2013 Ford Flex

THE VEHICLE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS SAYING THAT THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS SECURELY SHUT. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHEN WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND WE THOUGHT WE DIDN'T GET THE DOOR SHUT TIGHTLY. HOWEVER, MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 7-10 DAYS THE DOOR AJAR ALARM IS GOING OFF, EVEN WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AFTER IT WAS PREVIOUSLY NOT ON AND THE DOOR IS SECURELY SHUT. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AS A LOUD BUZZING NOISE SUDDENLY COMES ON WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSES THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED AND START LOOKING FOR THE WARNING LIGHT LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY HAVE INSTRUCTED ME THAT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED BUT TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS IN THE EVENT THERE IS A RECALL. *JS

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED APRIL/2014 WHILE MY FLEX WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START FOR ABOUT SIX HOURS. I DID NOTHING TO DIAGNOSE OR TROUBLESHOOT, IT JUST STARTED AFTER SITTING FOR THAT TIME FRAME. IT DID NOT GO TO THE SHOP. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED JUNE 11, 2014 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM MY HOME. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH, I COASTED TO A HALT IN A TRAFFIC LANE AND IT WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT TURN OVER JUST LIKE THE FIRST INCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO A SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT GETTING POWER, BUT BEFORE IT COULD BE ISOLATED THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE TECH ADVISED SINCE IT STARTED THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BATTLEFIELD FORD DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE ISSUE. IT WAS DUE FOR A RECALL WHICH WOULD SWITCH OUT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE AND WAS ADVISED THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. ON JUNE 26, 2014 MY WIFE GOT IN THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING AFTER IT HAD SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY ALL NIGHT, AND WHEN SHE HIT THE START BUTTON IT TOOK MANY MORE CRANKS THAN USUAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. AS SOON AS SHE TURNED FROM THE DRIVEWAY IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND FLUTTERING AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF DOWN THE BLOCK FROM OUR HOME. SHE COASTED TO A HALT, THE VEHICLE DID START AGAIN AND SHE PARKED IT IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IT WOULD CRANK AND CRANK BUT WOULD TURN OVER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD IT TOWED THERE, FORTUNATELY I HAVE AAA. MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY TO DUE TO MILEAGE. AS IT STANDS NOW THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. WE LIVE IN NORTHERN VA AND TRAVEL I-95 FREQUENTLY AND IF THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OFF WHILE TRAVELING THERE IT COULD BE TRAGIC. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR ANYMORE AND WILL MORE THAN LIKELY TRADE IT ONCE THE DEALER FIDDLES WITH IT. *TR

WE HAVE 16,980 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, AND BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 1 YEAR AND 3 MONTHS AGO BRAND NEW. THE TIRES ARE HANKOOK H426, 255/45/R20. DOT 5MNB PDLH 4112, 4112, 4112, AND2012. THE CAR STEERS STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW. THE FORD DEALER HAS VERIFIED ALL IS WELL WITH THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING. WE HAVE FOUND ALL FOUR TIRES, ARE STARTING TO PEEL APART ON THE INNER AND OUTER ROW OF TREADS ONLY. TO DATE, THERE ARE 100 PEEL BACKS AND AS MANY HOLES. ALL OF THE UN-WRAPPINGS ARE APPROXIMATELY 10MM IN DIAMETER, 1-2MM DEEP, SHAPED LIKE A TEAR DROP. SOME OF THE POINTS OF THE TEARDROPS FACE TO THE FRONT OF THE TIRE ROTATION AND OTHERS FACE DIRECTLY TO THE REAR OF THE TIRE ROTATION. THE RUBBER IS PEELED BACK AT THE POINT OF THE TEARDROP, AND AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE TEARDROP IS TORN OFF, LEAVING A TEAR DROPPED SHAPED HOLE 1-2MM DEEP. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE, WITH THREE SMALL KIDS. WE DO NOT TOW WITH THE CAR AND WE KEEP THE TIRE PRESSURE @ 37 PSIG. WE DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT EVERYWHERE. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, OCCASIONALLY PARKING IN A GRAVEL PARKING LOT, AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE FORD DEALER HAS CONTACTED HANKOOK, AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THESE TIRES ARE FAILING, A SAFETY HAZARD, AND HANKOOK SHOULD REPLACE ALL 4 OF THESE TIRES, NOW, FOR FREE. *JS

