Home › Cars › Ford › Flex › 2013
2013 Ford Flex problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Ford Flex. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 18% of relevant complaints.
Better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2013 Ford Flex have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 95 of 580 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Flex concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 27% and the 2014 scores 33%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Ford Flex years
Of the 10 Ford Flex years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (18%). The worst is the 2010 (44%), the best the 2019 (4%). By volume, the 2013 drew 580 complaints (95 drivetrain), against 64 for the 2012 and 249 for the 2014.
Ford Flex years to avoid and best years →
2010 Flex problems · 2011 Flex problems · 2012 Flex problems · 2013 · 2014 Flex problems · 2015 Flex problems · 2016 Flex problems · 2017 Flex problems · 2018 Flex problems · 2019 Flex problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Ford Flex
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Ford Flex said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 95 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Ford Flex powertrain recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2013 Ford Flex involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
Risk: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip…
Risk: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence…
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.…
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Ford Flex? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2013 Ford Flex
Does the 2013 Ford Flex have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 95 of 580 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Flex concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford Flex?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Ford Flex is electrical system: 201 of 580 complaints (35%) name it, followed by steering (149) and structure (69). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 18% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Ford Flex reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 18% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Ford Flex years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Ford Flex?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2013 Ford Flex involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 16V621000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 15V812000 (fuel system, gasoline), 14V393000 (power train: axle assembly: axle shaft), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Flex years are better?
Among the Ford Flex years we track, the 2019 (4%), the 2018 (6%) and the 2017 (8%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (18%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-flex
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.