10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,807 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Ford Flex:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #15

May 272023

Flex

  • miles
The door ajar sensor malfunctions and is crazy expensive to fix. There are numerous posts and videos online of workarounds bcz it-??s so common but they don-??t seem safe since that-??s a safety feature and the workarounds are simply a way to trick or bypass the warning sensors since the doors are actually closed in most cases. Ford needs to take ownership of this and issue a recall. There-??s a tire pressure sensor failure as well.

- Clover, SC, USA

problem #14

Nov 292019

Flex

  • miles
Electric system

- Wyoming, MI, USA

problem #13

Oct 172017

Flex

  • miles
Started hearing noises and smelling fumes transfer case was bad. Had to replace with a new one and there are thousands of complaints and possible lawsuits on the internet.

- Shelbyville, KY, USA

problem #12

Feb 192019

Flex

  • 66,000 miles
My Ford Flex 2009 was parked at work went on break to my Ford Flex open drivers door crab what I need closed door and back rear window shattered out into peace's not sure what caused it. Has there been any recalls for this incident with Ford

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #11

Feb 182019

Flex

  • 20 miles
As I am driving come to a stop. Proceed in motion making a left turn or right turn vehicle will lock up slowing down with grinding. Now this has happened 3 times on the road causing traffic to stop.

- Yuma, AZ, USA

problem #10

Nov 022018

Flex

  • 35 miles
Takata recall the air bags are off and the airbag light flashes sometimes when driving it comes in my dashboard tho remove all objects from behind the passenger sit or driver sit when there is nothing there and now it doesn't wanna acelrate my car at all it parked now for 3 months

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #9

May 122018

Flex

  • 112,000 miles
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.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #8

May 102017

Flex

  • 0 miles
My transmission is popping really bad went on line and there is the same problem with the transmission there is a bunch of owners having the same problem

- Lancaster, OH, USA

problem #7

Sep 292016

Flex

  • 150,000 miles
I was driving down the interstate and my sunroof exploded. There wasn't anyone in front of me so a rock or something could not have been kicked up and nothing could have blown off a vehicle and hit me. The sunroof just exploded for no apparent reason

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #6

Oct 142015

Flex

  • 93,000 miles
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.

- Belgrade, MT, USA

problem #5

Oct 182015

Flex

  • 97,000 miles
My 2009 Ford Flex blow cold air when heat is on.does not allow windows to defrost causing a hazard.this happens when driving and idling.this happened last yr. As well but seems worst this yr.

- Ellington, CT, USA

problem #4

May 102015

Flex

  • 97,000 miles
We bought our used Flex in March 2015, and initially loved it. Once hot weather hit and we needed to use the ac, we no longer love this car. When sitting still at a red light, the air conditioner immediately fails and begins to blow warm air. I did some research online and found this to be a common problem with this model. As I can't afford to take it for the repair, I became used to turning off the air at every intersection. Last weekend (July 25, 2015), we were stuck in very slow moving traffic on the parkway - going no more than 10mph at most for approx. 30 mins, so of course we had to turn the air conditioner off in the 90+ degree heat. The temperature gauge normally runs around the half way point. It was not a gradual rise, but a sudden one to where the gauge was pegged at "H" and the warning light came on. We had a car full with my husband and myself, and 4 children - in bumper to bumper traffic in the midst of construction. We turned the heat up to 90 and turned the fans full blast to relieve some heat of the engine. That was not pleasant when the outside temp was already over 90! once we cleared the construction and got back to regular speed, the gauge dropped back to normal like nothing had ever happened. We've had it looked at since, and found that the fans on the radiator never kick on. Ever. During normal operation, especially when the car is hot, it should kick off and on often. The fans never come on. This is a huge and dangerous issue with this car! this should've been a recall and taken care of by Ford. This is not likely to be a "cheap" fix. Ford needs to stand by their vehicles and cover such a major issue that is not isolated to just a few cars.

- Toronto, OH, USA

problem #3

Jul 212015

Flex

  • 102,000 miles
This is the second door handle that has become lose. The passenger side is loose. Today the drivers side broke and fell completely off. This same door handle is recalled on the Ford Explorer and other models but not on the Flex. That is ridiculous and unfair. They are defective.

- Snellville, GA, USA

problem #2

Jun 252014

Flex 6-cyl

  • miles
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.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #1

Nov 272008

Flex

  • 50 miles
Upon moderate to heavy acceleration the cabin fills with carbon monoxide (exhaust fumes) post catalytic converter. If cabin is not quickly ventilated by opening all windows the eyes are irritated and a very strong rotten egg smell results indicative that the exhaust is entering the cabin area after the catalytic converters. The vehicle has been serviced by two Ford dealerships who replaced the cabin vent baffles. This however did not fix the problem. Ford concedes it is a problem that still exists on 25% of all Flex models but refuses to mitigate the problem even though under warranty. The danger of this amount of exhaust gases poses a health and safety issue however Ford engineers have yet to resolve the issue and it still exists on later models.

- Bartlesville, OK, USA