ELECTRIC SYSTEM
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Flex years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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.
What owners actually said
181 reportsTL* 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 LO…
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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.
WHILE BRAKING AND PARKING MY VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE HAD UNWANTED ACCELERATION. GOING AS HIGH AS 120MPH AND HOLDING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. I HAD TO HURRY AND SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF MY VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE COMING STOP AND IT WOULD GO UP TO ABOUT 40MPH AND I WOULD DESPERATELY HOLD THE BRA…
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WHILE BRAKING AND PARKING MY VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE HAD UNWANTED ACCELERATION. GOING AS HIGH AS 120MPH AND HOLDING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. I HAD TO HURRY AND SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF MY VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE COMING STOP AND IT WOULD GO UP TO ABOUT 40MPH AND I WOULD DESPERATELY HOLD THE BRAKE SCARED I WOULD HIT SOMEONE
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 SOM…
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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
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING SEIZED. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING IN RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE SAFELY TO A LOT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO NOISES, NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFIC…
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THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING SEIZED. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING IN RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE SAFELY TO A LOT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO NOISES, NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. *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 I…
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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
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…
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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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE ANTI-LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SECURE LOCK SYSTEM NEED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE ANTI-LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SECURE LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN CITY HIGHWAY OR CITY ROADS THE ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WILL CUT OFF, (IE. RADIO, BLINKERS, HEAT & A/C CONTROLS) WILL SHUT OFF AND THE DRIVE CONTROL BUTTON WILL APPEAR WITH THE DOOR AJAR AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IT IS NOW STARTING TO MAKE A DINGING SOUND WHILE YOU DRIVE AS WELL AS SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS O…
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WHEN DRIVING DOWN CITY HIGHWAY OR CITY ROADS THE ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WILL CUT OFF, (IE. RADIO, BLINKERS, HEAT & A/C CONTROLS) WILL SHUT OFF AND THE DRIVE CONTROL BUTTON WILL APPEAR WITH THE DOOR AJAR AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IT IS NOW STARTING TO MAKE A DINGING SOUND WHILE YOU DRIVE AS WELL AS SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS ON FIRE. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY SHUT AND SEALED. THERE ISN'T A TIME OR INSTANT WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. IT WILL JUST GO IN AND OUT! FORD YOU REALLY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE FAMILIES ARE USING THESE VEHICLES. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 09 FLEX.
Official recalls
116V247000 · 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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