2018 Ford Flex Safety Report

2018 Ford Flex Safety and Reliability Report

48Complaints
3Recalls
75/100Reliability Score
7Crash Reports
1Injuries
Most reported components: Unknown Or Other (8)Suspension (8)Structure (7)Electrical System (3)Back Over Prevention (3)Electrical System,Unknown Or Other (3)Structure,Back Over Prevention (2)Steering (2)Air Bags (2)Wheels (2)

Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Ford Flex

This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 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.

2018 Ford Flex Safety Signal Summary
SignalValueWhat to inspect next
Recall burdenHigh (3)Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below.
Owner complaintsModerate (48)Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates.
Crash and fire reports7Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item.
Primary component hubUnknown Or OtherCompare unknown or other issues across vehicles.
Cleaner nearby model year2017Compare against the 2017 Ford Flex with 37 complaints and 4 recalls.
Riskier nearby model year2019Check 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.

Nearby Ford Flex Model Years
Model YearComplaintsRecallsUse case
2019 Ford Flex 187 4 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2017 Ford Flex 37 4 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2016 Ford Flex 76 3 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2015 Ford Flex 93 4 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.

2018 Ford Flex Complaint Theme Map

Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 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 only

Suspension

8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Suspension issues Ford only

Structure

7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Structure issues Ford only

Electrical System

3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Electrical System issues Ford only

Back Over Prevention

3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Back Over Prevention issues Ford only

Electrical System,Unknown Or Other

3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Ford only

AI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Ford Flex

The 2018 FORD FLEX has accumulated 48 complaints and 3 recalls in the NHTSA database. Among the complaints, 7 involved crashes and 0 involved fires. There have been 1 reported injuries and 0 reported deaths. The most frequently reported problem areas are unknown or other (8 complaints), suspension (8 complaints), structure (7 complaints). Structural issues: Ford has issued recalls for body structure and back over prevention systems. These can lead to safety concerns and potential accidents. Suspension problems: A rear suspension toe link broke on the expressway, causing loss of control and necessitating aggressive steering to avoid a spin. Key known issues to be aware of include Body Structure Recall, Back Over Prevention System, Rear Suspension Failure. Be aware of potential structural and suspension issues, and check for recalls related to these areas before purchasing.

Reliability Score

The 2018 Ford Flex receives a reliability score of 75 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 2018 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.

Rollover
★★★★☆
4/5

Known Issues for the 2018 Ford Flex

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Ford Flex:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Body Structure Recall
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles due to potential structural issues in the body, which could lead to safety hazards.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Back Over Prevention System
Recall for 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, and Lincoln MKX vehicles due to malfunctioning back over prevention systems.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Rear Suspension Failure
A rear suspension toe link broke on the expressway, leading to loss of control and necessitating aggressive steering to avoid a spin.
Low Rare 30k-60k miles
Electrical System Issues
Issues with the electrical system, including navigation failures and reverse camera malfunctions, have been reported.
Low Rare 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 2018 Ford Flex:

Body Structure 23% of complaints

23% of reported issues involve structural problems, including recalls for body structure and back over prevention systems.

Suspension 15% of complaints

15% of reported issues are related to suspension problems, such as a broken rear suspension toe link.

Electrical System 10% of complaints

10% of reported issues are electrical system malfunctions, including navigation failures and reverse camera malfunctions.

Audio System 5% of complaints

5% of reported issues involve audio system malfunctions, including media player alerts and touch panel tone issues.

Recall Details for the 2018 Ford Flex

The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Ford Flex by NHTSA:

Structure:Body
Campaign #25V732000 24/10/2025

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Consequence: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became...

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Campaign #25V695000 13/10/2025

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.

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Suspension:Rear
Campaign #20V072000 10/02/2020

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...

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company

NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Ford Flex

Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Ford Flex with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 7 complaints involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.

