2009 FORD FLEX Engine Problems

About 5 miles from home with no warning.The car went from regular temp to hot then stopped.Water mixed with the oil.The tech said the water pump just failed.I did not have any problems with it running hot or anything.

My Flex has repeatedly lost power while driving. I can feel the car lose power, and the yellow wrench light comes on. After reading up on it, I learned that you have to turn the vehicle off, wherever you are, and restart it after a few minutes. The wrench light turns off, and the car runs as normal, with no records of codes. This is talked about over and over in online forums. The safety issue is that it has happened on the freeway several times while traveling at a high rate of speed. The car loses power, and you cannot accelerate. You have to find a way to stop immediately, put the car in park (and listen to the transmission clunk) and turn it off. This last instance put me in harms way on the freeway. The car lost power while traveling 70mph. I immediately lost speed and had to cross 3 lanes of traffic to pull over to turn the car off. All of the forums talk about the throttle body, but everyone says that’s not the issue. The OSS and TSS sensors are also discussed. The dealerships cannot find out what’s wrong because once the car is turned off and restarted, any codes are erased. The issue persists, and the car keeps losing power wherever and whenever. I am referencing the most recent incident on this form, however, this has happened at least 12 times since September, 2020. Please, please force a recall on this issue!

LAST NIGHT, I WENT TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WHILE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP UNCONTROLLABLY AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, IT KEPT MOVING IN REVERSE. I QUICKLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THE REVVING CAME DOWN. SHUT DOWN THE CAR, RESTARTED IT AND THIS TIME, I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN ONLY TO START LUNGING FORWARD EVEN WHILE BRAKING. IF I WERE IN TRAFFIC OR AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, I WOULD HAVE SURELY HIT THE PERSON(S) IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. LATER MY WIFE EXPLAINED TO ME THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND SHE HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE SPEED, DUE TO REVVING, EVEN WHILE USING THE BRAKE. SHE MANAGED TO TAKE AN EXIT RAMP INTO A LARGE PARKING LOT USING EXTREME BRAKING (FORCEFUL) AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I WAITED UNTIL AFTER 8PM TO DRIVE WHEN THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO TRAFFIC TO DRIVE TO THE CLOSEST CAR REPAIR SHOP TO DROP IT OFF AND THERE HAPPENED TO BE A MECHANIC LEAVING AS I WAS PULLING UP. I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND HE MENTIONED THAT IT WAS A DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT GOT DIAGNOSED & REPAIRED. I'VE OWNED A LOT OF CARS IN MY LIFE AND EXPERIENCING UNCONTROLLABLE REVVING WHILST THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED IS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. LUCKILY WE KEPT OUR WITS AND WERE ABLE TO RECOVER. I ALSO SEE WHERE THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED ON THIS SITE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M THANKFUL NO ONE WAS INJURED LAST NIGHT, INCLUDING MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS THIS IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN.

Mileage: 138,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER SAFFORD FORD LINCOLN OF SALISBURY LOCATED AT 1902 N SALISBURY BLVD, SALISBURY, MD 21801, (443) 210-4835, AND WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY CRADLE IS RUSTED THROUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND HAS A VISIBLE CRACK. I'M TOLD THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN AS WELL AS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ONE CAN BE INJURED DUE TO THE ENGINE FALLING OUT TO NAME ONE. I'M TOLD BY A MECHANIC THIS IS A FACTORY DEFAULT.I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, [XXX] 09/05/2020 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILE PER HR. THEN MY FORD FLEX STARTED TO STALL SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEAR BY REPAIR SHOP , THEY LOOKED OVER MY VEHICLE AND THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION, THAT THE WATER PIMP HAD FAILED AND COOLANT ENTERED THE BLOCK, SO THERE FOR THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF THE REPAIR INVOICE 369486 02/28/2020

Mileage: 133,615

WHEN DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGINS TO ACCELERATE PAST 40MPH THE CAR SHUDDERS AND JERKS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THE FORD DEALER TEST DROVE IT AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE WHAT I EXPERIENCE OFTEN.

