2011 Ford Flex

MY 2011 FORD FLEX 3.5L ENGINE HAS HAD CADASTROFIC FAILED DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL CHAIN DRIVEN WATERPUMP. THE O-RINGS ON THE WATERPUMP FAILED THERE BY ALLOWING OIL INTO THE COOLANT AND CAUSING THE PREPELLERS ON THE WATERPUMP TO BREAK OFF AND BLOCK THE WATER PASSAGES IN THE ENGINE WITH THE OIL AND PROPELLER PARTS. ALSO, ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I HAVE COME ACROSS MANY FLEX OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHE FORD OWNER THAT HAVE THE SAME 3.5L ENGINE WITHE THE INTERNAL CHAIN DRIVEN WATERPUMP HAVE HAD THE SAME OR GERRY SIMULAR ISSUES AND MANY HAVE HAD TO SPEND THOUSANDS FOR A NEW ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS DESIGN FLAWED ENGINE AND WATERPUMP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWITCHED INTO 'LIMP MODE' AND THE SPEED WOULD NOT EXCEED 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STAR FORD (1101 S. VANN BLVD, GLEN DALE, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER CONFIRMED THE SAME EXACT TROUBLE CODES, SYMPTOMS, AND ISSUE AS THE EXISTING RECALL. MY FLEX IS THE SAME MODEL (ECOBOOST) AND MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME LOCATION AS THE RECALL. MY VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, HOWEVER, AS IT WAS MANUFACTURED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL DATE. THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND FOLKS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AND GET THEIR UNSAFE CARS FIXED BEFORE THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO THEM. MY FLEX HAD UNDER 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AT THE DEALER. LOCAL DEALER WHERE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE NEW, REGIONAL FORD REPRESENTATIVE, AND FORD CORPORATE IN DETROIT HAVE ALL NOT BEEN HELPFUL. FORD IN DETROIT REQUIRED THAT I GO THROUGH THE TROUBLE OF MAILING WRITTEN INFORMATION, FOLLOWING UP REPEATEDLY WITH SUPERVISORS, AND THEN DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING. THE REGIONAL FORD FOLKS ALSO ASKED THE LOCAL DEALER TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT DETAILS REGARDING THE FAULTY PART AND THEN ALSO DID NOTHING TO HELP COVER THE COST. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED. FORD HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT EVEN WHEN FACED WITH OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE, THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS ISSUE PUT MY FAMILY AT SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AND COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. NHTSA, PLEASE TAKE NOTICE OF THIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOCATED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FOR THE STEERING AND RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING), ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.