Crash Reports: 7 Injury/Fatality Reports: 1
Structure
03/09/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds on city roads, a trim piece fell off the vehicle, and the contact was unable to recover the trim piece. After losing the trim piece, the contact heard road noise and air entering the vehicle through the gap. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V732000 (STRUCTURE); however, the p...

ODI #11723108
Structure
03/05/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V732000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side B-pillar trim detached. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact retrieved a temporary part at a local junk yard and att...

ODI #11722257
Structure,Back Over Prevention
03/02/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V732000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while shifted to reverse(R), the back over preventi...

ODI #11721376
Electrical System
02/19/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH in the rain, the windshield wipers engaged but were moving significantly fast and significantly slow intermittently. The contact stated that the driver's assist system, including the blind spot detection system, the engine auto Start-Stop system, and the lane departure systems, was inoperable. Additionally, the contact...

ODI #11719212
Back Over Prevention
01/28/2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera display became inoperable. The contact stated that the rear-view camera display occasionally operated as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that parts were not available for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic...

ODI #11713873
Structure
01/10/2026

The trim on the driver's door broke in half causing it to fly into the traffic behind me.

ODI #11710136
Electrical System
Crash 12/18/2025

APIM or SYNC 3 malfunction. Navigation failure and not working properly alerts, clock in car not set correctly and won’t allow owner to fix it, no audio at all, no panel touch tones, popping/cracking intermittent throughout car, Bluetooth connection drops, slow glitching screen, reverse camera displayed distortion or black/blue screen with alerts saying “camera unavailable” which already caused a ...

ODI #11705823
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other
Crash 12/05/2025

APIM is failing due to current recall with reverse camera. The glitching has cause many safety issues including •Navigation Fault •Cracking/popping audio •Missing touchscreen sounds •Intermittent system issues •Slow loading •Camera freezing or blacking out This has already caused a collision with my vehicle. Took it to manufacturer (Ford dealership) and they told me nothing they can do unt...

ODI #11703349
Structure,Back Over Prevention
12/03/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V732000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the passenger's side door B-pillar trim had become loosened. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact...

ODI #11702665
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Back Over Prevention
Crash 11/03/2025

Audio throughout the entire vehicle are malfunctioning as well as the reverse camera malfunction. This has caused a collision the 11th of October. The ACM is severely malfunctioning and causing a huge safety hazard. No audio like radio, etc and alerts make sound not touch panel tones. Camera unavailable alert showed up as well as media unavailable showed on screen.

ODI #11697154
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other
11/02/2025

Media player unavailable alert comes on display. Touch panel tone doesn’t have sound, audio in car has no sound. Sync 3 has been updated. Problem continues as well as the rear camera issue

ODI #11697010
Electrical System,Back Over Prevention
Crash 11/01/2025

Rear camera malfunctioned screen showed “camera not available” didn’t alert any noise or warnings and a tree hovered slightly into parking spot and smashed in my rear window. Audio inside car malfunctioned as well (no musics, etc) and the touch pad tones stopped making sound when touched.

ODI #11696951
Unknown Or Other
10/28/2025

While driving on the Gerald R Ford Fwy in Michigan my driver side pillar with my key pad flew off and detached from my vehicle. Part flew off, hit the back window of my vehicle and almost hit another vehicle that was driving behind me. Other vehicle behind needed to swerve so my pillar from my vehicle wouldn't hit their windshield. Now my vehicle is missing the pillar piece and I need to go onl...

ODI #11696174
Suspension
10/03/2025

The Left driver side rear suspension toe link broke on expressway, resulting in loss of control had to aggressively steer out of a spin. Car was undrivable and had to have towed and repaired, had passenger side rear suspension toe link go bad in December of 2024. Repair documentation available upon request.

