2009 Ford FLEX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
181 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 150 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 181 complaints (19.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 48 | 26.5% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 21 | 11.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 6.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 36 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Power Train | 19 |
| Steering | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
Engine: 36; Electrical System: 30; Power Train: 19; Steering: 17; Unknown Or Other: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 15; Service Brakes: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 40 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 10
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 11; 2010: 20; 2011: 14; 2012: 10; 2013: 13; 2014: 24; 2015: 18; 2016: 12; 2017: 11; 2018: 14; 2019: 17; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 48 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10263718 · 2009-03-31 (March 31, 2009)
WHILE ENTERING A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY FROM THE DRIVEWAY OF A DRUGSTORE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH OF MY 2009 FORD FLEX BEGAN FLASHING AND I COULD HEAR THE BUZZING OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS). THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 15 MILES AN HOUR AT THE TIME SO THERE WAS NO RISK OF THE VEHICLE GOING OUT OF CONTROL. THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES BY THE ESC/ABS PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING WHICH I BELIEVE CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. NO CRAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276362 · 2009-07-10 (July 10, 2009)
THIS IS A 2009 FLEX DEALER DEMO WITH 1450 MILES. IT HAS DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING DURING A TEST DRIVE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE IN DRIVE, IN A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE ENGINE, A/C, RADIO/ACCESSORY POWER, AND ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY DIED. IT WAS AS IF THE KEY HAD BEEN TURNED TO "OFF", EXCEPT THAT THE RETAINED ACCESSORY POWER AND ALL DASH/WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CAR RE-STARTED EASILY ONCE PUT INTO NEUTRAL. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN REVERSE, BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 3 MPH. THIS TIME THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED,…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275920 · 2009-07-06 (July 6, 2009)
IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A PARKED VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WERE SET OFF AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER BACK AND HE WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL BENDING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266603 · 2009-04-24 (April 24, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, SURPRISED THAT A NEW VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60.
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279132 · 2009-08-03 (August 3, 2009)
2009 FORD FLEX. DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I NOTICED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CAR HAD SIMPLY DIED WHILE DRIVING. WAS ABLE TO STOP IT ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND RESTART IT. CONTINUED ON WITHOUT ANOTHER OCCURRENCE. LEARNED THROUGH A WEB FORUM THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED TO APPROXIMATELY 8 OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10355925 · 2010-09-16 (September 16, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE AIR CYLINDER THAT LIFTED THE THIRD ROW SEATS WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR HATCH OPENED ON ITS OWN FIVE TIMES; THE DEALER REALIGNED THE DOOR TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL FAILED SO IT WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,526 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376986 · 2011-01-17 (January 17, 2011)
2009 FORD FLEX (LESS THAN 8000 MILES) SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE ON A ROAD AT ABOUT 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CAR RESTARTED AFTER I STOPPED IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587299 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)
OUR 2009 FORD FLEX HAS SHUT OFF ON 4 OCCASIONS WHILE WE WERE DRIVING SINCE NOV. 2013 (11/29/2013, 12/18/2013, 12/28/2013, 4/15/2014). ON 3 OF THE 4 OCCASIONS WE WERE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS (495 IN MA, 95 IN CT, 81 IN PA) WHICH WAS SCARY AND COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. ON 2 OF THE 4 SHUT DOWNS THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART SO WE HAD TO BE TOWED. WE NOTICED THAT ONCE THE CAR WAS TAKEN OFF THE FLATBED, IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THAT TELLS ME THAT THE GAS MUST HAVE MOVED TO WHERE IT WAS NEEDED. ON EACH OCCURRENCE THE GAS GAUGE READ HALF A TANK OR JUST SLIGHTLY …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726846 · 2015-06-23 (June 23, 2015)
TRAVELING AT 70MPH. URGE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED SLIGHTLY OVER 1/4 OF A TANK LEFT AND THE ESTIMATED MILES TO EMPTY WITH THE MILEAGE-TO-EMPTY ESTIMATE INDICATING APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES LEFT. THEN IN UNDER TWO MINUTES TO WHEN I CHECKED THE DASH AGAIN, THE GAUGE HAD DROPPED TO ZERO WITH THE ESTIMATOR SHOWING 0 AS WELL. WITHIN THE NEXT MILE THE ENGINE RAN OUT OF FUEL. TO FILL UP THE 18.6 GALLON FUEL TANK ONLY TOOK 2.5 GALLONS FROM THE JUG AND ANOTHER 11.5 GALLONS AT THE PUMP FOR A TOTAL OF 14 GALLONS. THIS INDICATES THAT APPROXIMATELY 4.6 GALLONS …
Owner-reported narrative. 105,012 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726846 at NHTSA ↗