THE VEHICLE OVER HEATS, AND JUST GETS TOO HOT. IF THE A/C IS RUNNING IT OVER HEATS JUST SITTING AT THE LIGHT. NOW THAT IT IS COOLER, THE HEATER IS ON AND IT OVER HEATS JUST SITTING AT THE LIGHT. I STOP THE CAR AND LET IT COOL DOWN BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE OPERATING LIKE THIS. THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS DESCRIBING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. NO REASON JUST SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT FOR THE CAR TO OVER HEAT.

Mileage: 120,000

2009 FORD FLEX PCM. WHILE ACCELERATING OFF RAMP ONTO INTERSTATE, MPH 70, THE FORD BEGIN TO SHANK VIOLENTLY THEN SUDDENLY STOPS.............. IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC/INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 70 MPH. FLEX GOES TO SHOP AND 3 COILS ARE MELTED, CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND PCM NEEDS TO REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS THERE ARE MANY MANY POST AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PCM. THE SAFETY OF THE FLEX AND IT'S PASSENGERS ARE IN GRAVE DANGER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AS IT IS OUT OF NO WHERE. 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE AT A SUDDEN STOP WILL KILL SOMEONE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. THIS IS A FORD MALFUNCTION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY FORD AND ADDRESSED INSTEAD OF TSB'S BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL IS SERIOUSLY HURT.

Mileage: 135,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AND STATED THAT THE STEERING U JOINT, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND ENGINE FAILED. THE DEALER (CAR NATION, 317 SOUTH PHILADELPHIA BLVD, ABERDEEN, MD 21001, (410) 995-8888) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED SINCE THE CONTACT PUT 1,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,080. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 106,080

IT KEEPS SAYING SENSOR WE HAD REPLACED TWICE IS STILL BAD. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ACCELERATE SOMETIMES

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND IT CUT OFF FOR THE 2ND TIME. NOW IT WONT STARTM ROLLED INTO BUSINESS PARKING LOT.

Mileage: 158,000

PART OF MY POWER IN MY CAR SHUT OFF ON THE FREEWAY, AT 1:39 PM AT 67 DEGREES OUTSIDE . I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 40 MINUTES. MY DASHBOARD WENT DARK, AND ONLY MY CLOCK TIME WAS ON. I GLIDED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT (AS THE POWER STEERING WAS OFF). THEN TURNED THE KEY TO OFF, WAITED 3 MINUTES TURNED THE KEY AND IT WENT BACK ON. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN.

Mileage: 112,000

2009 FORD FLEX LIMITED OVERHEATS WHILE IDLING FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. RAN MULTIPLE VACUUM TESTS AND THERE IS NO LEAK OR SHORTAGE OF COOLANT. A/C BLOWS HOT WHILE IDLING. REPLACED RELAYS, THERMOSTAT, AND FUSES TO NO AVAIL. REPLACED COOLING FANS RECENTLY WITH OEM PARTS. CAR IS NO LONGER OVERHEATING, BUT NOW HAS A STRONG ELECTRICAL OR MELTING SMELL AFTER DRIVING. FANS POTENTIALLY FAILING AGAIN.

Mileage: 100,000

DRIVING 65. MPH CAR LOST POWER .IWAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD.TURNED CAR OFF AND ON IT RESTARTED TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AT 700. THERE IS NO RECALL,BUT FORD IS AWARE OF DANGER.OUS DEFECT .TECH SAID.

Mileage: 71,500

JULY 22, 2016. WIFE STARTED CAR IN SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND HEADED TO THE EXIT. WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO THE MAIN ROAD, AND ACCELERATING, LOUD NOISES AGAIN HEARD UNDER THE CAR AND IT LOST POWER EVEN WHILE GIVING IT GAS. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHUT OFF CAR AND RE-STARTED. NO ISSUES. WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL FIXED. TAKEN TO DEALER ON JULY 29, 2016. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. RETURNING TO DEALER AUG 5 FOR COMPUTER RE-FLASH. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS BEING REPORTED ALL OVER THE FORD FLEX FORUMS AND IT APPEARS FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 127,500

WIFE STARTED CAR IN SCHOOL PARKING LOT. TURNED LEFT AND HEADED SHORT DISTANCE THE LOT EXIT. WHILE TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND STARTING TO ACCELERATE, HEARD 'LOAD NOISES' THAT SEEMED TO BE UNDER THE CAR. CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS GIVING IT GAS. SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. DIDN'T NOTICE ANY DASH LIGHTS (ABS OR TCS). RESTARTED CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. CAR HAS 128,000 MILES.

