2009 FORD FLEX Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE COOLER FAN FAILED TO OPERATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AS THE RADIATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Mileage: 55,000

SIX AM, TOTALLY DARK, LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, TOTAL POWER FAILURE WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INCHING FORWARD. ENGINE DIED AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED WITHIN 30 SECONDS. BATTERY WAS NEW IN AUGUST OF 2014, ALL CONNECTIONS TIGHT. I WAS IN LANE THREE FROM THE RIGHT ON A SIX LANE FREEWAY THAT WAS TOTALLY IMPACTED WITH VEHICLES. I TRIED TO EXIT TO RIGHT SHOULDER BUT COULD NOT AND ENDED UP BLOCKING LANES TWO AND THREE. NO POWER TO ANYTHING BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET SHIFT LEVER INTO PARK AND THE CAR STARTED. WOULD NOT START IN NEUTRAL OR DRIVE. HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 650 MILES.

Mileage: 25,500

2011 @ 47,813 MILES: CAR NOT COOLING OR TAKES A LONG TIME TO COOL IN CABIN- FORD FOUND "COOLANT FAN INOPERABLE AND COOLANT FAN ASSEMBLY REPLACED" TO MIN AVAIL WOULD STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY (PURCHASED FLEX USED FROM DEALER 8 WEEKS PRIOR); AIR CONDITION CONDENSER DAMAGED: "REPLACED AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER, EVC ND RECHARGED SYSTEM" BY FORD (OUR COST) SAFETY: PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES OFF/ON INTERMITTENTLY- FORD FOUND NOTHING NOR COULD REASSURE AIR BAGS WORKING CORRECTLY; POWER STEERING COOLER DAMAGED- FORD REPLACED AT OUR COST; MAY 2013 @ 63,349 MILES: AIR CONDITIONER INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS (OFF NO BLOWER) WHILE LIGHTS SHOWING A/C ON- FORD, "REAR ACTUATORS FAILED- REPLACED, UPDATED TEMP. SENSOR JUNE 2013 @ 64,078 MILES: PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHTS COME OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY- FORD FOUND, " AIR BAG WIRING CONNECTOR NOT SECURELY ATTACHED TO SEAT FRAME; GRINDING NOISE AND CAR SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT WHILE DRIVING; FORD' "GLITCH IN COMPUTER SYSTEM;" CLICKING NOISE IN DASH BOARD HAPPENS WHEN A/C BOTH OFF AND ON- FORD, "RECIRCULATION DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURE- REPLACED BY FORD; JUNE 2014 @ 73,046 SAFETY: AIR CONDITIONER TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY, NOT COOLING WHILE IDLE; ENGINE OVERHEATING QUICKLY (I.E. AT STOP SIGNS) ALL OF WHICH CAN BLOW THE ENGINE; WE REPLACED COOLING FAN RELAY TO NO AVAIL; FORD," COOLING FAN MODULE FAILED- WE REPLACED @ FORD FOR $1094.26 TO NO AVAIL. ENGINE CONTINUING TO OVERHEAT: AIR CONDITIONER NOT COOLING WHILE IDLE. *TR

Mileage: 47,813

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE COOLING FAN SYSTEM BROKE IN 3 YEARS SINCE I HAVE MY FORD FLEX 2009 MODEL. O BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEALER IN JANUARY 2011. FEW MONTHS AFTER THE COOLING SYSTEM BROKE. THEN A YEAR LATER IT BROKE AGAIN AND RIGHT NOW IS BROKEN FOR THE THIRD TIME. I ALWAYS CHANGE FOR ORIGINAL PARTS BUT I WANT TO KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS AND TO SEE IF FORD IS GOING TO MAKE A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

