2009 Ford Flex problems
Owners have filed 272 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Ford Flex. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. Next are brakes (12%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 272 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 18 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 16 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 55,000 miles 226 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 46 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 50 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 22 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 34 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 16 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 25 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 19 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 9 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 226 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 55,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 70,000 miles (45 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 18 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 16 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2009 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Ford Flex with enough data (154 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I purchased a 2009 ford flex from mike dorian ford that had 14000 miles on it. Two days after purchase I took it to a dealer for a bad grinding sound in the brakes. They performed a TSB on the front brakes. I took it back several more times for braking issues. Then the car came to a grinding stop in traffic several time and I almost got hit. I took it to 2 different dealers complaining about the violent shaking and the inability for it to go when I gave it gas.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford flex. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, smoke was seen coming from the air vents. The vehicle was then pulled over and then driven slowly back to the contact's residence. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a service done due to the check engine light illuminating. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 88,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 ford flex. While driving 15 MPH and making a left turn something broke off of the vehicle under the right rear wheel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated the rear sub frame was broken and will be replaced under warranty. The manufacturer was notified and confirmed that the vehicle would be repaired per the warranty. The failure mileage was 24,000. Updated 02/11/11 the tie rod was also replaced. Updated 05/06/11