I LEASED A 2013 FORD FLEX, LIMITED, AWD, WITH THE ECO-BOOST ENGINE UPGRADE. MY WIFE SLID INTO THE LAWN MAKING A TURN ON OUR DRIVEWAY INTO THE GARAGE DUE TO THE LACK OF GRIP IN SNOW AND ICE OF THE HANKOOK OPTIOMO H426 TIRES. I PAID EXTRA FOR THE 2)' WHEEL AND TIRE UPGRADE. THE TIRES ARE LISTED ON THE WINDOW STICKER AS ALL SEASON TIRES. IN CHECKING SEVERAL OF THE RATING SERVICES, INCLUDING TIRE RACK, THESE TIRES ARE CONSIDERED UNSATISFACTORY IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND MARGINAL FOR HYDROPLANING. IN ESSENCE, HANKOOK HAS PRODUCED A TIRE THAT CANNOT DO WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. ONE PURCHASES A LARGE AWD SUV, WITH ALL-SEASON TIRES, TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER. I BELIEVE THAT HANKOOK HAS PRODUCED A PRODUCT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THESE TIRES ARE SO BAD, THAT THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. I PURCHASED A $50,000 VEHICLE THAT WAS SOLD TO ME AS A YEAR ROUND CAR, WITHOUT THE NEED TO CHANGE TIRES FOR SNOW. THE RATING ON THE HANKOOKS IN THE SNOW IS ABOUT THE SAME AS TIRES SOLD AS SUMMER TIRES, NOT ALL-SEASONS. NEITHER FORD OR HANKOOK WILL DO ANYTHING, AS THEY DO NOT SEE A DEFECT. THE DEFECT IS THE PRODUCTION BY HANKOOK AND THE SELECTION BY FORD. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THESE TIRES OFF MY VEHICLE ASAP BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND $1000 OUT OF POCKET DUE TO A PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT DO WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL DO. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE SINCE MARCH 2013 AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE PROCESS MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE - SYNC ISSUES, DEAD BATTERY AND THREE SEATBELT REPLACEMENTS. MY VEHICLE HAS REAR AIRBAG SEATBELTS SUPPOSEDLY FOR SAFETY. INSTEAD, MY KIDS HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THE BELTS ARE SO POORLY DESIGNED AS SOON AS THE BLACK PLASTIC COVERING THE BELT BREAKS, THE ENTIRE SEATBELT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THIS IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE. I'VE APPROACHED FORD AND SPRINGHILL FORD IN DUNDEE WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION. MOST RECENTLY I TOOK MY CAR INTO SPRINGHILL FORD FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THE ISSUE IS DEBRIS WAS IN THE BUCKLES. THE SEATBELTS ARE IN THE BACK SEAT WHERE KIDS SIT, THERE WILL BE DEBRIS. WHY IS IT ACCEPTABLE THAT DEBRIS BREAKS THE BELTS? I'VE PAID FAR TOO MUCH MONEY (ADDITIONAL FOR THIS "SAFETY" FEATURE) TO HAVE A VEHICLE I CAN'T TRUST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FLEX EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO TIRES, SIZE: 255/45/R20. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TREAD DEPTH FOR ALL FOUR TIRES WAS IN THE RED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,629.

I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND SOMETHING POPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE CURVE, AS I WAS MAKING THE TURN, AND THAT CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE LEMON-FORD-FLEX THAT WAS SOLD TO ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 300 MILES OUT OF THE WARRANTY. SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL THAN SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO INSURANCE. SO I REPORTED IT TO INSURANCE AND THE REPAIR SHOP, THAT WAS REPAIRING THE DAMAGES, SAID THEY FOUND DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR (1,500 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGES) WHICH COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CAR HITTING THE CURVE. AND THAT IT LOOKED LIKE SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL RAISED THE CAR INAPPROPRIATELY AND CAUSED THE RADIATOR DAMAGE. THE REPAIR COMPANY SAID, SINCE THE ORIGINAL PLACE WHERE THE FLEX WAS TOWED TO (SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL) WAS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND THEM (ACROSS THE ALLEY), SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AND OF COURSE, SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL DENIED IT AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. BUYER BEWARE - DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL. BUYER BEWARE - DO NOT BUY A FORD AND IF YOU DO, DO NOT GO TO SUTTON FORD LINCOLN IN MATTESON, IL. *TR

MY VEHICLE MOTOR QUIT ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME AND I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART THE MOTOR. THE SMELL OF GAS BECAME VERY STRONG AND I GOT OUT AND COULD SEE WHERE A STREAM OF GAS HAD STARTED 50 YARDS BACK ON THE STREET AND A PUDDLE WAS UNDER THE GAS TANK. I GOT THE HECK OUT OF THERE AND CALLED FORD ROAD ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE FORD DEALER.THE SAFETY RECALL 13S04 FOR REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN PERFORMED ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND 1000 MILES AGO. THE DEALER HAD NOT INSTALL THE O RING SEAL PROPERLY. THEY DID IT AGAIN AND SAY IT IS GOOD TO DRIVE. I AM NOT SO SURE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, ON CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK AND THEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD TWICE AND BEGAN TO SHAKE PRETTY BAD. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER HOLDING UP THE CELL PHONE TO THE ENGINE, I WAS TOLD TO "TURN THAT ENGINE OFF NOW!". THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS LATER TOLD THERE WAS A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO AN CYLINDER WITHIN THE INTERNAL PISTON THAT BROKE FREE AND PUT A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME THE MANGLED CYLINDER AND STATED HE THOUGHT THE BALL BEARINGS HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE CYLINDER TO WREAK HAVOC WITH THE ENGINE. AFTER SEEING THE PIECE THAT BROKE OFF. I FEEL THAT WE WERE VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT COME THROUGH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT; IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY, IF IT HAD. FORD HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, SAYING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE ONLY HAPPENS "1 IN A MILLION". I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT THE SAME TYPE OF ENGINE FAILURE WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN IF THE BALL BEARINGS AND OR CYLINDER ARE INFERIOR. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *LN