2015 Ford Flex: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
105 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2013 Flex, which scores 34 on 578 owner complaints, and the 2019, the final year, which scores 42 on 240 complaints with 134 of them for the rearview camera. Buy a 2015 to 2018, which score 79, 83, 91 and 87 on 105 or fewer complaints each, or a 2011 or 2012 at 81 and 89. Read the full note on the model page. 2015 specifically: a year the record favours — 105 complaints, score 79/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Ford Taurus and Flex: the years to avoid, including 2015 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 105 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 9.55
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while in reverse(R) on several occasions, the rear-view camera screen was black with the message "Contact Dealer" displayed. The contact stated that the home screen on the rear-view camera failed to turn on. The contact stated that on three occasions while in reverse…
UNKNOWN The rear camera (when available) is UPSIDE DOWN! At night, the image also has wide lines running through it. Sometime, the camera just shows a message that it is unavailable. So FRUSTRATING!
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Flex. The contact stated that upon reversing the vehicle the rearview camera display would display upside down and then display blank and no warning lights were illuminated, however the following warning message would display on the instrument panel "camera unavailable, please contact your local dealer". The local dealer was contacted however the vehicle was not repaired as the contact wa…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 20V072000 | Suspension:Rear | 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. |
| 25V695000 | 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. |
| 15V464000 | Parking Brake | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not… |
| 16V621000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,250
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Back Over Prevention24 complaints · typical job: Reversing camera or park-sensor replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$420–$940
- Steering19 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Fuel/Propulsion System18 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Electrical System13 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other12 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train11 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Ford Flex years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Ford Flex?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Back Over Prevention (24 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2015 Ford Flex a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 79/100, computed from 105 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2015 Ford Flex's most common problem?
24 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2015 Ford Flex sit in the Back Over Prevention group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is reversing camera or park-sensor replacement: about 2.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $420–$940 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2015 Ford Flex cost to run per year?
About $5,641 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $28,205 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2015 Ford Flex have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2015 Ford Flex, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 10/02/2020. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2015 Ford Flex really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 105 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 105 NHTSA complaints on record (9.5/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (9.6/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems