Verdict
2010 Ford Flex: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2010 Ford Flex — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for SUV.
Owners filed 139 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 58% of 2010 SUVs. Steering leads the reports (23%). 1 safety recall campaign on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2010 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
139
Reports to NHTSA, 2010
Safety recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
18
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 58% of 2010 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2010 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Steering issues lead owner complaints (23% of 139 reports), followed by engine (15%).
+ 12 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 139 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 10806630, ODI 11688616, ODI 11668438, ODI 11601196, ODI 11578913.
Recalls(1)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Air Bags · 16V247000Details +Close −
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2010 Ford Flex 4-DR. w/SAB NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flex FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 17 | 24 | 20 |
| Flex AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 6-spd | 16 | 22 | 18 |
| Flex AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 16 | 22 | 18 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2010 Ford Flex: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2010 Ford Flex?
Owners filed 139 NHTSA complaints about the 2010 Ford Flex — more complaints than 58% of comparable 2010 SUVs, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2010 Ford Flex?
The most-reported problem areas are Steering (23% of complaints) and engine (15%).
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Flex have?
1 recall has been issued that affect the 2010 Ford Flex, covering components such as air bags. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Ford Flex get?
The EPA rates the 2010 Ford Flex between 18 and 20 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.