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2009 Ford Flex

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Flex do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 139.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
181Owner complaints

Model-year median: 139

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2009 Ford Flex

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 181 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine: 36 reports
  • Electrical System: 32 reports
  • Power Train: 23 reports
  • Steering: 18 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 17 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
181
2009139
2010144
201164
2012
Compare all Flex years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine
36Electrical System
32Power Train
23Steering
18Engine And Engine Cooling
17
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
17Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16Fuel/propulsion System
15Service Brakes
14Structure
12Electronic Stability Control (esc)
10Suspension
9Vehicle Speed Control
8Air Bags
6Seats
5Wheels
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Seat Belts
4Tires
4Visibility
4Equipment
3Visibility/wiper
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Traction Control System
2Parking Brake
1Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Electric
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

150 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2019
Air Bags

RECALL 16C06,WE CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER AND THEY ARE DENYING AND REFUSING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE THAT THE NHTSA HAS SET INTO PLACE.WE ARE SEEKING COMPLIANCE IN GETTING THIS REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO US SINCE THIS IS A JUSTIFIED RECALL.PLEASE CONTACT US AT [XXX] .WE ARE EXPERIENCING WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON IN VEHICLE. INFORMAT…

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RECALL 16C06,WE CALLED THE RECALL NUMBER AND THEY ARE DENYING AND REFUSING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE THAT THE NHTSA HAS SET INTO PLACE.WE ARE SEEKING COMPLIANCE IN GETTING THIS REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO US SINCE THIS IS A JUSTIFIED RECALL.PLEASE CONTACT US AT [XXX] .WE ARE EXPERIENCING WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON IN VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ODI #11204972

35 miles · Feb 13, 2019
Air BagsUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #11176673

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2018
Air BagsSteeringVehicle Speed Control

MY FORD FLEX 2009 TURNS ON THEN WHEN I GO POUT THE CAR ON REVERSE IT PULLS MY CAR AND MAKES A LOUD SOUND THEN I PUT IT TO DRIVE AND IT DOES THE SAME WHEN I GO TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL IT DOES NOT GO AT ALL. THE AC TURNS ON BUT IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND THE AIRBAGS LIGHT STARTS TO TURN ON AND OFF THIS IS NOW . BUT A MONTH AGO IT W…

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MY FORD FLEX 2009 TURNS ON THEN WHEN I GO POUT THE CAR ON REVERSE IT PULLS MY CAR AND MAKES A LOUD SOUND THEN I PUT IT TO DRIVE AND IT DOES THE SAME WHEN I GO TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL IT DOES NOT GO AT ALL. THE AC TURNS ON BUT IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND THE AIRBAGS LIGHT STARTS TO TURN ON AND OFF THIS IS NOW . BUT A MONTH AGO IT WAS DRIVABLE AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WOULD TURN IN AND OFF THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT TURNED ON THEN THE MILES O WAS GOING WHEN CLEAR NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD MARK AND THE CAR WAS STILL GOING BUT WOULDN'T WANNA GO FASTER AND IF I BREAK IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE MORE.

NHTSA ODI #11151674

50,150 miles · Jul 30, 2018
Air BagsService BrakesCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #11114580

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2016
Air BagsPower TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrash

MY FLEX STARTED HAVING A HARD JERK AND BANG WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO PARK. WAS NOT ALWAYS BUT FREQUENT. THE CAR STARTED TO RUN HOT WHEN SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU OR TRAFFIC BUT WOULD GO RIGHT BACK DOWN WHEN I STARTED MOVING. I TOOK IT INTO S MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE FAN. AFTER REPLACING THE FAN THE CAR BEGAN TO HAVE A REALLY…

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MY FLEX STARTED HAVING A HARD JERK AND BANG WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO PARK. WAS NOT ALWAYS BUT FREQUENT. THE CAR STARTED TO RUN HOT WHEN SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU OR TRAFFIC BUT WOULD GO RIGHT BACK DOWN WHEN I STARTED MOVING. I TOOK IT INTO S MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE FAN. AFTER REPLACING THE FAN THE CAR BEGAN TO HAVE A REALLY BAD GRINDING NOISE WHEN IDLING OR TRAVELING. DO BAD I DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT. I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY CALL AND SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WITHIN 4 MINUTES I GET ANOTHER CALL DAYING I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WOULD ECCELLERATE ON ITS OWN, SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND CAR WOULD LAG BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. FORD DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO HAVE A KNEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. CAR WILL SHIFT PROPERLY MOST OF THE TIME EVEN ON HIGHWAY. ONLY GET WHINING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. I WAS ALSO IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING $13000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING A CAR DOING 35 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #10820878

2,500 miles · Jul 6, 2009
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A PARKED VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WERE SET OFF AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER BACK AND HE WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL BENDING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275920

Recall campaigns

1

16V247000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 26, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.