SEVERAL COMPLAINTS: FIRST THE A/C MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNED ON. IT WORKS FINE AS OF NOW THOUGH. SECOND, DRIVERS SIDE 2ND ROW SEAT WILL NOT FOLD DOWN 99% OF THE TIME. IT'S STUCK SOMEHOW. THIRD, GAS LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS. FOURTH IS THE BIGGY. CAR IS OVERHEATING DUE TO RADIATOR FAN'S NO LONGER WORKING. IT RUNS HOT WHEN IDLING OR MOVING AT A SLOW PACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE HOT, SUMMER MONTHS OF 90*+ AND I HAVE A TWO AND A FOUR YEAR OLD. THREE DAYS AGO IT HAPPENED IN 20* WEATHER WITH A WIND CHILL OF BELOW ZERO ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE WITH MY HUSBAND BEING MY NEAREST HELP WHO WAS 45 MINUTES AWAY. MY CHILDREN WERE CRYING AFTER JUST 10 MINUTES OR LESS THAT THEY WERE FREEZING AND THAT THEIR TOES HURT. BUT WHAT AM I TO DO ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE? I HAVE CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME ANSWER "THERE IS NO RECALLS. TAKE IT TO YOUR NEAREST FORD DEALER". I FOUND OUT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR THAT WE HAVE AN EXTENDED CARE PLAN. IT'S CURRENTLY ALL BEING REPAIRED UNDER THE PLAN, THANK GOODNESS, WITH ONLY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE AND A RENTAL CAR. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT ASPECT. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SHOULD ALL BE A RECALL DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THESE SAME PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THE OVERHEATING. NOBODY SHOULD BE HAVING TO PAY A DIME OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THESE ISSUES. HOWEVER, FORD COULD CARE LESS. THEY GOT THEIR MONEY FROM THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLES AND OBVIOUSLY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT SAFETY AND MAKING THINGS RIGHT. WHEN PEOPLE ASK HOW I LIKE MY FLEX. MY REPLY IS "ORIGINALLY I LOVED IT, NOW I HATE IT" AND I TELL THEM EXACTLY WHY IF THEY ASK, WHICH IS EVERY TIME. FIRST AND LAST FORD. BAD COMPANY ALL THE WAY AROUND. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PULLED OVER AND THEN DRIVEN SLOWLY BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SERVICE DONE DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

Mileage: 88,000

I PURCHASED MY FLEX NEW ON OCT 2009 AND IT HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD (WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME) AT 20MPH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT WOULDN'T START. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED UP. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY(WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME) AT 55MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP; THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING SO THEY DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. THE THIRD TIME WAS LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD(WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME) AT 20 MPH, ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE SO THEY DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME ALL THREE TIMES. I'VE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY CANT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE SO THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO THEY DIDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I JUST DROPPED IT OFF THIS WEEK FOR THE FOURTH TIME. ITS VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE ESPECIALLY SINCE IM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I FEEL ITS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. ITS A TOTAL INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DROP OFF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND NEED A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. LUCKILY WE WEREN'T INJURED BUT IM WORRIED THAT THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS AN INJURY COULD OCCUR. WHY HASN'T FORD LISTED THIS ISSUE IN THEIR TSB! *TR

Mileage: 25,000

INTERMITTENT NO START OF VEHICLE. TOWED TO DEALER AFTER 5 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. DELIVERED TO DEALERSHIP IN SAME NO START BEHAVIOR. UPON INITIAL ATTEMPT A RELAY WAS REPLACED AS THE PCM (MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER) WAS NOT RECEIVING POWER. SERVICE ADVISOR CALLS TO INDICATE VEHICLE IS READY AND STARTS UP AFTER REPAIR. AT THE DEALERSHIP, PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, CAR STARTS UP, HOWEVER, DASH LIGHTS LIGHT UP, WARNING "CHECK AWD, CHECK THIS, CHECK THAT..." SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL (THE WRENCH). SHUT THE CAR DOWN, TRY TO RESTART, WILL NOT RESTART. TECH IS WITH ME AND OBSERVES BEHAVIOR AND TRIES AS WELL. NO START AGAIN. TECH ATTEMPTS TO DOWNLOAD ERROR CODES. MENTIONS RFI INTERFERENCE. WILL BE DOING ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC. PREVIOUSLY, CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR STALLING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65+). ENDED UP BEING A SOAKED PCM (MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER). THIS TOOK TWO TRIPS (TOWED BOTH TIMES). THIS IS NOW FOUR TIMES TO REPAIR THE SAME NON-RUNNING / NO START DEFECT. THE REAR BRAKES WERE ALSO REPAIRED DUE TO DRAGGING CALIPERS AS PER TSB 10-7-2. *TR

Mileage: 23,126

VEHICLE RUNNING SLUGGISH APPROX. 3 WEEKS PRIOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD FOR A DIAGNOSTICS CHECK. VEHICLE HAD A CODE P0422, TEST RAN VERIFIED EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT DRIVABLE. FUEL FILLER PIPE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. FORD HAS PRIOR RECALLS FOR THIS PART OVER THE YEARS, ALTHOUGH FORD DID NOT COVER THIS REPAIR. 1 WEEK PRIOR ONE OF TWO ENGINE FANS WENT OUT REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.

