2013 Ford Flex: engine overheating

Filed Sep 28, 2026 · Engine · VA

My car randomly over heated ON XXX around 3:23 pm and when I pulled over to a parking lot there was antifreeze pouring out of the bottom front passenger side. I tried to allow it to cool down so that I could safely get it to the shop .5 mile away and the vehicle started to shake and stall and the check engine light came on. I had it towed and inspected at Featherstone Auto, 14523 Richmond Hwy, Woodbridge VA 22191 where I was informed by [XXX] that this is a common issue with Ford Flex where the water pump in inside the engine and fails yet there is no recall for this issue. This is an extremely pricely cost that Ford knows is an issue yet there is no resolution on their end??? That is highly unnacceptable. I have had this car for less than a year, granted it is 13 years old. The safety of my selves and others were put at risk because my vehicle almost stopped in the middle of ongoing traffic due to a well known issue with this vehicle. Prior to this there was no engine overheating message in the 11 months that I have had this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 25, 2026 · Seats · MT · 1 injury

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, I was driving my 2013 Ford Flex with the driver’s seat heater activated. After a period of use, I began to notice an unusual electrical burning smell inside the vehicle. There were no dashboard warning lights or system alerts. I turned the seat heater off immediately once I detected the smell. I did not initially notice an injury at that time. The following day, I experienced significant pain and discovered burns on my buttocks in the area consistent with seat contact. I sought medical evaluation three days later and was diagnosed with second- to third-degree burns. Prescription treatment was provided. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for the cause of the overheating or odor. Based on the location and pattern of injury, and the timing of the electrical smell while the heated seat was activated, the burn appears to have resulted from a malfunction of the seat heating element.

Filed Jan 4, 2023 · Electrical · NH

Vehicle would not start after 3 days of not being started or driven. After having the battery jumped the climate control unit malfunctioned. The heat would not turn off and stayed on full blast. This caused the car to overheat and difficult to drive even with the windows down. When brought to the dealership service center, they replaced the heater blower. This fixed the issue temporarily. Then the heat stopped working and in single digit temperatures the vehicle was too cold to drive. The dealership replaced the resistor. This again became a temporary fix. The heat came back but then the vehicle battery kept draining. Having some type of electrical issue put the vehicle at a possible risk for short circuiting, catching fire etc. This is an ongoing issue with ALL YEARS of the Ford Flex. When the vehicle is jump started this causes an electrical short affecting the climate control system but also the entire communication system. .

Filed Aug 10, 2022 · Engine, Steering · IN

While driving, just as I turned my steering wheel; it got very stiff to turn. If I was not able to turn, I easily could have drove into someone's house, pedestrians or hit other vehicles both parked and driving on the road. Especially if I were going very much faster and didn't have as much strength as I do. A week before this happened, I got a quick flash of a message twice that read "AdvanceTrack needs service". But after that ine trip a week ago, it never popped back up and still hasn't. Other than that, no warning lights or codes xan be found. I made it home (less than a half mile away). After having it checked by 2 different mechanics, both said it was the electric steering and told me to check the recalls for my 2013 Ford Flex SEL. I found that my particular VIN did NOT have the 2 recalls that affected numerous Ford vehicles with Electric Steering, including THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL of my Ford Flex. The recall is for the power steering. I've also seen numerous other posts on fordflex.net where this has affected many Ford Flex vehicles from 2009 to 2018 with electric steering. The other issue I had is a known recall for other Ford Flex vehicles, but not my VIN, just like the previous. I was driving on the highway when my dash starts beeping and flashing at me wiyh an overheating issue. I had to do my best to get off the highway. Thankfully I was stopped when this happened and not far from the turn I needed to get me and my car to safety. Turned out to be the internal water pump. It cost me around $2,000.00 to get it fixed.

Filed Jun 17, 2019 · Body · 200 miles · TX

The door actuators in these cars are defective and need to be on the recall list!! Many ford flex door actuators are defective , the car thinks the door is open when it is closed . Causes your doors not to lock, makes your battery overheat, drains your battery and makes the alarm go off randomly . I bought this car new and it had happened since day 1!

Filed Jan 24, 2019 · Engine · 98,000 miles · VT

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford flex. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle would overheat. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified, but was not able to assist. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2018 · Engine · NJ

Car overheats and coolant leaks.

Filed Dec 8, 2017 · Steering · 109,623 miles · TN

"ford flex power steering assist failure and trac control malfunction. The epas motor on millions of vehicles are failing and very dangerous for flex owners. I have found that from research on this issue that the epas motor is actually overheating and burning up the electric motor. Ford manufacturer has deliberately lied to the federal safety agency about what the actual problem is. This is a very unsafe condition for which they presented a recall on certain 2013 vehicles. I spoke with my local dealership about the issue and they responded that my VIN number does not fall in the campaign or technical service bulletins. Campaign for the recall is exactly what is going on with my vehicle but yet ford wants to charge me money for the repairs and diagnostic when they are well aware that this is a manufacturer issue. It is a very unsafe condition which has killed and injured people. They just haven't gotten to the point to where they admit that it is on way more vehicles than they are admitting to. I am very disappointed that the federal safety agency is not forcing ford to repair the vehicles that have the symptoms of the exact recall on a case-by-case basis at very least. I was traveling around 70 miles an hour down interstate I-40 when system failed and almost flipped my vehicle. How can a dealership not be responsible for this or how many people have to die before they do take responsibility? Recall number is 15 s18 or 15v340000.

Filed Jun 23, 2017 · Fuel system · 68,000 miles · PA

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. Consequence 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. What owners should do 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 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16s31. I had this part suddenly go out on me on 6/22/2017 and had it towed to my dealership. I had received an oil change at our local walmart and when they went to pull it out of the garage the car would not start. So I had it towed. I had this part replaced 6/23/2017 and I was told that my VIN # was not issued for the recall. Even though they admitted that the vehicle was manufactured where the recalls came from and the dates of productions of the recall. This vehicle met those condition but for some reason my VIN was not on the recall list so they will not pay for my part or labor to remove and replace it.

Filed Jan 26, 2017 · Fuel system · 83,000 miles · TN

Driving down county back road, doing approx 45mph, car shut off. Radio on, no warning lights, heat went out. Coasted to a stop in a church parking lot tried approx 4 times to restart the vehicle, wouldn't turn over. Waited between 5 to 10 minutes, tried again and vehicle turned over with no problems. There is currently a recall on my make model and year, but my vehicle doesn't fall into it per ford. Recall states, "a component within the fuel pump electric module (pem) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump. Fuel pump malfunction may cause engine stall. 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." the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v621000. Ford's number for this recall is 16s31.