Diagsheet

First generation

2019 Ford Flex

The most reported problem on the 2019 Ford Flex is infotainment, with 167 complaints, usually around 50,000 miles.

  • 249owner complaints
  • 4recalls
  • 4involved a crash
  • 50,000median miles at failure

Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

miles

2019 Ford Flex
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

What is your Flex doing?

Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2019 model year.

Is the 2019 Ford Flex reliable?

The 2019 Ford Flex has 249 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 281 for 2019 SUVs on this site. Of the 6 Flex model years since 2014, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.

At a glance

Next to the 2018
At 31 complaints for each year on the road, the 2019 runs 4.2 times the 2018 (7). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
Top problem
One problem takes up much of the file: infotainment, named in 167 of the 249 complaints (67%). A quarter of the 85 owners who gave a mileage for infotainment saw it by about 35,000 miles, and half by about 50,000.
Crash, fire and injury reports
Only 4 of the 249 complaints (2%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, well under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 4 reports mention a crash and 3 people were hurt.
Recalls behind the top problems
Each of infotainment and trim coming off has a recall on the same system: infotainment, 18V-548; trim coming off, 25V-732. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
When owners filed
Filings jumped in 2025, with 100 complaints, 3.6 times the next busiest year. So far in 2026, 89 more have come in.

When each problem shows up

Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: infotainment, screen or backup camera fails, 167 complaints.

0k25k50k75k100k125k150kyou
Every complaint with a mileage111 of 249
111 complaints state a mileage. The most, 18, fall between 30,000 and 40,000 miles; 1 are past 150,000.

middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.

Behind you

    Around your mileage

      Ahead of you

        How this compares

        2019 Ford Flex249
        Median 2019 model here (93 vehicles)237
        Median 2019 SUV here (50)281

        249 complaints is about the median for a 2019 model on this site and about the median for a 2019 SUV. Among the 3 Flex model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.

        Service bulletins for the 2019 Ford Flex

        Ford filed 49 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2019 Ford Flex. 6 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.

        Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

        Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 5 bulletins · 167 complaints

        • Service bulletinTSB 25-2570Nov 26, 2025

          Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to:  Display operation concerns  Navigation inoperative  Voice recognition concerns  Phone connection issues  Dropped phone ...

        • Service bulletinSSM 50375Dec 23, 2021

          Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due to an incomplete installation of the SYNC map software.

        3 more on this problem
        • Service bulletinSSM 48908Jun 17, 2020

          Some 2016-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a SYNC 3 Touchscreen may experience the volume control unresponsive from the Front Control Interface Module (FCIM) and steering volume controls when using Apple Car Play.

        • Service bulletinSSM 48340Nov 21, 2019

          Some 2016-2019 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a map displayed on the left half of the SYNC screen with no other information/soft buttons present after updating to the latest version of V3.0 software.

        • Service bulletinSSM 48053Jun 24, 2019

          Some 2016-2019 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 not at the latest software level may exhibit Various Performance Related concerns such as Display Operation, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Phone Pairing, Applink, Travel Link, Slow System ...

        Infotainment screen freezes or goes black 1 bulletin · 18 complaints

        • Service bulletinSSM 50039Aug 16, 2021

          Some 2016-2021 Ford or Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 or SYNC 4 may exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in transport mode.

        Complaints filed by year

        Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2019: 1, 2020: 3, 2021: 3, 2022: 5, 2023: 20, 2024: 28, 2025: 100, 2026: 891'193'203'215'2220'2328'24100'2589'26

        100 complaints came in 2025, 3.6 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.

        NHTSA investigations

        PE25-007opened Aug 7, 2025
        Structure · model years 2017 to 2019

        B-pillar trim detachment. Closed aug 5, 2026, led to recall 25V-732.

        NHTSA summary
        On August 7, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE25007 to investigate instances of B-pillar trim detachment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Flex vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. During the investigation, MY 2011-2018 Ford Flex vehicles were analyzed as peer vehicles, and subsequently incorporated into the subject population because they use B-pillar trim pieces that are substantially similar to those used on the MY 2019 Ford Flex vehicles. In July 2025, prior to the opening of PE25007, ODI and Ford met to discuss B-pillar trim detachment in Ford Flex vehicles. Ford reported that its warranty analysis indicated that Flex B-pillar trim had a low detachment rate and that Ford did not believe this condition posed an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. In July 2025, Ford closed its internal investigation. Because ODI’s analysis of complaint data indicated a high failure rate and an increasing failure trend, PE25007 was subsequently opened. In responding to the information request for PE25007, Ford reassessed the warranty search criteria used in its July 2025 internal investigation. The reassessment found the detachment rate to be substantially higher than what Ford had originally determined. Consequently, in October 2025, Ford issued recall 25V732based on the reassessed and accurate high failure rate. This recall instructed dealers to inspect the driver and front passenger B-pillar trim pieces and repair/replace if necessary. The vehicles inc
        PE24-030opened Oct 11, 2024
        Backup camera · model years 2019

        Rear-view camera failure. Closed feb 2, 2026, led to recall 24V-951.

        NHTSA summary
        On October 11, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24030) to assess alleged failures of the rear-view camera in Model Year (MY) 2019 Ford Flex vehicles. Complaints submitted to NHTSA through Vehicle Online Questionnaires (VOQs), reviewed by ODI, report blank, distorted, or inverted rear-view camera images when in reverse. An inverted or upside-down image can provide false information to the driver increasing the risk of a crash. To date, ODI has received 85 VOQ complaints and additional EWR Field Reports with these allegations for MY 2019 Ford Flex vehicles. During the investigation, ODI found that the MY 2019 Ford Flex vehicle and certain peer vehicles including MY 2015-2018 Flex, MY 2019 Fiesta, Taurus, and Lincoln MKT vehicles are equipped with Magna analog rear-view-only cameras. On December 20, 2024, Ford filed Recall 24V-951 covering 30,715 MY 2019 Ford Flex, Ford Fiesta, and Lincoln MKT vehicles in which the rear-view camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. The dealers will replace the rear-view camera for vehicles in the recall population. Per the recall chronology, teardown of three cameras identified fractured solder joints between the microcontroller and the printed circuit board. Ford indicated that other causal factors are being investigated and asserted that the defect is contained within the camera. ODI found that certain peer vehicles excluded from Recall 24V-951 showed a high rate of VOQ com

        Recalls that include the 2019 Ford Flex

        Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

        25V-732Oct 24, 2025
        Structure:Body

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

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: 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 remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. 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 searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 28, 2025.
        25V-695Oct 13, 2025
        Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

        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.

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: 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.
        24V-951Dec 20, 2024
        Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

        Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Flex, Fiesta, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank or distorted image can reduce the drivers view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
        Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed January 22, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated March 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S75.
        18V-548Aug 20, 2018
        Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

        Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, 2019 Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The power supply cables at the starter and the alternator may not have been properly secured, possibly resulting in an electrical arc.

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.
        Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and starter motor power supply cables to verify that they are properly secured, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S25.

        All 4 recalls on the 2019 Ford Flex, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

        Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay

        Questions

        What is the most common problem on the 2019 Ford Flex?

        Infotainment, with 167 of the 249 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 50,000 miles.

        At what mileage do 2019 Ford Flex problems start?

        Of the 111 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 35,000 miles and half by about 50,000.

        Is the 2019 Ford Flex better or worse than the 2018?

        Counted per year on the road, the 2019 has more complaints than the 2018: 31 a year against 7.

        How many 2019 Ford Flex complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?

        4 of them (2%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.

        Is there a recall for infotainment on the 2019 Ford Flex?

        Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 18V-548. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.

        Other model years