVER HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT DATA MAY BE ERASED IF THE VEHICLE IS RUN IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMAGE POTENTIAL DATA. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP YOUR WISHES AS I REQUIRE THE VEHICLE FOR MY BUSINESS.

NHTSA ID
11229703
Incident
Jul 4, 2019
Mileage
68,150 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 26, 2019

ECOBOOST 3.5L VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND WHITE SMOKE FROM TAILPIPES WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY BUT STILL RAN. DROVE STRAIGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED LOW BOOST PRESSURE DTC AND FAILURE OF BOTH TURBOCHARGERS. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY DUG DEEPER AND ARE NOW TELLING ME THERE WAS A COOLANT SYSTEM LEAK WHICH WASHED OUT THE ENGINE OIL AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND THE TURBOS TO FAIL(LOCK UP). THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED ISSUES WITH COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKS AND OIL SUPPLY TO TURBOS CAUSING FAILURES/FIRE/OVERHEATING IN ECOBOOST ENGINES... DEALER IS NOW TELLING ME THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED INCLUDING THE TURBOCHARGERS IN THE BALLPARK OF $13,000.

NHTSA ID
11182617
Incident
Jan 15, 2019
Mileage
103,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 21, 2019

MY 2016 FORD FLEX I JUST BOUGHT LESS THEN 6MTHS AGO! AND I HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT! I WAS HEARING LOTS OF NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND ALSO I WOULD HEAR IT WHEN MY CAR WAS IN GEAR AND ALSO WHEN I WENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WERE TURNING YOUR STEERING WHEEL!! TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT WAS MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER HALF SHAFT! I GET IT BACK AND NOW I AM HEARING NOISES AGAIN!!

NHTSA ID
11171265
Incident
Jan 7, 2019
Mileage
30,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 2, 2018

FRONT WHEELS LOCK AS THE VEHICLE IS REVERSING. LOUD RATTLE NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
11082549
Incident
Mar 30, 2018
Mileage
39,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 27, 2016

CAR LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. WARNING LIGHT WITH WRENCH AND "CHECK MANUAL" APPEARED. DEALER INDICATED RECALL 16B32 AND REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10937522
Incident
Dec 21, 2016
Mileage
10,800 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .