Model year guide

2012 Ford Flex

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Ford Flex is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 277 on record.

2012 Ford Flex — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Ford Flex at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints64
Combined18 mpg
Typical price$19,861

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Ford Flex recalls 2

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #16V247000 · 26/04/2016

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…

Fix: 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.

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #15V340000 · 02/06/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles ha…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software …

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Ford Flex common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Wheels
Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.

2012 Ford Flex safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Ford Flex SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Ford Flex MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway23 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Ford Flex worth?

Low
$13,500
Typical price
$19,861
High
$24,800

From 275 comparable 2012 Ford Flex listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Ford Flex costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,750
Depreciation (5 yrs)$16,150
Total$32,900
Per mile$0.44

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($19,861) with the same model 3 model-years older ($10,171), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Ford Flex trims & engines on record

Trims
SEL · Limited · SE · Titanium
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 262 hp · 3.5L 6-cyl 355 hp

2012 Ford Flex vehicles on record

2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMGK5DC5CBD10752 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SE2FMGK5BCXCBD20762 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMHK6DT5CBD09627 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SE2FMGK5BC2CBD21999 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMGK5CC4CBD15488 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SE2FMGK5BC0CBD10287 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMGK5DC4CBD09205 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMGK5CC7CBD03108 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMHK6CC9CBD16369 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMHK6DT7CBD06681 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SE2FMGK5BC9CBD22907 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMHK6CC8CBD17397 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMHK6DT4CBD20831 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Titanium2FMGK5DC2CBD17545 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMHK6CC8CBD04701 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMGK5DC7CBD03835 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMGK5DCXCBD16773 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMGK5CC6CBD16299 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMHK6DT0CBD05422 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMGK5CC2CBD07955 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex SEL2FMGK5CC6CBD20305 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMGK5DC9CBD05876 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMGK5DCXCBD21827 2012 Ford Flex 2012 Ford Flex Limited2FMHK6DT1CBD00035

Other Ford Flex model years

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009

2012 Ford Flex — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Flex have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Flex. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Flex?

Based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, service brakes, air bags.

What is the 2012 Ford Flex safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Ford Flex crash-test ratings of rollover 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Flex get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Ford Flex at about 18 mpg combined (16 city / 23 highway).

How much is a 2012 Ford Flex worth?

Comparable 2012 Ford Flex listings run roughly $13,500–$24,800, typically around $19,861 (from 275 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.