FordFlex2019Overview/ford/flex/2019/base/

2019 Ford Flex

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 Flex.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2019 Ford Flex is a midsize SUV that runs on a 6.0‑quart oil capacity with 5W‑30/0W‑30/5W‑20 viscosity options and is paired with an S6 automatic transmission, delivering EPA‑rated 16‑22‑18 mpg city/highway/combined. It received a total of 221 owner complaints—primarily over “Back Over Prevention”—and was subject to four recalls during the model year. Across its 2009‑2019 production run the Flex saw a peak of 578 complaints in 2013 and a low of just 40 in 2017, positioning the 2019 model in a relatively reliable segment of its history.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30 / 5W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · Ecoboost:750; Without Ecoboost: 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · Ecoboost:750; Without Ecoboost: 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/55R19 101HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height67.7 in
Wheelbase118.1 in
Curb weight4839 lb
Track (front / rear)65.7 / 65.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Flex of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.7–9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.70 sec — 2013 Limited 3.5L EcoBoost
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016Limited 3.5L EcoBoost 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.20 sec14.70 sec365 hpAWD
2013Limited 3.5L EcoBoost 3.5L Twin-Turbo V65.70 sec14.20 sec365 hpAWD
2010SEL 3.5L EcoBoost 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.00 sec14.60 sec355 hpAWD
2009Limited 3.5L V68.40 sec16.40 sec262 hpAWD
2009SEL 3.5L V68.40 sec16.40 sec262 hpAWD
2009Limited 3.5L V69.00 sec16.80 sec262 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 / 5W-20 engine oil, Dot 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10.9 qt
Brake FluidDot 4
Engine Coolant Capacity13.2, Turbo
Engine Coolant Capacity13.2, Turbo
Engine OilSAE 5W · 0W-30 · SAE 5W · 0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs89 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub258.0
Rear Wheel Hub258.0

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug GapTurbo: ..032-.038; Non Turbo: .051 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.31-2.44 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.90-8.90 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking PerformanceEcoboost:750; Without Ecoboost: 650 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55.0

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 13; Rear: 24.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 122.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 76 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.122; Rear: .394
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
171 inch lbs., Step 2: 45°.71 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
117 ft. lbs., Step 2: 32 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90°.17 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-814.8 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-814.8 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2019 model year represents a significant spike in owner-reported issues following several years of reduced activity, registering 221 complaints compared to 61 in 2018 and the generation's 2013 peak of 578. Notably, 2019 marks the first year in this federal dataset to trigger NHTSA investigations with two opened, alongside four recalls consistent with the 3-4 annual average maintained since 2014. Complaints concentrate disproportionately in "Back Over Prevention" with 84 filings, followed by 38 classified as "Unknown Or Other," while "Structure" appears in 21 standalone entries and 20 additional combined entries, though the data does not specify root causes. While fire complaints register at zero and crash complaints remain low at four, the abrupt escalation in volume and the introduction of federal investigations distinguish 2019 from the relative stability of 2015-2018. Given this reversal in reliability trajectory and the unique presence of investigations, prospective buyers should verify completion of all four recalls and thoroughly test backup systems before purchasing.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
48
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
221
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 221 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Back Over Prevention84
Unknown Or Other38
Structure21
Structure,Back Over Prevention20
Electrical System9
Electrical System,Back Over Prevention5
Engine4
Visibility/Wiper4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V548000Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/RegulatorReported 20/08/2018

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… 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…

24V951000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: CameraReported 20/12/2024

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. 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 48 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
TSB 25-25702025-11-26Electrical SystemThis article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles…
SSM 543662025-11-11Power TrainSome 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic…
SSM 530402024-10-10Unknown Or OtherWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a…
TSB 24-21652024-05-27Unknown Or OtherThis article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Flex. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2019 Flex take?

6.0 qt of Engines Equipped with Turbo: SAE 5W-30 all temperatures, temperatures below -22°F 0W-30 oil meeting WSS-M2C953-A1; Engines not equipped with Turbo: SAE 5W-20 all temperatures, temperatures below -22°F 0W-20 oil meeting WSS-M2C947-A., per the factory manual.

Does the 2019 Flex have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Flex get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.