2011 Ford Flex Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

25Engine complaints

17.4%Of all 144 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING56 · 38.9%

ENGINE25 · 17.4%

POWER TRAIN16 · 11.1%

Unspecified / other11 · 7.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9 · 6.2%

Share of the 144 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Ford Flex overview page.

What owners report

“The contact's grandmother owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The check engine…”NHTSA complaint 11536835 — filed 08/07/2023

“In September 2022 was going down the highway at 70 miles an hour for my vehicle to shut off with no warning lights everything locked…”NHTSA complaint 11501152 — filed 01/10/2023

“The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that upon her husband starting the vehicle, the vehicle entered limp mode as he exited…”NHTSA complaint 11461446 — filed 04/20/2022

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Ford Flex have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2011 Ford Flex: 25 of 144 complaints on file (17.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Ford Flex have in total?

144 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.