Model year 2016 · Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2016 Ford Flex: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2016 Ford Flex at 17–19 mpg combined across 3 versions. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 101 owner complaints for this model year.
Safety recalls
3
EPA combined mpg
17–19
NHTSA overall rating
—
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Ford dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2016 Ford Flex recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 3 safety recalls for the 2016 Ford Flex, newest first.
Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera
NHTSA 25V695000Reported Oct 13, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SA9)
Units affected
1,448,655 (estimate)
Problem
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 distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk
A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 20S04)
Units affected
211,207 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
Engine and engine cooling: Engine: Gasoline: Turbo/supercharger
NHTSA 16V925000Reported Dec 22, 2016
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 16S46)
Units affected
1,163 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Risk
An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2016 Ford Flex fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2016 Ford Flex crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2016 Ford Flex NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2016 Ford Flex SUV AWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
4 stars
15.1%
Optional
2016 Ford Flex SUV FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
4 stars
16.4%
Optional
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2016 Ford Flex owner complaints
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Flex, most recently on Oct 20, 2026. 4 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 3 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2016 Ford Flex complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Electrical system
22
Back over prevention
21
Unknown or other
14
Suspension
10
Engine
8
Power train
8
Steering
8
Structure: Body
6
Back over prevention: Rearview system braking
5
Vehicle speed control
4
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
