NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 66 owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Flex. Most complaints involve steering (25) and engine (11). The EPA rates it 18–19 mpg combined.
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“The Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system failed completely and permanently while driving. This is the exact hardware defect described in Ford Safety Recall 15S18 (NHTSA Campaign 15V340000), specifically relating to the internal Motor Position Sensor inside the steering gear assembly. The vehicle and the faulty component are fully available for inspection upon request in Sweden. The power steering assist failed suddenly and without warning while the vehicle was in motion. This caused an immediate, massive increase in steering effort, making the vehicle extremely heavy and difficult to control. A sudden loss of steering assist at driving speeds poses a catastrophic risk of a crash, potentially causing severe injury or death to myself, my family, and other road users. We were very close to crash in to a couple of parked cars. The permanent failure is active and consistently reproducible every time the vehicle is started. However, local authorized Ford dealers in Sweden (such as Hedin Automotive) refuse to officially scan, log, or confirm the repair under the recall protocol solely because the vehicle is a North American import, while Ford US refuses to…”
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired however, the failure recurred and persisted. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 126,828.”
“MY VEHICLE HAS 188,000 MILES ON IT AND IS AN AWD MODEL. IT HAS ALWAYS, UNTIL THE LAST TWO OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES, BEEN SERVICED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM (LEO CAYTES FORD). THE RPMS SKYROCKET TO 3000 - 4000 RPMS WHEN THE CAR IS CONTROLLED BY SPEED CONTROL SUDDENLY, BUT THE CAR DOESN'T SPEED UP. WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS RELEASED, THE RPMS DROP TO THE NORMAL SETTING FOR THAT SPEED. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE SPEED CONTROL IS USED, BUT, MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY AS OF LATE. THE FRONT AWD MECHANISM (BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEELS - PTU????) IS LEAKING AND THE OIL HAS SHAVINGS AND "DIFFERENT COLORS" IN THE FLUID. AND, ON OCCASION THE LEFT INTERIOR FRONT LIGHT ( BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR) WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF. THESE ARE RECENT EVENTS AND I LOVE MY FLEX AND WOULD BUY ANOTHER ONE IF I COULD AFFORD TO DO SO. IT HAS REALLY GIVEN ME NO PROBLEMS FOR THE MOST PART, AND I WOULD SAY, "ITS THE BEST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED, FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC!!!! ALSO, ON MOST OCCASIONS, THERE HAS ALWAYS, FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP - BOUGHT NEW - BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE WINTER THAT WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY (PARKED OR AT A LIGHT) WITH THE HEAT ON, IT BLOWS COLD…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex FWD Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,300 | 468 |
| Flex AWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 | 494 |
| Flex AWD Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 18 | $3,450 | 494 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
2 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 66 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (25), engine (11), electrical system (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2012 Ford Flex at 18–19 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).