PINBALL FLUBS is a term used to describe a situation in which a pinball machine malfunctions due to a technical issue. The most common cause of this is when the tilt mechanism is activated, which is when the player moves the machine too much or too quickly. This can cause the ball to become stuck in the machine, preventing it from being played. TILTS is the 5 letter solution to this crossword puzzle, and is an acronym for 'Trouble Inducing Lever Trigger System'.