On Tuesday, October 6, 2026 I drove my car without issue and parked in my garage. I later came out and while getting something out of the passenger side noticed fluid leaking out from under the car. After looking at it I decided it looked like the water pump. When I turned the car on it began making engine sounds (no check engine light has come on). With the sound I decided to have the car towed to a mechanic and was told the water pump failed. I chose to have it towed to another mechanic for a second opinion because of the sound and after testing was discovered that the engine is done for. I received no check engine light notification or any other indication that something was wrong. We have kept up with all maintenance for this vehicle so there’s absolutely no reason the water pump or engine should be failing with under 93,000 miles on it. Since we owe $10,000 on the car still we are forced to make the repair with a new engine putting us in a catastrophic financial situation. Water pumps are a known issue with the flex, but for it to occur at such low mileage is insane and for the engine to have failed without any warning is disgusting. On top of this there was a recall for the backup camera in 2024 that still has not been resolved. Our backup camera is upside down, cuts in and out and is not a clear image. We have been dealing with this since shortly after purchasing the vehicle in 2022. When reversing at night I can’t see because the screen is upside down and fuzzy, and when I try to use my mirrors to reverse I am blinded by the light from the screen in the car. Reversing, especially at night, is a huge liability since the drivers vision is not clear. I’ve contacted ford multiple times for an update on the camera recall and have been told there’s no update at this time. We’re going on 3 years of being notified of this recall with zero resolution. I have uploaded a few pictures (estimate is from initial mechanic). I have videos but they will not upload.
- NHTSA ID
- 11773690
- Incident
- Oct 6, 2026
2019 Flex , Odometer reading 58,190. Coolant seen on lower part of engine along with low coolant level. Took to dealership who confirmed the water pump failed and was leaking. We were lucky it was caught early before coolant leaked into the engine, causing the engine to stop while driving and permanently damage engine. There are no warnings for this when it happens (coolant leaking into engine),we were just fortunate to notice low coolant. Because there are no coolant warnings, it can lead to catastrophic engine damage while operating vehicle.There are no guarantees that this will not happen again, only parts are under two year warranty. After research, Ford knew this was an issue with this engine when we bought it, not only on the Flex but same engine on other models, yet continued to sell them. Cost $3,391.71 to repair. Because it is over 5 year warranty no help offered, yet is under 60K miles. There are other complaints regarding this same issue yet Ford continues to not acknowledge faulty design of engine. 2) still waiting for rrecall/repair of backup camera, 3) also waiting-recall/repair for plastic pillar covers. Both of these are under a recall for over a year. NHTSA has other complaints of this from consumers.
- NHTSA ID
- 11741616
- Incident
- May 18, 2026
In October of 2025 the vehicle began to make engine noises. Within a day the vehicle stalled and shut down completely. I had my mechanic examine the car and they advise coolant had leaked into the engine cause damage. The engine had to be replaced. No warranty coverage and 4k later.
- NHTSA ID
- 11735238
- Incident
- Oct 10, 2025
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Jul 25, 2025
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding multiple premature and potentially safety-related failures on my 2019 Ford Flex, purchased new on 11/25/2019. These include: ⚠️ 1. Rear Suspension / Rear Toe Link Concern Although my vehicle is not included in Ford’s rear toe link recall (20S62), it is experiencing the same symptoms: Rear-end instability and drifting Uneven or premature rear tire wear Clunking or loose feeling from the rear suspension I have an appointment scheduled for August 6, 2025 to inspect the rear toe bar links, as I suspect they are defective or misaligned — the exact condition the recall addresses. 💧 2. Water Pump Failure The engine water pump failed before 100,000 miles, requiring a full replacement. This is a known issue in several Ford engines, and repair was required out-of-pocket despite the vehicle being well maintained. 🚗 3. Exterior Trim Detachment Multiple exterior trim pieces detached from the vehicle while driving, posing a road hazard to myself and others. These parts did not appear to be securely fastened from the factory. 🛞 4. Premature Tire Wear Rear tires wore out far earlier than expected — possibly linked to suspension or alignment issues, including the toe link concerns mentioned above. ⚡ 5. Ongoing Electrical Failures Since August 2022, I have had to return to the dealership multiple times for electrical system issues: 8/3/2022 11/2/2022 2/14/2024 These included battery/electrical drain issues and warning system malfunctions, which affect the vehicle’s reliability and safety. These problems began less than 3 years after purchasing the car new. These issues raise serious concerns about the overall build quality and long-term safety of the 2019 Ford Flex. I am concerned that my vehicle may have: Been excluded from critical recalls, despite showing identical failure patterns Undergone multiple early mechanical and electrical repairs Developed safety-related defects that compromise both driver & public safety.
- NHTSA ID
- 11676254
- Incident
- Jul 25, 2025
Coolant Intrusion - Water pump leaked inside the engine, causing engine failure. The engine has to be replaced. This has been a known problem with this model and has been fixed/covered by the warranty.
- NHTSA ID
- 11668622
- Incident
- May 20, 2025
The water pump and timing cover gaskets are faulty. The water pump is internal and causes major engine malfunction when it breaks.
- NHTSA ID
- 11657792
- Incident
- Apr 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started shaking excessively and the vehicle briefly hesitated. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11656269
- Incident
- Apr 11, 2025
- Mileage
- 50,000 mi
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine temperature gauge increased, and the air conditioner would not blow cool air. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who discovered that the engine coolant level was extremely low, and that the water pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Recently while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11576066
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2021
- Mileage
- 65,000 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.