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2016 Ford Flex problems

The most common problem on the 2016 Ford Flex is driver assistance and stability, typically around 80,000 miles. It has fewer complaints than a typical Flex model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
80/100
Owner complaints
104
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
86
Worst area
Driver assistance
Fuel economy
17-19mpg

The worst 2016 Ford Flex problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Ford Flex

Backup camera 28Door locks 7Loss of power 5

Recalls 3

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraReported October 13, 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 driver’s 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 on October 14, 2025.

Recall number 25V695000 · Recall details

Suspension: rearReported February 10, 2020 · 211,207 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 20V072000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/superchargerReported December 22, 2016 · 1,163 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 number 16V925000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2016 Ford Flex

Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Ford Flex 86

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 86 bulletins for the 2016 Ford Flex

2016 Ford Flex fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.5L 6‑cylFWD162319
3.5L 6‑cylAWD15-1621-2217-18

What 2016 Ford Flex owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Driver assistance · NC

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image. The failure was a persistent failure. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the parts were not available to repair the vehicle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, parts were not yet available.

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Electrical · WI

I am writing about the two active recalls for my vehicle. They are both over ONE YEAR old from when they were announced, They both still state something like "Parts not available". How long does it take to get parts for this? My vehicle is directly affected by both recalls and I would like to get them repaired.

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Driver assistance · 85,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V69500 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While reversing, the rear-view camera intermittently displayed a blank or distorted image. The failure almost caused the contact to strike a pedestrian. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Filed Oct 20, 2026 · Driver assistance · 25,000 miles · OR

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that occasionally, while in reverse, the rear-view camera failed to display an image. The local dealer was contacted on several occasions. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Driver assistance · 137,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to complete the recall repair were unavailable. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera intermittently failed to display a clear image. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Body, Driver assistance · MI

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a blank or distorted image. The contact made several attempts to notify the dealer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Aug 28, 2026 · Driver assistance · 80,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to perform the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in Reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed an inverted image. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed Aug 19, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · CO

The car is experiencing turbo failure that lines up with the recall for the same model vehicle produced within the same 2016-2017 date. But for some reason this vin isnt included in the recall

Filed Aug 15, 2026 · Electrical · TN

Radio making crackling noises, screen goes blank, cannot control a/c from touch screen and causes the a/c not to work on front vents. Vehicle inside died while the engine was still running in traffic and was unable to start/stop vehicle from running, a/c ran hot then vehicle stop running.

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Questions about the 2016 Ford Flex

Is the 2016 Ford Flex reliable?

Owners have filed 104 complaints about the 2016 Ford Flex, fewer than a typical Flex model year.

What is the 2016 Ford Flex year score?

The 2016 Ford Flex scores 80 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Ford Flex: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Ford Flex?

Driver assistance and stability, with 37 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles. Next is electrical (24).

How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Flex have?

3 recalls, covering back over prevention, suspension and engine and engine cooling.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Ford Flex get?

Official estimates for the 2016 Ford Flex range from 17 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.5L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 16 city and 23 highway.

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