2014 Ford Flex

Like the Taurus and Explorer on the same platform, the Flex's 3.5L V6 and 3.5L EcoBoost engines have an internally mounted water pump driven by the timing chain. When the pump seal fails, coolant leaks into the engine oil, causing a milky oil appearance and potential bearing damage if not caught early.

Replace the internal water pump, timing chain components, and related seals. This requires removing the front timing cover and is a major repair. Monitor engine oil regularly for coolant contamination. If coolant has mixed with oil, flush the engine thoroughly before reassembly.

The PTU on AWD Flex models is prone to overheating and fluid leaks from the output shaft seal. The PTU is located in a hot area near the exhaust, and Ford did not initially recommend regular PTU fluid changes. Low or degraded fluid causes gear whine, grinding, and eventual PTU failure.

Drain and replace the PTU fluid with Ford-specified 75W-140 synthetic gear oil every 30,000 miles. If the PTU is already making noise, replacement is necessary. Install an aftermarket PTU cooler to prevent future overheating. Replace the half-shaft seals if leaking.

The MyFord Touch infotainment system is notorious for freezing, going to a black screen, and rebooting randomly while driving. Bluetooth connectivity drops frequently, navigation becomes unresponsive, and the backup camera may not display. The system's slow processor struggles with basic operations.

Update to the latest MyFord Touch software version via USB download from Ford's website. Perform a master reset if the system is consistently unresponsive. If the APIM module hardware has failed, it needs replacement. Some owners upgrade to a SYNC 3 retrofit for improved reliability.

Front brake calipers on the Flex tend to stick due to corroded slide pins, causing uneven brake pad wear and premature rotor warping. Symptoms include a pulling sensation during braking, a pulsating brake pedal, and excessive heat from one front wheel.

Clean and lubricate the brake caliper slide pins with silicone-based brake grease. Replace warped rotors and worn brake pads as a pair. If the caliper piston is seized, replace the caliper. Lubricate slide pins during every brake service to prevent recurrence.

The door ajar warning light stays illuminated even when all doors are closed. This can prevent the interior lights from turning off, drain the battery, and disable the remote start feature. The issue is caused by a failing door latch switch or corroded wiring in the door jamb.

Diagnose which door is triggering the warning using a scan tool or by observing which dome light zone stays on. Replace the affected door latch assembly or clean the corroded connector. Apply dielectric grease to the connectors to prevent future corrosion.

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.

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

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.

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.

A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford F-150 and Flex vehicles manufactured March 1, 2014, to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles were manufactured with a reduced clearance between the seat frame and the seat track assembly. This can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to inaccurately register passenger weight and improperly suppress the passenger front airbag when the passenger seat is occupied by an adult passenger. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Improper suppression of the passenger airbag increases the risk of an injury to the seat occupant in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front passenger airbag.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will widen the gap between the seat frame and seat track assembly and recalibrate the seat OCS, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14C10.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.

If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.