2018 Ford Flex vs 2018 Toyota Highlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Ford Flex | 2018 Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 61 | 258 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 63 | 253 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 22 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17–19 | 22–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,000 mi | 17,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Flex | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | 60 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 53 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 24 |
| Engine | 1 | 33 |
| Structure | 17 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 22 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 19 |
| Suspension | 9 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 0 | 18 |
| Stalling | 0 | 17 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 10 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 8 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 5 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 5 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 5 |
2018 Ford Flex
2018 Toyota Highlander
Compare all Ford Flex vs Toyota Highlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.