2018 Ford Flex Problems, Recalls & Reliability
81 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Ford Flex, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 12/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 60,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2018 Ford Flex has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2018 sits among all Flex years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 33 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 40,000 and 75,186 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Fix: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a…
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
63 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2018 Ford Flex. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2018 Ford Flex reliable?
The 2018 Ford Flex drew 81 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 12/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2018 Ford Flex problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Ford Flex are body & structure (17 complaints), other (16), and driver assistance (15).
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Flex problems show up?
Owners most often report 2018 Ford Flex problems around 60,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 40,000 and 75,186 miles.
Does the 2018 Ford Flex have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Ford Flex. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.