Ford Flex
Problems & Worst Years

Camera trouble bookends the Ford Flex's complaint record. In 2015 — a small file at 69 occurrences across just four problems — the top complaint is a back-over prevention camera that intermittently fails to display an image (27 reports). In 2019, the larger year at 160 occurrences, rearview camera failure leads again at 79 reports and is rated at safety severity, with another 30 reports describing the back-over prevention system as unreliable. Whatever else you do on a test drive, shift into reverse repeatedly and confirm the display comes up every time, not just once.

Each year adds its own concerns. The 2015 file's second item is serious despite the low count: 22 safety-rated reports of the steering system failing and taking power steering assist with it, plus 11 reports of engine stall during operation. NHTSA lists campaign 20V072000 against the 2015 model year. The 2019 complaints trend toward body and trim instead — 29 reports of B-pillar trim detaching and 15 of the keyless entry pad coming off, the latter safety-rated — along with a recall campaign of its own, 18V548000. A handful of water pump failure reports (3) close out the 2019 list.

For a 2015, prioritize the steering: any intermittent heaviness or loss of assist is disqualifying until diagnosed, and recall status should be verified by VIN. For a 2019, check the cameras, run a hand over the B-pillar trim and keyless pad for looseness, and confirm its recall shows completed.

Both files are small in absolute terms, and that's worth keeping in view — these are owner-filed NHTSA complaints, not measured failure rates, newer model years have had less time to accumulate reports, and the numbers point your inspection rather than settle it. The specific car's service history and a pre-purchase inspection remain the deciding factors.