Model year
2012 Ford Flex
NHTSA lists 2 recalls and 64 complaints for the 2012 Ford Flex (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are STEERING (23), ENGINE (11), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (10). NHTSA lists crash-test variants for this model year and marks the overall rating Not Rated. EPA rates it 18–19 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,550–$3,700, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2009 181 complaints
- 2010 139 complaints
- 2011 144 complaints
- 2012 64 complaints
- 2013 580 complaints
- 2014 249 complaints
- 2015 114 complaints
- 2016 101 complaints
- 2017 42 complaints
- 2018 68 complaints
- 2019 256 complaints
Recalls
16V247000 · Apr 26, 2016
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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…
15V340000 · Jun 2, 2015
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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…
Complaints
64 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 4, fire flag on 1, injury field 4, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | 4 · possibility 0.151 | — |
| SUV FWD | Not rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | 4 · possibility 0.164 | — |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex FWD · 3.5L · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 17 | 24 | 19 | — | — | $3,550 |
| Flex AWD · 3.5L · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 16 | 22 | 18 | — | — | $3,700 |
| Flex AWD · 3.5L · Automatic 6-spd · All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 16 | 23 | 18 | — | — | $3,700 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2012 Ford Flex at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.