Mileage: 127,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000....UPDATED 07/19/16 *BF

Mileage: 136,000

ENGINE STALLS DESPITE FUEL GAUGE READING 1/4 TANK IN RESERVE. FILL UP CONFIRMS THAT THERE IS IN FACT 1/4 TANK LEFT. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES NOW.

Mileage: 119,000

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WHEN THE FLEX TOTALING SHUT DOWN. SHE HAD NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES OR LIGHTS. IT STARTED BACK UP AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS AND WAS GIVING BOGUS MESSAGES ON THE DISPLAY. FORD DEALER SAYS THERE ARE NO CODES SHOWING UP, SO THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THIS. WE CANNOT DRIVE ANYMORE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED, SINCE IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AND WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF GOING OVER A MOUNTAIN PASS AT THE TIME IT HAPPENS. WE LIVE IN MONTANA.

Mileage: 93,000

CAR STALLED AT LOW SPEED. STARTED AGAIN WHEN STOPPED AND IN PARK. DURING EVENT, NO POWER STEERING / BRAKES AVAILABLE. NOT A SAFE CONDITION.

Mileage: 94,000

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY, 2014 AS A USED VEHICLE W/WARRANTY (POWERTRAIN). WHILE TRAVELING FROM ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE CAR OVERHEATED. AFTER SPEEDING UP TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC IT SUDDENLY COOLED BACK OFF. NOW, DURING THIS SAME TIME, THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING COOL AIR UNTIL WE SPED UP TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. AFTER THAT, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC. SAME PROBLEM. THE FANS STOPPED WORKING. HERE RECENTLY, I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONLY THIS TIME, WHEN I SPED UP THE CAR DIDN'T COOL DOWN. THE COOLANT WAS FINE BUT THE CAR STILL OVER HEATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE COOLING FAN MODULE AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. NOW, I'VE READ IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 2008-2012 FORD FLEX VEHICLES. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2011-2012 SERIES BUT NOT EARLIER MODELS. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THESE VEHICLES. THE SAME RECALL THAT WAS AFFORDED TO THE 2011-2012 MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE AFFORDED TO OWNERS OF EARLIER MODELS. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $600 TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS POWERTRAIN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ASAP. I HAVE 6 CHILDREN AND CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND $600 ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT EVEN MY FAULT OR THE FAULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

ENGINE STUMBLED AND THEN LOST POWER. IT RE-STARTED BUT IDLED AT 750RPM. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PLACING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT INCREASE THE ENGINE SPEED. THIS PERSISTED ABOUT 3-4 MINUTES. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE SPEED RESPONDED TO THE ACCELERATOR, AND WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, ACCELERATED NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

VEHICLE HAS HAD RADIATOR COOLING FAN(S) FAILURE(S) RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND OVERHEATING. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON SEVERAL RANDOM OCCASIONS. AIR CONDITIONING BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN NOT MOVING. VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION ON SEVERAL RANDOM OCCASIONS. THE COOLING FAN RELAY WAS REPLACED WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED ALL RELATED PROBLEMS. THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS NOW DEVELOPED AFTER 8000 MILES. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2011 AND 2012 MODELS BUT NOT THE 09. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD DESTROY THE VEHICLES ENGINE OR WORSE GET SOME ONE KILLED IF IT STALLS WHILE CROSSING TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 67,540

