10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
65,262 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #14

Feb 042019

Flex

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Flex. While driving 10 mph and making a left turn, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the traction control and ABS engaged. The vehicle failed to accelerate and coasted off the road. When the driver resumed driving, a grinding noise occurred from the front driver's side of the vehicle. While driving home, the failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was later taken to garber Ford (3380 us-17, green cove springs, fl 32043, (904) 264-2442) to be diagnosed, but a failure code could not be located. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Middleburg, FL, USA

problem #13

Jul 192018

Flex

  • 50,150 miles
Exiting hwy at 50 mph, hit brake. Hard brake pedal-no brakes followed by engine full throttle acceleration-vehicle was sent to the Ford dealer in Oct for a check eng light that couldn't be extinguished. Computer was reflashed with basic prom. No other issues until accident

- St. Peters, MO, USA

problem #12

Feb 012012

Flex

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Flex. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the pedal traveled to the floorboard numerous times. The dealer (ganley Ford West, 16100 lorain ave, cleveland, oh 44111, (216) 941-9800) replaced the brake system four times. The dealer stated that there were internal failures with the front and rear brake system (anti-rotation pin, adjuster spring, spring seat, piston seals, slider frame, anti-rattle clips, slider pins, and caliper frame). The failure continued. The brakes had been replaced every 20,000 miles. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. There was no recall for the brakes. The manufacturer made a recommendation to have the dealer replace the parts again. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #11

Feb 152017

Flex

  • 136,000 miles
While driving Ford Flex on highway or in town my antibrake system randomly activities causing my entire vehicle to stop. This has happened more than three times and I have complained to Ford red mccombs dealership and they can't find nothing wrong. I was billed about $225 dollars for a antibrake switch and my car was not fixed. Yes, and I have complaint to Ford dealership and made them aware of my continous brake problems with my Ford Flex vehicle.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #10

May 282016

Flex

  • 101,946 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Flex. While driving 35 mph, the front of the vehicle began to vibrate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front axle had an indentation and the rear brake caliper had bolts that detached. As a result, the axle and caliper needed to be replaced. In addition, the technician stated that the torque converter and transmission seal were leaking oil and the drive line and torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 101,946. The VIN was unavailable.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #9

Jun 062016

Flex

  • 127,000 miles
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.

- Leonardtown, MD, USA

problem #8

Jul 222016

Flex

  • 127,500 miles
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.

- Leonardtown, MD, USA

problem #7

Jun 282014

Flex

  • 48,000 miles
While leaving a parking lot and accelerating to barely 10 mph, the left front brakes seemed to lock up and the car stuttered. After stopping and accelerating again, the problem did not reoccur at that time. The second time, I was leaving my driveway, again going no more that 10 mph and the same thing happened, this time I noticed my traction control light flashing. I put the car into reverse, backed up a bit thinking I'd run over something, and accelerated again. Nope, didn't run over anything, just traction control seizing up. Very concerned this may happen at higher speeds and cause an accident.

- Gig Harbor, WA, USA

problem #6

May 142012

Flex 6-cyl

  • 24,590 miles
My 2009 Ford Flex limited fwd has less than 50K miles and the rear rotors has been replaced twice. They rusted away, corrosive brake fluid causes rust. My dealer keeps saying that all Flex vehicles have this problem.

- North Bergen, NJ, USA

problem #5

Jan 202011

Flex 6-cyl

  • 23,000 miles
I purchased a 2009 Ford Flex from mike dorian Ford that had 14000 miles on it. Two days after purchase I took it to a dealer for a bad grinding sound in the brakes. They performed a tsb on the front brakes. I took it back several more times for braking issues. Then the car came to a grinding stop in traffic several time and I almost got hit. I took it to 2 different dealers complaining about the violent shaking and the inability for it to go when I gave it gas. Finally after this happened several time I was hit as the transmission brought the car to a halt. I suffered injuries and the car had $15000 worth of damages. The person who hit me sued my insurance company. The dealership had my car for four months and never looked at the back brakes or transmission. I took it back 6 times for a leaking transmission and several other issues that were not fixed. This vehicle continues to come to a stop after trying to go from a dead stop. I almost got hit by a semi truck. My wife will not ride in the car because she feels we will die in this car. Ford has done nothing about this problem. I talked to a Ford mechanic who told me it was a transmission problem yet Ford has never even looked at the transmission. I feel I am going to be killed in this car. After $15000 of damages I have lost all value to the vehicle and my insurance has been raised. I later found out there is a tsb for the transmission yet Ford has never even looked at it.

- Davison, MI, USA

problem #4

Jun 152012

Flex

  • 35,000 miles
Purchased Flex in 2009, day 1, 5 miles, station wagon has vibration. To this day, still has vibration. 58000 miles now. Bbbautoline says it's out of coverage for arbitration. Flex was in shop min 12X for same issue. Dealer and engineers said bad brakes, the have put on 5 sets of pads and rotors. Bad wheels, mine were the 17" style, now I have 19" limited wheels, very expensive tires. Still vibrates.... one 3 day service stop at varsity Ford, a@$$$$@ tech or mechanic drove miles to the tune of 750!!!!! and I wasn't supposed to be upset.....test driving it..... ok, 12,000 miles, on new 19" hankook junk tires, optimo, they were bald, dealer says I have to replace myself, a 60,000 mile tire, lol on me. 31000 mi, dealer says don't bring back, we can't fix.... and said it's a lemon, go arbitrate it out, we know it's a bad car, but we can't get you a new one. 35,000 miles, spouse taking kids to daycare, turns corner, says she heard something pop, and she could not steer, hit a parked car.... after looking with police, I have video and photo proof, inner tie-rod snapped, causing the accident. So, 4,000$ of damage to my car, from a tie rod not being installed right. There was an inch of play, up and down, side to side, on the outer tie rod, from not being installed correctly at the factory, hmmmmmm, made in Canada. So now, after accident, car fixed, I thought for sure, it would be a whole new driving vehicle? shat not! 58,000 now, and vibrating like an off balance washing machine. And BBB and Ford are not taking any responsibility. All I wish was for a Flex that drove smoothly.....

- Milan, MI, USA

problem #3

May 272009

Flex 6-cyl

  • 1,984 miles
Purchased vehicle new in May 2009. Vehicle had to go in for brake repairs 10 days after I took delivery of the vehicle. Brakes have been repaired a total of 7 times since I purchased it. On Sept 18, 2013 the brakes seized when I attempted to stop at a traffic light.

- Brownstown, MI, USA

problem #2

Feb 082013

Flex 6-cyl

  • 24,000 miles
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.

- Davidsonville, MD, USA

problem #1

Jun 262012

Flex 6-cyl

  • 34,500 miles
Took car to tire merchant to replace tires. They reported to me a problem with right rear brake. Piston is fully retracted out, and brake pads have abnormal wear relative to others on car. Suggested that I contact dealer for replacement of brake caliper. Also reported that they contacted Napa, and were told that Napa had received many reports of right rear brake caliper issues on 2009 Flex, and in fact, Napa has part on indefinite back order. Part also on back order at Ford (only for right rear brake, apparently defect isolated to this brake), although placed order for part today. Told that there was no recall although there was a service bulletin so I would be responsible for all costs of replacing defective part since my car recently went out of warranty.

- Towson, MD, USA