Service bulletins for the 2016 Ford Flex
A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.
87 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.
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Only bulletins with component: Electrical system are shown. Show all
| SSM 47041 | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Various 2016-2017 vehicles with SYNC 3 may experience a touch screen that does not respond to any input. Using the Professional Technician Society (PTS) website > OASIS tab > SYNC version, verify the vehicle SYNC software version. If the vehicle is at version 2.2 please update the module to the latest software level. After the software is updated make sure you shut the vehicle off, open the door for 2 minutes, then turn the key back on before testing the touch screen. If the software is at a later version than 2.2, proceed with normal diagnostics in Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 415-00. For claiming, use causal part 14G371 and applicable labor operations in section 10 of the Service Labor Times Standards (SLTS) manual. |
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| SSM 47167 | 2018-05-21. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Various 2016-2017 vehicles with SYNC 3 may experience a touch screen that does not respond to any input. Using the Professional Technician Society (PTS) website > OASIS tab > SYNC version, verify the vehicle SYNC software version. If the vehicle is at version 2.2 please update the module to the latest software level. After the software is updated make sure you shut the vehicle off, open the door for 2 minutes, then turn the key back on before testing the touch screen. If the software is at a later version than 2.2, proceed with normal diagnostics in Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 415-00. For claiming, use causal part 14G371 and applicable labor operations in section 10 of the Service Labor Times Standards (SLTS) manual. |
| SSM 46947 | 2018-01-29. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; BACK OVER PREVENTION; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; LANE DEPARTURE. Some 2016-2017 Ford and Lincoln vehicles with SYNC 3 may intermittently display an overhead image of a vehicle in the center of the SYNC touchscreen with no obstacle detection grids or warning chimes. SYNC may appear unresponsive when the overhead vehicle image is displayed. The vehicle image may intermittently display after shifting out of reverse or turning the vehicle off when in reverse. SYNC software updates are now available under the OASIS Tab SYNC selection. If an update is available, refer to WSM Section 415-00 and update the APIM software. For claiming, use causal part 14G371 and applicable labor operations in section 10 of the SLTS manual. |
| SSM 46900 | 2018-01-29. Service bulletin. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Some vehicles may exhibit a no start condition with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and a DTC P161A after PCM replacement. This may be due to the parameter reset procedure not being properly completed. To clear this DTC, use the Ford Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) service tool or Ford J2534 Diagnostic Software, select - Toolbox - Body - Security - PATS Functions - Parameter Reset. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the procedure. This procedure will transfer the existing Key ID information between the modules without the need of having 2 programmed PATS keys present. There is no need to program keys when the PCM is going to be replaced. Additional information can be found in the Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 419-01. Missing or lost keys are not warrantable. |
| SSM 46073 | 2017-08-01. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Some 2016-2017 Escape, MKC, Fiesta, F150, Expedition, Navigator, Mustang, Transit, Focus, C-Max, MKX, Taurus, MKS, Flex, MKT, and Edge and 2017 Explorer, Fusion, MKZ, Super Duty, Transit Connect and Continental vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 might exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in Transport mode. Engineering is aware of this possibility and it is considered normal due to the power saving features enabled while in transportation mode. It is beneficial to extended battery life to keep the vehicle in Transport Mode until the vehicle is prepped for sale. If the vehicle should exhibit a blank screen or other SYNC symptoms after it has been taken out of Transport mode, refer to Workshop Manual, Section 415-00 for normal diagnosis. The SYNC version can be confirmed via OASIS. |
| SSM 46048 | 2017-08-01. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Some 2016-2017 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may have DTCs U3000:04, B108E:12 and/or U1A00:87 present in the APIM. If these DTCs are present and no other symptoms are reported by the customer, then clear the DTCs and retest. If the DTC(s) do not return then no further repairs should be attempted. If one or more DTCs return as current faults and/or the customer reports other symptoms, then refer to Workshop Manual, Section 415-00 for further diagnostics. The SYNC version can be confirmed via OASIS. |