ODI #11691272
Unknown Or Other
09/14/2025

Rear view camera displays upside down or distorted

ODI #11687220
Unknown Or Other
09/09/2025

My backup camera is experiencing the same issues as the rest of the recalled Ford vehicles. None of the recalls cover my year. The camera displays as upside down, and no longer has any of the digital guides it had before it flipped. When I asked the dealership they said most likely hardware and that we would need to replace the camera. I don't see why I have to pay to replace the camera when this ...

ODI #11686103
Unknown Or Other
08/20/2025

The backup camera on my Flex has stopped working. It displays a scrambled image or nothing at all and an error message saying the ‘camera is not available’. This is dangerous, as I could back up and injure someone. I see Ford has a recall underway for millions of vehicles with this problem and the fix is a software update. I suggest NHTSA look into including the Flex in the recall, because this ap...

ODI #11682030
Structure
08/16/2025

The B pillar trim on our 2018 ford flex has detached and flew off the vehicle while driving on the interstate. Both front and rear habe detached and become hazards.

ODI #11681062
Back Over Prevention
07/24/2025

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Flex. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera frequently failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the camera displayed a blank or distorted image while the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R). In addition, the back over prevention camera screen remained displayed while the vehicle was in drive(D). The dealer was notified of the failure and t...

ODI #11675869
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other
06/13/2025

The rearview camera for parking assistance displays a blank, distorted, or inverted image when in reverse. The camera itself was replaced back in 2022, but before it was replaced, the same issue occurred. The car was taken to a Ford dealership for replacement. They were aware of this issue back then a thought a camera replacement would fix the issue. Unfortunately, the camera replacement didn't re...

ODI #11666716

Showing 20 of 48 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Ford Flex

Has the 2018 FORD FLEX been recalled?

Yes, the 2018 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 2018 FORD FLEX have?

The 2018 FORD FLEX has 48 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 7 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.

What is the safety rating for the 2018 FORD FLEX?

The 2018 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 2018 FORD FLEX?

The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 FORD FLEX involve unknown or other (8 complaints), suspension (8 complaints), structure (7 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, back over prevention, electrical system,unknown or other.

How many crash reports does the 2018 FORD FLEX have?

There are 7 crash reports associated with the 2018 FORD FLEX out of 48 total complaints (14.6% of complaints involved crashes).

How many fire reports does the 2018 FORD FLEX have?

There are no fire reports for the 2018 FORD FLEX in the NHTSA database.

Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 FORD FLEX?

No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 FORD FLEX.

How many injuries are reported for the 2018 FORD FLEX?

1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 FORD FLEX. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.

Should I buy a 2018 FORD FLEX?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 FORD FLEX is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 48 complaints, 3 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.

What components fail most on the 2018 FORD FLEX?

The components with the most failures on the 2018 FORD FLEX are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (8 complaints), 2. SUSPENSION (8 complaints), 3. STRUCTURE (7 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3 complaints), 5. BACK OVER PREVENTION (3 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 8 complaints.

What should I know before buying a 2018 FORD FLEX?

Be aware of potential structural and suspension issues, and check for recalls related to these areas before purchasing. The 2018 FORD FLEX has 48 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record.

How reliable is the 2018 FORD FLEX?

The 2018 FORD FLEX receives a reliability score of 75/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 48 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 7 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Body Structure Recall and Back Over Prevention System.

What are the known issues with the 2018 FORD FLEX?

Known issues with the 2018 FORD FLEX include: Body Structure Recall, Back Over Prevention System, Rear Suspension Failure, Electrical System Issues. These are based on patterns found across 48 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.

Are there any recalls for the 2018 Ford Flex?

Yes, there are recalls for body structure and back over prevention systems.

What kind of suspension issues have been reported?

A rear suspension toe link broke on the expressway, causing loss of control.

Are there any electrical system issues with the 2018 Ford Flex?

Issues include navigation failures and reverse camera malfunctions.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Be aware of potential structural and suspension issues, and check for recalls related to these areas before purchasing.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Ford Flex

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Ford Flex. The data includes 48 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 7 reported crashes, 1 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