DRIVING STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT ON (HAPPENS OFTEN WHILE THIS HAPPENS WILL NOT ACCELERATE LIKE NORMAL UNTIL IT HITS 2-3RD GEAR). I PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AFTER MAKING THE TURN I HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER TURN ABOUT 1/4 MILE UP THE STREET. I RELEASED THE GAS TO MAKE THE TURN BUT MY CAR KEPT ACCELERATING IT WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST BUT THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING PUSHING THE RPMS UP TO 6000. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS AND NOTHING WAS PRESSING THE GAS NO FLOOR MAT OR ITEMS IN THE WAY OF THE PEDALS. I PRESSED ON THE BREAK (WITH THE ENGINE STILL ACCELERATING) PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OVER. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR RAN FINE AFTER RESTARTED IT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT ANY POINT JUST THE WRENCH LIGHT. THE LIGHT DID GO OFF AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR. I DROVE IT ABOUT ANOTHER 40 MILES SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED AND HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE. I DID HAVE THE CAR TAKEN IN TO CHECK THE CODES AT ABOUT 90K MILES (WITHOUT THE WRENCH LIGHT BECAUSE IT GOES OFF AS SOON AS YOU RESTART THE CAR) NOTHING CAME UP FOR CODES. *TR

Mileage: 100,200

WHILE DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY YOUNGEST SON, MY CAR SUDDENLY DECELLERATED AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR'S ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. FOURTUNATLY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO AN EXIT RAMP. THE RAMP HAD A WALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FAST EXITING TRAFFIC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I COULD NOT SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE IN THIS LOCATION. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR ENOUGH TO MOVE IT TO A SAFER LOCATION 30-40 YARDS OFF THE EXIT (WHERE THE CAR AGAIN DIED). THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON EITHER MY TEMP GUAGE OR ANY WARNING LIGHTS THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF A CRACKED HEAD/BLOCK. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, FORD WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE COOLING FANS NOT WORKING AND HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 12B36 IN PLACE. I NEVER HEARD OF THE PROGRAM UNTIL THIS WEEK (9/18/13). I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED AS AN OWNER OF THIS POORLY ENGINEERED VEHICLE THAT IT HAD SUCH AN UNSAFE DEFECT. SINCE I WAS 40K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY FORD'S SOLUTION WAS FOR ME TO BUY A NEW ENGINE AT THE COST OF $8000. I HAVE BEEN SAVING UP FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS TO PURCHASE A USED ENGINE AND HAVE A LOCAL GARAGE INSTALL IT. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE PUTTING MY AND MY SON'S LIVES IN DANGER. I HOPE OTHERS WITH THIS VEHICLE DO NOT HAVE TO BE PUT IN HARMS WAY AS WELL.

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND PCM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,425. *TR

Mileage: 70,425

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND WHEN DIAGNOSED IT WAS ONE OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE REST OF THE SAFETIES TO OPERATE PROPERLY. IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT COST OVER $400 TO REPLACE. WARRANTY WAS DECLINED, HOWEVER, THE DESIGN LIFE OF THE PART MUST BE IN EXCESS OF 150000 MILES. IF THIS PART WERE FAILING ALL THE TIME, THERE WOULD BE A RECALL. MY DEFECTIVE PART WAS NOT REPLACED BY FORD AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THERE ARE NO MOVING PARTS, IT SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT. *TR

Mileage: 56,260

SMELL CAR EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CAR WHEN UNDER ACCELERATION AND THE HEATER IS GOING. . TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP TO SERVICE WRITER. HE DID NOT ACCEPT THE CAR FOR SERVICE OR WRITE IT UP BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SMELL IT HIMSELF. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. SMELLED IT AS RECENTLY AS TODAY. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

