2016 Ford Flex Safety Report
2016 Ford Flex Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Ford Flex
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Ford Flex. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (76) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 4 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2017 | Compare against the 2017 Ford Flex with 37 complaints and 4 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Ford Flex before buying across this generation. |
Ford Flex Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Ford Flex years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Flex | 37 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Ford Flex | 93 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Ford Flex | 48 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Ford Flex | 187 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2016 Ford Flex Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Ford Flex, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Ford onlySuspension
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Suspension issues Ford onlyElectrical System
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Ford onlyBack Over Prevention
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Back Over Prevention issues Ford onlyPower Train
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Ford onlyElectrical System,Back Over Prevention
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Back Over Prevention issues Ford onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Ford Flex
Reliability Score
The 2016 Ford Flex receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Ford Flex
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Ford Flex
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Ford Flex:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back Over Prevention The vehicle is part of a recall due to a sensing system camera issue. This can lead to potential safety hazards when backing up. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Suspension Ford has issued recalls for rear suspension components in certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex vehicles. These issues can affect vehicle stability and handling. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Ford Flex:
Issues with the back over prevention system, including the sensing system camera.
Recalls for rear suspension components in certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2016 Ford Flex
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Ford Flex by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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. 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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 servi...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Ford Flex
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Ford Flex with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 complaints involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that after the vehicle was parked, it became inoperable, and the Push-to-Start button failed to function. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but...
My vehicle is affected by recall 25V695. Ford dealership confirmed no remedy parts are available and cannot provide a timeline. This vehicle is part of my commercial fleet and I am unable to operate it, resulting in significant financial loss. The manufacturer issued a recall with no available fix, leaving owners stranded indefinitely.
I am reporting repeated structural failures involving Cooper Zeon RS3‑G1 tires (size 255/45R20) installed on my 2016 Ford Flex AWD. These failures include steel belt exposure, rubber separation, and premature carcass breakdown, all occurring at under 30,000 km (~18,600 miles). This represents catastrophic structural failure well before even half of the expected service life for comparable performa...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse, the rear-view camera image was blurry. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufact...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R), and the screen glitched. The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, ...
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had frightened him because a pedestrian was nearly struck by the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the RPM w...
Hands free phone and sync will not connect. Not able to enter the correct date. 05/2023.
I am getting a "Transmission Not In Park" error that will also sometimes flash "Door Ajar" while driving. Door appears to be closed - not sure if it's latched, transmission is obviously NOT in park because the car is moving. I'm concerned that this shouldn't be driven and is a safety issue.
Rear Backup Camera malfunction. Screen goes black or upside down.
Backup camera is malfunctioning and showing not available. Can't see behind the vehicle.
Same issue as ever expanding recall for safety camera backing up. Blue screen, camera not available warning that does not go away while driving, black screen, upside down screen, distorted screen, and intermittantly operational and then not!
My 2016 Ford Flex’s reverse camera has been shorting out, blinking off and on. If the camera does come on the picture is upside down. This has been happening for over a month and I have not had it looked at. This is similar to the most recent back up camera recall for other Ford vehicles for this year range.
camera recall number is 25S72 (NHTSA 25V442000). I own a 2016 Ford Flex and its having the same issue. I had the camera replaced at the dealership out of pocket once before and its still not working. I feel my issue is the same as this recall just affecting a different model.
My rear camera has stopped working and ford has issue with many models with this same problem.
Rear backup camera constantly blacks out or inverts itself.
Backup camera constantly shows a blank screen or distorted upside down image. There was a recall issued today for my model year, but not my specific model. I was quite surprised because I have the identical issue with my vehicle as well. The camera has not worked in close to a year. At first it started to glitch occasionally, but now it never works. The screen is either blank or shows that distort...
The car kept misfiring and it completely stoped on me 2 times in the street it also overheated due to the cooling system
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt unbuckled independently. There was no 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 61,400.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera displayed an inverted image. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear-view camera. The contact was informed that the rear-view camera needed to...
Showing 20 of 76 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Ford Flex
Has the 2016 FORD FLEX been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 FORD FLEX has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 FORD FLEX have?
The 2016 FORD FLEX has 76 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 4 involved crashes. 3 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 FORD FLEX?
The 2016 FORD FLEX does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 FORD FLEX?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 FORD FLEX involve unknown or other (8 complaints), suspension (8 complaints), electrical system (7 complaints). Other affected components include back over prevention, power train, electrical system,back over prevention.
How many crash reports does the 2016 FORD FLEX have?
There are 4 crash reports associated with the 2016 FORD FLEX out of 76 total complaints (5.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 FORD FLEX have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 FORD FLEX in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 FORD FLEX?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 FORD FLEX.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 FORD FLEX?
3 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 FORD FLEX. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 FORD FLEX?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 FORD FLEX is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 76 complaints, 3 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 FORD FLEX?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 FORD FLEX are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (8 complaints), 2. SUSPENSION (8 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7 complaints), 4. BACK OVER PREVENTION (6 complaints), 5. POWER TRAIN (6 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 8 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 FORD FLEX?
Be aware of recalls related to back over prevention and rear suspension components. Ensure your vehicle is up to date with recalls. The 2016 FORD FLEX has 76 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2016 FORD FLEX?
The 2016 FORD FLEX receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 76 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 4 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Back Over Prevention and Suspension.
What are the known issues with the 2016 FORD FLEX?
Known issues with the 2016 FORD FLEX include: Back Over Prevention, Suspension. These are based on patterns found across 76 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the known issues with the 2016 Ford Flex?
Known issues include back over prevention system problems and rear suspension component recalls.
Is the back over prevention system reliable?
There are recalls related to the back over prevention system, so it's important to check for updates.
What should I do if I receive a recall notice?
Follow the recall instructions and schedule an appointment with a Ford dealership to address the issue.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of recalls related to back over prevention and rear suspension components. Ensure your vehicle is up to date with recalls.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Ford Flex
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Ford Flex. The data includes 76 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 4 reported crashes, 3 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-15