| SSM 46486 | 2017-05-24. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. SOME 2016-2017 FORD OR LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC 3 MAY EXHIBIT A BLANK SCREEN OR OTHER VARIOUS SYNC SYMPTOMS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN TRANSPORT MODE. THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL DUE TO THE POWER SAVING FEATURES ENABLED WHILE IN TRANSPORT MODE. IT IS BENEFICIAL FOR BATTERY LIFE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN TRANSPORT MODE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PREPPED FOR SALE. TO PREVENT A SYNC SYSTEM LOCKUP DURING TRANSPORT MODE DEACTIVATION, FOLLOW THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) PROCEDURE EXACTLY ALLOWING TIME FOR THE SYNC SYSTEM TO COMPLETE ITS TASKS SUCH AS FULLY BOOTING UP OR POWERING DOWN AND SHUTTING OFF BEFORE MOVING TO THE NEXT STEP OF THE PROCEDURE. IF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A BLANK SCREEN OR SYNC SYMPTOMS AFTER TRANSPORT MODE DEACTIVATION, REFER TO WSM, SECTION 415-00 FOR NORMAL DIAGNOSIS. THE SYNC VERSION CAN BE CONFIRMED VIA OASIS. |
| SSM 45918 | 2017-02-11. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SOME 2016-2017 FORD/LINCOLN VEHICLES WITH SYNC 3 MAY SEE A NAVIGATION FAULT MESSAGE APPEAR ON THE MAP ON THE HOME SCREEN OR A SYSTEM LOCK UP WHEN THE PHONE IS CONNECTED. APPLINK MAYBE INOPERATIVE, OR THE SYSTEM MAY PERFORM RANDOM REBOOTS DURING AN IGNITION CYCLE WITH THE PHONE CONNECTED. DETERMINE IF THE CUSTOMER HAS AN ANDROID PHONE WITH THE BASEBALL APPLICATION MLB.COM AT BAT INSTALLED. IF THE CUSTOMER DOES NOT HAVE THIS APPLICATION LOADED THEN PROCEED TO THE WSM, SECTION 415-00 FOR NORMAL DIAGNOSIS. IF THE CUSTOMER DOES HAVE THIS APPLICATION LOADED VERIFY IF THE VERSION IS 5.1.3 OR LOWER ON THE ANDROID PHONE. IF THE ANDROID PHONE WITH MLB.COM AT BAT HAS VERSION 5.1.3 OR LOWER PLEASE RECOMMEND THAT THEY UPDATE THEIR APP TO VERSION 5.2 OR HIGHER AND RETEST FOR THE CUSTOMER SYMPTOM. THE SYNC VERSION CAN BE CONFIRMED VIA OASIS. |
| SSM 45917 | 2017-02-10. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SOME 2016-2017 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC 3 MAY EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS; THE GPS NOT TRACKING THE VEHICLE POSITION CORRECTLY, THE VEHICLE LOCATION ARROW ICON SPINNING IN CIRCLES ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN OR A SPINNING COMPASS ON NON-NAVIGATION VEHICLES. PERFORM THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE TO RESOLVE. ENTER BEZEL DIAGNOSTICS PER WORK SHOP MANUAL (WSM) SECTION 415-00. SELECT TESTING SETTINGS FROM THE MENU. SCROLL DOWN AND PRESS CLEAR DR CALIB. PERFORM A DRIVE TEST FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, INCLUDE AT LEAST FOUR RIGHT TURNS AND FOUR LEFT TURNS WITH A VEHICLE SPEED OF AT LEAST 25 MPH. CONFIRM THAT GPS POSITION FOR NAVIGATION OR THE COMPASS FOR NON-NAVIGATION VEHICLES IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ENGINEERING IS AWARE OF THIS CONCERN. THE SYNC VERSION CAN BE CONFIRMED VIA OASIS. MONITOR OASIS FOR FUTURE UPDATES. |
| SSM 45916 | 2017-02-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT. SOME 2016 FORD AND LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC 3 AND NAVIGATION ALONG WITH A VALID PAID SUBSCRIPTION TO SIRIUS TRAVEL LINK MAY NOT DISPLAY SIRIUS TRAVEL LINK FUEL PRICES. REPLACING COMPONENTS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE CONDITION AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME. ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING. IN THE INTERIM, THE FOLLOWING STEPS WILL RESET THE SYSTEM. POSITION THE VEHICLE OUTDOORS IN OPEN SKY. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FOR 5 MINUTES. RECONNECT THE BATTERY AND START THE VEHICLE. SELECT SIRIUS TRAVEL LINK THEN FUEL PRICES. FUEL PRICE INFORMATION MAY NOT DISPLAY FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES WHILE THE SYSTEM IS UPDATING. THE SYNC VERSION CAN BE CONFIRMED VIA OASIS. MONITOR OASIS FOR FUTURE UPDATES. |
| SSM 46129 | 2017-02-07. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY. SOME 2013-2016 FUSION/ESCAPE/MKT/FLEX/MKS/TAURUS, 2015-2016 MKZ/MKC/EDGE AND 2016 MKX VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS RADIO CONCERNS INCLUDING: SPEAKER STATIC WITH KEY-OFF, NO AUDIO AFTER VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) U0184, NO VOLUME CONTROL, OR A STUCK CD WITH NO SLOT BLOCKAGE. PRIOR TO STARTING NORMAL DIAGNOSIS FOR ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, VERIFY THE ACM IS AT THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING IDS VERSION 102.03 OR HIGHER. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WHEN ENTERING MODULE PROGRAMMING TO OBTAIN THE LATEST UPDATES. CALIBRATION FILES MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT WWW.MOTORCRAFTSERVICE.COM. USE THE APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATION IN SECTION 11 OF THE SLTS MANUAL AND CAUSAL PART 18C869 WHEN CLAIMING THIS REPAIR. |
| TSB-16-0093 | 2016-09-24. Service bulletin. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SOME 2016 F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, TRANSIT, EDGE, FLEX AND EXPLORER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.5L TWIN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE CAM TIMING (TI-VCT) OR A 3.5L GASOLINE TURBOCHARGED DIRECT INJECTION (GTDI) ENGINE WITH LESS THAN 3200 KM (2000 MILES) MAY EXHIBIT AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0011, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021 AND/OR P0025 STORED IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) MEMORY. |
| SSM-45821 | 2016-08-30. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. SIRI EYES FREE FUNCTIONAL ISSUES USING BLUETOOTH AND APPLE IOS 9.2 AND 9.2.1 |
The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.