Ford Flex check engine light comes on

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Engine · KY

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026 I drove my car without issue and parked in my garage. I later came out and while getting something out of the passenger side noticed fluid leaking out from under the car. After looking at it I decided it looked like the water pump. When I turned the car on it began making engine sounds (no check engine light has come on). With the sound I decided to have the car towed to a mechanic and was told the water pump failed. I chose to have it towed to another mechanic for a second opinion because of the sound and after testing was discovered that the engine is done for. I received no check engine light notification or any other indication that something was wrong. We have kept up with all maintenance for this vehicle so there’s absolutely no reason the water pump or engine should be failing with under 93,000 miles on it. Since we owe $10,000 on the car still we are forced to make the repair with a new engine putting us in a catastrophic financial situation. Water pumps are a known issue with the flex, but for it to occur at such low mileage is insane and for the engine to have failed without any warning is disgusting. On top of this there was a recall for the backup camera in 2024 that still has not been resolved. Our backup camera is upside down, cuts in and out and is not a clear image. We have been dealing with this since shortly after purchasing the vehicle in 2022. When reversing at night I can’t see because the screen is upside down and fuzzy, and when I try to use my mirrors to reverse I am blinded by the light from the screen in the car. Reversing, especially at night, is a huge liability since the drivers vision is not clear. I’ve contacted ford multiple times for an update on the camera recall and have been told there’s no update at this time. We’re going on 3 years of being notified of this recall with zero resolution. I have uploaded a few pictures (estimate is from initial mechanic). I have videos but they will not upload.

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 Sep 22, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · 120,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Flex. The contact stated that occasionally, while attempting to reverse, the image on the back over prevention camera was displayed upside down. Additionally, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Apr 23, 2025 · Engine · 100,050 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,050.

Filed Aug 7, 2023 · Engine, Steering · 176,000 miles · FL

The contact's grandmother owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the rack and pinion, and power steering pump. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

Filed Mar 19, 2023 · Engine · ID

While driving at 65mph, vehicle started to accelerate funny and cel came on. was getting on the freeway and the vehicle overheated and CEL light came on. I was able to safely pull over before the vehicle died. Got vehicle towed to my home and when engine oil was checked, it was discovered that there was coolant in the oil. Took to a local shop where it was determined that the water pump had failed and dumped all of the coolant into the oil pan. Estimated cost of repair with labor is $5,000. Failure mileage was ~192,000. The oil was in good standing and gold in color 12 hours prior and was only driven ~45 miles at highway speeds before the failure happened. From what I can tell, this was a catastrophic failure of the water pump bearing seal that happened almost instantaneously. This needs to be looked into, as the repair bill does not match the issue. A water pump repair should not cost more than the vehicle.

Filed Dec 7, 2022 · Transmission · 164,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light and wrench light illuminated, and the vehicle started driving rough. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated and then failed to properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who replaced the throttle body, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who replaced the throttle body for a second time but after retrieving the vehicle the failure persisted. The dealer later diagnosed that the PCM was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 164,000.

Filed Apr 20, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · 112,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that upon her husband starting the vehicle, the vehicle entered limp mode as he exited the driveway. Her husband then drove the vehicle back into the driveway and turned the vehicle off. The next day, her husband started that vehicle and was temporarily able to resume normal driving; however, the vehicle entered limp mode while in traffic as the power train warning light illuminated. Her husband was able to coast the vehicle back home while in limp mode and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer initially diagnosed the vehicle with a defective throttle body; however, the failure persisted after the part was repaired. The contact made numerous trips back to the dealer; however, the failure persisted after each visit. The contact was then informed to take the vehicle back once the wrench light had illuminated. Once the wrench light illuminated, the contact began to drive the vehicle to the dealer. While driving, she heard an abnormal clunking sound coming from the vehicle as the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle entered limp mode. The contact made it to the dealer as antifreeze began leaking from the vehicle. The contact was then informed by the mechanic that the radiator fluid had begun to leak out of the vehicle as a result of the water pump, which was previously replaced. The mechanic also discovered that the radiator fluid had leaked out of the rear main seal of engine which caused engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with a case number. The vehicle remained at the dealer and was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

Filed Jul 20, 2021 · Engine · 126,828 miles · WV

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired however, the failure recurred and persisted. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 126,828.

Filed Dec 24, 2019 · Fuel system · 90,000 miles · GA

I started my car and the check engine light came on. I have had no issues and the car had not been doing anything different. I had it checked and I got the code p025b. I was leaving the next morning to go to work and the car would crank but then it cut off as soon as I got out of the driveway in the middle of the road. I only have 90k miles on my car which is early for the fuel pump. I also read that some of the same model cars as mine have a fuel pump recall. I really need this to be checked because it just stopped out of no where. I was told by the ford dealership that I would have to pay to have this checked to see if it was a malfunction.