Mileage: 52,300

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN ALL OF THE LIGHTS START FLICKERING AND A BURNING SMELL WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT WATER OVERFLOWED INTO THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF, AS A RESULT THE BATTERY WAS OVER HEATING AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING POWER. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Mileage: 22,000

2009 FORD FLEX (LESS THAN 8000 MILES) SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE ON A ROAD AT ABOUT 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CAR RESTARTED AFTER I STOPPED IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

ENGINE DIES WHILE IDLING AT A STOP WHILE FACING FORWARD ON AN UPHILL GRADE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER LAST YEAR WHO PERFORMED A COMPUTER CHECK AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM OCCASIONALLY PERSISTS AND COULD, IN MY OPINION, PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 14,525

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE AIR CYLINDER THAT LIFTED THE THIRD ROW SEATS WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR HATCH OPENED ON ITS OWN FIVE TIMES; THE DEALER REALIGNED THE DOOR TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL FAILED SO IT WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION EXCESSIVELY SHIFTED INTO GEAR WHEN DOWN SHIFTING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND SHAKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WHEN THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE MADE A POPPING NOISE WHEN HE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP. THE DOOR MOLDING AND WINDOW MOLDING SILLS BECAME WARPED. LASTLY, ONE OF THE TIRES (THE CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL WHICH ONE) BLEW AND THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED; HE REPLACED THE TIRE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE LEFT THE MANUFACTURING PLANT, IT WAS THE DEALERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,283. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,526. THE BATTERY HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 12/30/10*JB

Mileage: 7,526

2009 FORD FLEX CABIN AREA FILLS UP WITH CARBON MONOXIDE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER SMELL ON ACCELERATION SUCH AS PASSING GEAR, GETTING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON RAMP, ETC. FORD'S REPAIR WAS REPLACING BAFFLES AT THE END OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT THEY SUSPECTED WERE REMAINING CLOSED ON SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED REPAIR BUT IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. IF WINDOWS ARE NOT ROLLED DOWN TO ALLOW THE EXHAUST GASES TO EXHIBIIT THE CABIN AREA SLIGHT HEADACHE AND BURNING OF THE EYES ENSUES. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR ON ABOUT 1 OUT OF 4 FORD FLEXS AND A SOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN ENGINEERED. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY/HEALTH ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

Mileage: 36

2009 FORD FLEX. ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT CERTAINLY PRESENT IN NUMEROUS 2009 FORD FLEX VEHICLES. FOLLOW THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.FORDFLEX.NET/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=3&T=711 THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. *TR

Mileage: 7,000

THIS IS A 2009 FLEX DEALER DEMO WITH 1450 MILES. IT HAS DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING DURING A TEST DRIVE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE IN DRIVE, IN A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE ENGINE, A/C, RADIO/ACCESSORY POWER, AND ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY DIED. IT WAS AS IF THE KEY HAD BEEN TURNED TO "OFF", EXCEPT THAT THE RETAINED ACCESSORY POWER AND ALL DASH/WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CAR RE-STARTED EASILY ONCE PUT INTO NEUTRAL. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN REVERSE, BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 3 MPH. THIS TIME THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED, AND A/C TURNED OFF, BUT THE ACCESSORY POWER TO THE RADIO AND DASH /WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON, AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS BLINKING SLOWLY. AGAIN, THE CAR RE-STARTED EASILY. BOTH TIMES THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND SHIFTING GEARS, RE-STARTING IT, AND SHIFTING BACK TO DRIVE TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS COLLISION IF IT HAPPENED WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HEARD OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND MOST OF THOSE WERE RESOLVED AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH A SIMPLE CHANGE TO THE COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE IN THE ENGINE. HOPEFULLY FORD WILL RECALL UNITS ALREADY SOLD TO MAKE THIS CHANGE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR

Mileage: 1,450

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, SURPRISED THAT A NEW VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60.

Mileage: 60