Most common 2010 Ford Flex problems
Share of the 139 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Flex complaints by model year
Best Flex years: 2017, 2012, 2016. Years to avoid: 2013, 2019, 2014, 2009. Compare all years →
2010 Ford Flex recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016.
What 2010 Ford Flex owners say
Engine & cooling all 38 →
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel became firm, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and was able to restart the vehicle after 3 attempts. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the oil mixing with the coolant. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the vehicle was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.
My 2010 Ford Flex began inadvertently surging forward in acceleration without me making it do this exactly 3 months after I purchased the vehicle. The Ford Dealer was unable to re-produce the problem on several occasions and said my vehicle was fine. No error messages reported in the computer. This has continued to happen sporadically since ownership. I have had another Ford Dealership (as well as an independent mechanic) try and reproduce and diagnose the problem with no luck. Several weeks ago I was driving my vehicle in my residential neighborhood when all of a sudden my car surged forward with great acceleration with no warning. I had to swerve into a driveway and cut the vehicle off to get the vehicle under control. I am 82 and have a heart condition. This safety issue is critical as someone could get hurt or killed. …
Steering all 32 →
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Flex. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a metal clicking and scraping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that the wheels felt loose. The contact stated that a nearby driver informed her that sparks were coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that a nearby driver identified that the rack and pinion had detached. In addition, the power steering fluid had leaked out onto the ground. The contact was driving on a busy highway during the failure occurred. The contact stated that her grandchildren were in the vehicle when the failure occurred. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. …
Leaving home to go to the grocery store and as I exited my street a dash warning came on stating "Power Steering Assist" fault Steering wheel locked up making it impossible for me to steer. Fortunately this happened in a spot where there was no other traffic and I was able to just turn off the car and restart and the message was gone and my steering was restored. I am now terrified to drive my car because if this had happened in traffic there could have been a serious accident because steering capability was non existent. . In reading online this is a very common problem with my make and model and apparently there was a recall by Ford for 2011 and later cars but not 2010 even though it is a "known problem" at dealerships. For me this now seems intermittent but in calling the dealership they know of the issue. It would cost me about $2200 to fix. …
Fuel & propulsion system
My 2010 Ford Flex began inadvertently surging forward in acceleration without me making it do this exactly 3 months after I purchased the vehicle. The Ford Dealer was unable to re-produce the problem on several occasions and said my vehicle was fine. No error messages reported in the computer. This has continued to happen sporadically since ownership. I have had another Ford Dealership (as well as an independent mechanic) try and reproduce and diagnose the problem with no luck. Several weeks ago I was driving my vehicle in my residential neighborhood when all of a sudden my car surged forward with great acceleration with no warning. I had to swerve into a driveway and cut the vehicle off to get the vehicle under control. I am 82 and have a heart condition. This safety issue is critical as someone could get hurt or killed. …
Purchased a pre-certified 2010 Ford Flex at vermont dealership 3.07.2014 with a premium extended warranty plan. Travel between vermont and new york. Approximately April /May 2017 noticed powerful smell of gasoline after filling vehicle, couldn't close garage due to smell and parked away from others. Garage replaced rotted fill neck yoke 5.12.2017. Problem seemed to abate but persisted , now in garage and extensive work to drop gas tank where the metal flange connecting fuel line and pump to the tank is totally corroded. There is a recall on other Ford vehicles for salt corrosion from road salt to the fuel tank causing dangerous leaks. I could have blown up and my home from this !! That recall targets northern states such as the one I purchased my car including vermont and new york recall number 15s3. No fire as a) I was very lucky b) it's in the garage with a huge bill.
2010 Ford Flex engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Ford Flex a good car?
Based on 139 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Flex rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Flex at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Ford Flex?
The engine & cooling — 38 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the steering (32) and fuel & propulsion system (16).
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Flex have?
There is 1 recall for the 2010 Ford Flex, the most recent from April 26, 2016 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Flex?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2012 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2019, 2014 and 2009. See the full Ford Flex years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Ford Flex problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.