DROVE 30 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THEN IN SHOPPING MALL ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY AT 20 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING. IT WAS IF SOMEONE HAD TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS THANKFUL THIS SUDDEN FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AT SPEED OR WHILE MAKING A TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO THOSE REPORTED BY OTHER 09 FLEX OWNERS, BUT FORD ( OR AT LEAST MY LOCAL DEALER) IS NOT INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. CONSIDERING THAT THE CAR HAD A LOSS OF CONTROL, IT IS PUZZLING THAT THIS DEFECT IS NOT BEING TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY. IN TERMS OF SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, THIS SOUNDS LIKE A '10'. THE PROPOSED FIX IS NEW THROTTLE BODY, REPROGRAM COMPUTER, CLEAN INJECTORS. SINCE NO FAULT CODES APPEARED AND SINCE THIS IS INTERMITTENT, THE MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN POLICY DOES NOT COVER WHAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON THESE EARLY BUILDS. SO THE PROBLEM IS TWOFOLD: THE CAR DIES SUDDENLY AND THE COMPUTER DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A FAULT. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF BOTH RADIATOR COOLING FANS. THE ENGINE ENTERED REDUCED POWER MODE DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE WHILE MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A BUSY STREET. JUST PRIOR TO THIS THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IDLING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 OR 15 MINUTES. TEMPERATURE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL ENGINE ENTERED REDUCED POWER MODE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. USUALLY THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM IS THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWING WARM AIR WHEN STOPPED AND ENGINE IS AT AN IDLE. FORD HAS THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (#12B36) THAT IS COVERING THE REPAIRS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON 2011 AND 2012 FORD FLEX VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNERS. THE 2009 AND 2010 MODEL YEARS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THIS PROGRAM. A LETTER WAS SENT TO 2011 AND 2012 FLEX OWNERS OFFERING THIS REPAIR. BOTH FANS HAVE BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO BE INOPERATIVE. FAN CONTROL MODULE APPEARS TO BE OK. I SPOKE TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY (CASE #[XXX]) 01/21/13, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (12B36) IS COVERING 2011 AND 2012 MODEL FLEX VEHICLES. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT OTHER MODELS MAY ALSO BE COVERED. I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM SHOULD COVER THE 2009 AND 2010 MODEL VEHICLES FOR SAFETY REASONS OR A MAYBE A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. I WILL BE PURCHASING A NEW FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLING IT MYSELF BUT HAVE NO WAY TO REPROGRAM THE PCM TO HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I WILL ALSO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT IT BEFORE REPLACING THE FAN ASSEMBLY AS ASKED BY FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TWICE WHILE DRIVING MY FORD FLEX, I HAD SPONTANEOUS TOTAL SHUT DOWNS OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME, MY CAR WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND I WAS IDLING IN FRONT OF A FRIEND'S HOUSE WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. I STARTED IT RIGHT BACK UP (AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED PERFECTLY) AND I DROVE IT TO FORD WHERE THEY DID SOME DIAGNOSTICS CHECKS AND FOUND NO ANOMALY. IT CONCERNED ME BUT THINKING IT MAY BE A FUEL INJECTION ISSUE WHILE ONLY IDLING, I WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS. ON JULY 20, 2012, AT 38K MILE, MY FORD FLEX DIED AGAIN! TOTAL SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR! NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER ANYTHING! BECAUSE I WAS ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CATASTROPHE, THANK GOD. THE ENGINE STARTED UP AGAIN AS IF NOTHING OCCURRED. I DROVE DIRECT TO FORD WHERE THEY DID 10 MINUTES OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TOLD ME ONCE AGAIN THAT THERE WAS NO ANOMALY. I WENT A LITTLE CRAZY, INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS LEAVING FOR A 10- DAY VACATION THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND THAT THEY HAD THE FULL 10 DAYS TO FIX THE CAR OR THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BE PICKING IT UP EVER AGAIN. A FORD TECH DROVE MY CAR WITH A COMPUTER PLUGGED INTO THE CAR, TYPED IN THE PROBLEM AND AFTER MANEUVERING THE CAR TO TRY AND GET A REPEATED RESPONSE, THE CAR DID INDEED SHUT DOWN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT! APPARENTLY, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BINDING INTERNALLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING PART # 1 7T4Z 9E926 FA, FORD WALNUT CREEK CA IS TELLING ME IT IS FIXED. LET'S HOPE SO. I PRAY THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A FATAL OR INJURY ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS PART'S FAILURE. I AM WRITING THIS AS AN ALERT AND A HEADS UP TO ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THE SAME SCARY EXPERIENCE. *TR

Mileage: 3,611

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING. THE DRIVER ALSO NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE AFTER RESTING FOR THIRTY MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000