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.
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 reports2009 FORD FLEX PCM. WHILE ACCELERATING OFF RAMP ONTO INTERSTATE, MPH 70, THE FORD BEGIN TO SHANK VIOLENTLY THEN SUDDENLY STOPS.............. IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC/INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 70 MPH. FLEX GOES TO SHOP AND 3 COILS ARE MELTED, CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND PCM NEEDS TO REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZ…
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2009 FORD FLEX PCM. WHILE ACCELERATING OFF RAMP ONTO INTERSTATE, MPH 70, THE FORD BEGIN TO SHANK VIOLENTLY THEN SUDDENLY STOPS.............. IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC/INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 70 MPH. FLEX GOES TO SHOP AND 3 COILS ARE MELTED, CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND PCM NEEDS TO REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS THERE ARE MANY MANY POST AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PCM. THE SAFETY OF THE FLEX AND IT'S PASSENGERS ARE IN GRAVE DANGER WHEN THIS HAPPENS AS IT IS OUT OF NO WHERE. 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE AT A SUDDEN STOP WILL KILL SOMEONE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. THIS IS A FORD MALFUNCTION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY FORD AND ADDRESSED INSTEAD OF TSB'S BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL IS SERIOUSLY HURT.
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
STEERING: I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY STEERING, WE HAVE HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, STEERING PUMP AND STEERING BELT. MY PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE STEERING IS REALLY HARD AND THEN LIKES TO BREAK LOOSE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS A RECALL ON NEWER MODEL FORD FLEXS. I TH…
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STEERING: I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY STEERING, WE HAVE HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED, STEERING PUMP AND STEERING BELT. MY PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE STEERING IS REALLY HARD AND THEN LIKES TO BREAK LOOSE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS A RECALL ON NEWER MODEL FORD FLEXS. I THINK THEY ALL NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED!
FUEL GAUGE READING DROPS SUDDENLY FROM 1/4 TANK TO EMPTY IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, NOT ALLOWING TIME TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT SO FAR ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A POSITION TO PULL OFF THE ROAD (ON SINGLE LANE ROADWAY, OR IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. HAS BEED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND ON RESIDENTIAL AREA.
DRIVING CAR, STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR LEAVING PLACES THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. IT GETS STUCK AND WON'T MOVE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE TO PUT IN PARK AND TRY AGAIN AND IT SOMETIMES SHIFTS OR MAKES A LOUD CLUCK AND JERK. HAPPENS OFF AND O…
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DRIVING CAR, STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR LEAVING PLACES THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. IT GETS STUCK AND WON'T MOVE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE TO PUT IN PARK AND TRY AGAIN AND IT SOMETIMES SHIFTS OR MAKES A LOUD CLUCK AND JERK. HAPPENS OFF AND ON. TOOK INTO THE FORD DEALER COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS IF IT DOES IT WITH THEM. NEVER DOES IT WHEN IN THE SHOP. THE DEALER ACTS AS IF THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOWEVER I HAVE READ FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2009 FORD FLEX. I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION IS THE SAME AS ON THE 2015 FORD TRANSIT VANS BECAUSE THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING WITH IT. I HAVE TALKED TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY HAVE HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM TOO AND TOLD ME TO TAKE THE FLEX INTO THE DEALER. THEY HAVE FOUND DOCUMENTATION ONLINE THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE NOT SHIFTING HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. MOST RECENTLY FEBRUARY 21, 2019. SEEMS TO OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP.
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
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.
THIS IN REFERENCE TO THE TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO NARROW DOWN THE EXACT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT HESITATES AND THE KICKS INTO GEAR AND DRIVES. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY, BUT NOT KNOWING WHEN THE VEHICLE MIGHT STALL IS TROUBLES…
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THIS IN REFERENCE TO THE TRANSMISSION, I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO NARROW DOWN THE EXACT PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT HESITATES AND THE KICKS INTO GEAR AND DRIVES. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY, BUT NOT KNOWING WHEN THE VEHICLE MIGHT STALL IS TROUBLESOME. THERE IS TSB 11-12-10 THAT DESCRIBES THIS PROBLEM, THE FORD DEALERSHIPS DO NOT HAVE ANY SAFETY RECALLS IN REFERENCE TO THIS.
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
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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