2009 Ford Flex Driver assistance Problems

My Flex has repeatedly lost power while driving. I can feel the car lose power, and the yellow wrench light comes on. After reading up on it, I learned that you have to turn the vehicle off, wherever you are, and restart it after a few minutes. The wrench light turns off, and the car runs as normal, with no records of codes. This is talked about over and over in online forums. The safety issue is that it has happened on the freeway several times while traveling at a high rate of speed. The car loses power, and you cannot accelerate. You have to find a way to stop immediately, put the car in park (and listen to the transmission clunk) and turn it off. This last instance put me in harms way on the freeway. The car lost power while traveling 70mph. I immediately lost speed and had to cross 3 lanes of traffic to pull over to turn the car off. All of the forums talk about the throttle body, but everyone says that’s not the issue. The OSS and TSS sensors are also discussed. The dealerships cannot find out what’s wrong because once the car is turned off and restarted, any codes are erased. The issue persists, and the car keeps losing power wherever and whenever. I am referencing the most recent incident on this form, however, this has happened at least 12 times since September, 2020. Please, please force a recall on this issue!

NHTSA ID

11417809

Incident

May 15, 2021

WHILE BRAKING AND PARKING MY VEHICLE, MY VEHICLE HAD UNWANTED ACCELERATION. GOING AS HIGH AS 120MPH AND HOLDING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING. I HAD TO HURRY AND SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN OFF MY VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE COMING STOP AND IT WOULD GO UP TO ABOUT 40MPH AND I WOULD DESPERATELY HOLD THE BRAKE SCARED I WOULD HIT SOMEONE

NHTSA ID

11366889

Incident

Oct 28, 2020

Mileage

132,000 mi

AS I AM DRIVING COME TO A STOP. PROCEED IN MOTION MAKING A LEFT TURN OR RIGHT TURN VEHICLE WILL LOCK UP SLOWING DOWN WITH GRINDING. NOW THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ON THE ROAD CAUSING TRAFFIC TO STOP.

NHTSA ID

11181580

Incident

Feb 18, 2019

Mileage

20 mi

TAKATA RECALL THE AIR BAGS ARE OFF AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING IT COMES IN MY DASHBOARD THO REMOVE ALL OBJECTS FROM BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIT OR DRIVER SIT WHEN THERE IS NOTHING THERE AND NOW IT DOESN'T WANNA ACELRATE MY CAR AT ALL IT PARKED NOW FOR 3 MONTHS

NHTSA ID

11176673

Incident

Nov 2, 2018

Mileage

35 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND COASTED OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THE DRIVER RESUMED DRIVING, A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO GARBER FORD (3380 US-17, GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FL 32043, (904) 264-2442) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11176494

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

Mileage

160,000 mi

IT KEEPS SAYING SENSOR WE HAD REPLACED TWICE IS STILL BAD. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ACCELERATE SOMETIMES

NHTSA ID

11153628

Incident

Nov 27, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

MY FORD FLEX 2009 TURNS ON THEN WHEN I GO POUT THE CAR ON REVERSE IT PULLS MY CAR AND MAKES A LOUD SOUND THEN I PUT IT TO DRIVE AND IT DOES THE SAME WHEN I GO TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL IT DOES NOT GO AT ALL. THE AC TURNS ON BUT IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND THE AIRBAGS LIGHT STARTS TO TURN ON AND OFF THIS IS NOW . BUT A MONTH AGO IT WAS DRIVABLE AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHTS WOULD TURN IN AND OFF THEN THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT TURNED ON THEN THE MILES O WAS GOING WHEN CLEAR NOTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD MARK AND THE CAR WAS STILL GOING BUT WOULDN'T WANNA GO FASTER AND IF I BREAK IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE MORE.

NHTSA ID

11151674

Incident

Oct 26, 2018

INITIALLY STARTED IN 2014 CAR SEEMINGLY LOCKED UP ON ME WHEN EXITING WORK PLACE DRIVEWAY AND MAKING RIGHT TURN. TOOK CAR TO AIRPORT MARINA FORD THEY KEPTT IT FOR APPROX 2 -3 DAYS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. TROUBLE HAS NOW REAPPEARED IN MAY AND AGAIN TODAY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS DEALERSHIP CASE WITH THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE. I ACTUALLY REFUSED TO TAKE CAR BACK ASKING THE THE MANAGER DRIVE IT AROUND NOTHING FOUND.

