Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Flex. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Rearview Camera Image May Not Display
- 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. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang 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.
Rear Suspension Toe Links May Fracture
- 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 service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
Oil Leak from Turbocharger
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (98)
98 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The back over prevention is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 98 |
|---|---|---|
| Back over prevention | 26 | 26.5% |
| Electrical system | 23 | 23.5% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 14.3% |
| Suspension | 10 | 10.2% |
| Structure | 9 | 9.2% |
| Engine | 8 | 8.2% |
| Power train | 8 | 8.2% |
| Steering | 8 | 8.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 4.1% |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 3.1% |
How 2016 compares with other Flex years
Best and worst Flex years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 139 | 1 |
| 2011 | 144 | 2 |
| 2012 | 64 | 2 |
| 2013 | 580 | 6 |
| 2014 | 249 | 4 |
| 2015 | 110 | 4 |
| 2016 | 98 | 3 |
| 2017 | 42 | 4 |
| 2018 | 67 | 3 |
| 2019 | 252 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 481 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 19 | $3,550 | 481 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | $3,700 | 491 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 21 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 Flex for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Ford Flex FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Ford Flex have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 25V695000 (rear camera), 20V072000 (suspension), 16V925000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Flex problems?
Owners filed 98 complaints with NHTSA. Back over prevention (26), Electrical system (23), Unknown or other (14) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Ford Flex get?
EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 16 city, 23 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2016 Flex compare with other years?
Among the 2010–2019 Ford Flex model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (42) and the 2013 the most (580). The 2016 drew 98. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.