2011 Ford Flex

I HAD JUST FINISHED VACUUMING THE INSIDE OF MY 2011 FORD FLEX. THE REAR AUTOMATIC LIFTGATE WAS UP AND I WAS LEANING INTO THE BACK OF THE FLEX REINSTALLING MY CARGO NET WHEN THE HYDRAULICS FAILED AND THE LIFTGATE CAME SLAMMING DOWN ON MY BACK. I SUSTAINED BRUISING AND MUSCLE INJURY. IF IT WAS MY ARM OR LEG IT MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN AN AMPUTATION. IF IT WAS MY HEAD / NECK IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY. IF IT WAS MY CHILD HE COULD HAVE BEEN PARALYZED. WHY ARE THERE NO SAFETY FEATURES THAT PREVENTS THE LIFTGATE FROM SLAMMING SHUT IF THE HYDRAULICS FAIL?

UPON ACCELERATION, USUALLY FROM A COMPLETE STOP SUCH AS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN OR ON A GREEN LIGHT, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE GEARS DO NO CATCH & THE CAR JERKS AND THE RPM'S RAISE BUT THE CAR STOPS ACCELERATING. WILL ALSO HAVE A "STUTTERING" OR "JERKING" WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH BREAK PEDAL BEING PRESSED DOWN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT IS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT NORMAL & THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO HAVE SUCH DESCRIBED MALFUNCTIONS BECAUSE IT IS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THE JERKING WHILE DRIVING ACTUALLY OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS BUT IS SPORADIC & CAN JERK YOU FORWARD DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION CAPABILITY, STARTLING AND PAINFUL BECAUSE THE SEATBELT MECHANISM HAS ENGAGED IN THE PAST.

BF GOODRICH ADVANTAGE T/A TIRES SIZE 23560R17. I HAD WEAR ON TIRES AFTER 18000 MILES. REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER SET. AFTER ONLY 23000 MILES I HAVE WEAR ON TIRES AND THEY NEED REPLACING. THIS TIRE IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR OVER 36K MILES. THEY ARE SUBSTANDARD AND DEFECTIVE AND BE GOODRICH AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE 7 OUT OF 10 OWNERS COMPLAIN OF DEFECTS AND NOTHING IS DONE OF CHANGED.

I PURCHASED A 2011 FORD FLEX NEW. AT 24000 MILES MY TIRES WERE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER HAD ME PAY HALF PRICE. AT 48 K THE NEW TIRES ARE AGAIN BAD AND NEED REPLACING. MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF FORD FLEX OWNERS WITH SUBSTANDARD TIRES. FORD MUST BE AWARE OF THIS WHEN 7 OUT 10 PEOPLE COME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM. OWNERS SHOULD BE GIVEN NEW TIRES OF A DIFFERENT MAKE AT FORDS EXPENSE. MY CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY A TIRE REPAIR SHOP TIRE KINGDOM WHO EXPLAINED THE TIRES FORD PROVIDES FOR THE FLEX ARE NOT INTENDED FOR A VEHICLE OF THAT MAKE AND WEIGHT GVW.

WHILE ENTERING MY PARKING GATE WHEELS LOCKED AND I COULD TURN STEERING WHEEL, SAW STEERING DEFAULT FLASHING ON DASH READING. TURNED OFF CAR PUT STEERING INTO PARK AND WAITED. TRIED TO START CAR IT WAS PHYSICAL HARD TO TRUN WHEELS TO ENTER M YPARKING AREA. GOT IT PARKED AND HAD TO WAIT FOR MONDAY TO CALL FORD DEALER TO TOW CAR FOR SERVICE. THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, BUT THE DEFAULT STEERING FREEZES THE WHEELS HAS HAPPEN TWO MORE TIMES. I REPEATED TURNING OFF KEY AND RESTARTING THE CAR. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING, FEARFUL IT MAY HAPPEN WHILE ON FREEWAY OR BUSY STREETS.