NHTSA ID

11000939

Incident

Jun 23, 2017

Mileage

71,671 mi

JULY 22, 2016. WIFE STARTED CAR IN SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND HEADED TO THE EXIT. WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO THE MAIN ROAD, AND ACCELERATING, LOUD NOISES AGAIN HEARD UNDER THE CAR AND IT LOST POWER EVEN WHILE GIVING IT GAS. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHUT OFF CAR AND RE-STARTED. NO ISSUES. WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL FIXED. TAKEN TO DEALER ON JULY 29, 2016. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. RETURNING TO DEALER AUG 5 FOR COMPUTER RE-FLASH. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS BEING REPORTED ALL OVER THE FORD FLEX FORUMS AND IT APPEARS FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10893029

Incident

Jul 22, 2016

Mileage

127,500 mi

WIFE STARTED CAR IN SCHOOL PARKING LOT. TURNED LEFT AND HEADED SHORT DISTANCE THE LOT EXIT. WHILE TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND STARTING TO ACCELERATE, HEARD 'LOAD NOISES' THAT SEEMED TO BE UNDER THE CAR. CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS GIVING IT GAS. SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. DIDN'T NOTICE ANY DASH LIGHTS (ABS OR TCS). RESTARTED CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. CAR HAS 128,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10893028

Incident

Jun 6, 2016

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000....UPDATED 07/19/16 *BF

NHTSA ID

10876881

Incident

Jun 26, 2016

Mileage

136,000 mi

MY FLEX STARTED HAVING A HARD JERK AND BANG WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO PARK. WAS NOT ALWAYS BUT FREQUENT. THE CAR STARTED TO RUN HOT WHEN SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU OR TRAFFIC BUT WOULD GO RIGHT BACK DOWN WHEN I STARTED MOVING. I TOOK IT INTO S MECHANIC AND HE REPLACED THE FAN. AFTER REPLACING THE FAN THE CAR BEGAN TO HAVE A REALLY BAD GRINDING NOISE WHEN IDLING OR TRAVELING. DO BAD I DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT. I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY CALL AND SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WITHIN 4 MINUTES I GET ANOTHER CALL DAYING I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WOULD ECCELLERATE ON ITS OWN, SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY, AND CAR WOULD LAG BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. FORD DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO HAVE A KNEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. CAR WILL SHIFT PROPERLY MOST OF THE TIME EVEN ON HIGHWAY. ONLY GET WHINING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. I WAS ALSO IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING $13000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING A CAR DOING 35 MPH.

NHTSA ID

10820878

Incident

Sep 8, 2015

WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND ACCELERATING TO BARELY 10 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKES SEEMED TO LOCK UP AND THE CAR STUTTERED. AFTER STOPPING AND ACCELERATING AGAIN, THE PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR AT THAT TIME. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY, AGAIN GOING NO MORE THAT 10 MPH AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THIS TIME I NOTICED MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FLASHING. I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, BACKED UP A BIT THINKING I'D RUN OVER SOMETHING, AND ACCELERATED AGAIN. NOPE, DIDN'T RUN OVER ANYTHING, JUST TRACTION CONTROL SEIZING UP. VERY CONCERNED THIS MAY HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651327

Incident

Jun 28, 2014

Mileage

48,000 mi

DRIVING STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN NOTICED THE WRENCH LIGHT ON (HAPPENS OFTEN WHILE THIS HAPPENS WILL NOT ACCELERATE LIKE NORMAL UNTIL IT HITS 2-3RD GEAR). I PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AFTER MAKING THE TURN I HAD TO MAKE ANOTHER TURN ABOUT 1/4 MILE UP THE STREET. I RELEASED THE GAS TO MAKE THE TURN BUT MY CAR KEPT ACCELERATING IT WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST BUT THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING PUSHING THE RPMS UP TO 6000. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS AND NOTHING WAS PRESSING THE GAS NO FLOOR MAT OR ITEMS IN THE WAY OF THE PEDALS. I PRESSED ON THE BREAK (WITH THE ENGINE STILL ACCELERATING) PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PULLED OVER. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR RAN FINE AFTER RESTARTED IT. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT ANY POINT JUST THE WRENCH LIGHT. THE LIGHT DID GO OFF AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR. I DROVE IT ABOUT ANOTHER 40 MILES SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED AND HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE. I DID HAVE THE CAR TAKEN IN TO CHECK THE CODES AT ABOUT 90K MILES (WITHOUT THE WRENCH LIGHT BECAUSE IT GOES OFF AS SOON AS YOU RESTART THE CAR) NOTHING CAME UP FOR CODES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574690

Incident

Mar 24, 2014

Mileage

100,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 07/23/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN FROM A STOP OR A NEAR STOP INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE TRACTION CONTROL AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF ENGINE TORQUE. THE CONSUMER STATED WITHIN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, HIS WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER, AS SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. UPDATED 07/24/13

NHTSA ID

10513775

Incident

Apr 7, 2010

Mileage

25,000 mi

OUR FORD FLEX CAME TO A STOP, (ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF) FROM APPROX. 10 MPH, WITHOUT THE DRIVER, MY WIFE, APPLYING THE BRAKES, IN A MALL PARKING LOT. SHE SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN. IT DROVE FINE. SINCE WE HAVE HAD BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE FLEX BEFORE, WE IMMEDIATLY TOOK THE FLEX TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, EVEN DRIVING IT "20 MILES" AROUND TOWN TO REPLICATE ANY PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CONTACTED FORD FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS. WE PICKED THE CAR UP TWO DAYS LATER AND MY WIFE & DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR 350 MILES TO VISIT RELATIVES. WHILE ON THIS TRIP, THE CAR STALLED, ENGINE QUIT, IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15 MPH. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE FLEX WITH FUEL. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WE HAVE HAD MANY BRAKE ISSUES AS WELL WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES SMOKE FROM SELF APPLICATION (THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON), ENOUGH SMOKE THAT OTHER DRIVERS HAVE WAVED US DOWN ON THE ROAD THINKING THE FLEX'S BRAKES WERE ON FIRE. WE HAVE HAD THE REAR ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED AT 15,300 MILES (UNDER WARRANTY) DO TO EXTREMELY QUICK WEAR. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE SMOKED AGAIN SINCE THIS REPLACEMENT. I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED IN THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/STABLITY CONTROL SYSTEM. OF COURSE, THE DEALER, AND APPARENTLY FORD, SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS ("NOTHING WRONG") AND IS RELUCTANT TO DOWNSHIFT (SAFETY FACTOR WHEN IN TRAFFIC), THE FRONT BRAKES ARE MAKING THAT GRINDING NOISE OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, AND TRIM PIECES FALL OFF THE CAR. THIS IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT KIDS IN AND WE ARE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH OUR FLEX AND FEEL THIS "FAMILY CAR" IS UNSAFE. WE ARE CONSIDERING CALIFORNIA'S "LEMON LAW" IF FORD AND THEIR DEALERS DON'T ACKNOWLEDE THAT THE FORD FLEX HAS SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10409879

Incident

Jun 21, 2011

Mileage

25,577 mi

IN OCT. 2008 I BOUGHT A NEW 2009 FORD FLEX. SOON AFTER I STARTED GETTING LOUD GRINDING NOISES IN THE BRAKES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE ORDER ON THIS COMPLAINT AND CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS (TWICE). SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK INTERMITTENTLY AND THIS WEEK I HAD MY FOOT BARELY ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE WHEN I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GRINDING NOISE CAME AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP MOMENTARILY. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH FORD AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND I FEEL THE LOCAL DEALER IS NOT PURSUING A SOLUTION. LAST TIME I WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP I ASKED IF FORD HAD ANY ANSWER AND THEY JUST SAID "WE HAVE CHANGED THE PADS TWICE". THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HARD TO PIN DOWN AS TO WHEN AND HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IS NOISY WHEN IT DOES AND ANNOYING. THE DEALER SAID "IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE" I WONDER WHEN THEY LOCKED UP A COUPLE DAYS AGO. LAST INCIDENT IS BELOW. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10344532

Incident

Jul 18, 2010

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 CRASH OCCURRED BUT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH. I DISABLED THE ESC VIA THE SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH ALLOWED ME TO ACCELERATE BUT NOW I DID NOT HAVE THE SAFETY BENEFIT OF THE ESC. THIS OCCURRED ONCE YESTERDAY, THE CAR IS NEW,I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 4 DAYS AND IT HAS ACCUMULATED LESS THAN 500 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263718

Incident

Mar 30, 2009

Mileage

400 mi