RoadVitals

2009 Ford Flex Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Mar 25, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 181 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Ford Flex submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Mar 25, 2022

While driving around February 20th, 2022 we started swerving uncontrollably and almost ran into the curb and flipped while going about 40 MPH. My husband put on breaks but it felt like we were sliding on ice....without any ice on the road. We almost flipped and were very shaken, and lucky. We got vehicle to Firestone and they said our left rear toe link had broke. Supposedly our vehicle year is not part of the recall, I think it should be. Thank you

NHTSA ID
11458320
Incident
Feb 20, 2022
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 17, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AND STATED THAT THE STEERING U JOINT, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND ENGINE FAILED. THE DEALER (CAR NATION, 317 SOUTH PHILADELPHIA BLVD, ABERDEEN, MD 21001, (410) 995-8888) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED SINCE THE CONTACT PUT 1,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,080. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11162024
Incident
Oct 17, 2018
Mileage
106,080 mi
Suspension
Filed May 30, 2018

THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE 2009 FORD FLEX CONSTANTLY HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM UPPER CONTROL ARM CAUSING BRAKING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID
11098793
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
50,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Nov 1, 2017

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY ROUGH.WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11042091
Incident
Sep 13, 2017
Mileage
68,953 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 1, 2017

WHILE DRIVING FORD FLEX ON HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN MY ANTIBRAKE SYSTEM RANDOMLY ACTIVITIES CAUSING MY ENTIRE VEHICLE TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND I HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD RED MCCOMBS DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIND NOTHING WRONG. I WAS BILLED ABOUT 225.00 DOLLARS FOR A ANTIBRAKE SWITCH AND MY CAR WAS NOT FIXED. YES, AND I HAVE COMPLAINT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND MADE THEM AWARE OF MY CONTINOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY FORD FLEX VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10957928
Incident
Feb 15, 2017
Mileage
136,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS TO PREVENT IT FROM VEERING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MULTIPLE TIMES WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS AND ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN THE FROM OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. SS

NHTSA ID
10862709
Incident
Nov 15, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A UNKNOWN NOISE CAME FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND STOPPED ONCE THE LIGHT TURNS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID
10628419
Incident
Jul 18, 2012
Mileage
24,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesSuspension
Filed Feb 26, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

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. FINALLY AFTER THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME I WAS HIT AS THE TRANSMISSION BROUGHT THE CAR TO A HALT. I SUFFERED INJURIES AND THE CAR HAD $15000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. THE PERSON WHO HIT ME SUED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR FOUR MONTHS AND NEVER LOOKED AT THE BACK BRAKES OR TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT BACK 6 TIMES FOR A LEAKING TRANSMISSION AND SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES THAT WERE NOT FIXED. THIS VEHICLE CONTINUES TO COME TO A STOP AFTER TRYING TO GO FROM A DEAD STOP. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK. MY WIFE WILL NOT RIDE IN THE CAR BECAUSE SHE FEELS WE WILL DIE IN THIS CAR. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I TALKED TO A FORD MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM YET FORD HAS NEVER EVEN LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION. I FEEL I AM GOING TO BE KILLED IN THIS CAR. AFTER $15000 OF DAMAGES I HAVE LOST ALL VALUE TO THE VEHICLE AND MY INSURANCE HAS BEEN RAISED. I LATER FOUND OUT THERE IS A TSB FOR THE TRANSMISSION YET FORD HAS NEVER EVEN LOOKED AT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566112
Incident
Jan 20, 2011
Mileage
23,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Jan 17, 2014
Crash reported

PURCHASED FLEX IN 2009, DAY 1, 5 MILES, STATION WAGON HAS VIBRATION. TO THIS DAY, STILL HAS VIBRATION. 58000 MILES NOW. BBBAUTOLINE SAYS IT'S OUT OF COVERAGE FOR ARBITRATION. FLEX WAS IN SHOP MIN 12X FOR SAME ISSUE. DEALER AND ENGINEERS SAID BAD BRAKES, THE HAVE PUT ON 5 SETS OF PADS AND ROTORS. BAD WHEELS, MINE WERE THE 17" STYLE, NOW I HAVE 19" LIMITED WHEELS, VERY EXPENSIVE TIRES. STILL VIBRATES.... ONE 3 DAY SERVICE STOP AT VARSITY FORD , A@$$$$@ TECH OR MECHANIC DROVE MILES TO THE TUNE OF 750!!!!! AND I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE UPSET.....TEST DRIVING IT..... OK, 12,000 MILES, ON NEW 19" HANKOOK JUNK TIRES, OPTIMO, THEY WERE BALD, DEALER SAYS I HAVE TO REPLACE MYSELF, A 60,000 MILE TIRE, LOL ON ME. 31000 MI, DEALER SAYS DON'T BRING BACK, WE CAN'T FIX.... AND SAID IT'S A LEMON, GO ARBITRATE IT OUT, WE KNOW IT'S A BAD CAR, BUT WE CAN'T GET YOU A NEW ONE. 35,000 MILES, SPOUSE TAKING KIDS TO DAYCARE, TURNS CORNER, SAYS SHE HEARD SOMETHING POP, AND SHE COULD NOT STEER, HIT A PARKED CAR.... AFTER LOOKING WITH POLICE, I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTO PROOF, INNER TIE-ROD SNAPPED, CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. SO, 4,000$ OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR, FROM A TIE ROD NOT BEING INSTALLED RIGHT. THERE WAS AN INCH OF PLAY, UP AND DOWN, SIDE TO SIDE, ON THE OUTER TIE ROD, FROM NOT BEING INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY, HMMMMMM, MADE IN CANADA. SO NOW, AFTER ACCIDENT, CAR FIXED, I THOUGHT FOR SURE, IT WOULD BE A WHOLE NEW DRIVING VEHICLE? SHAT NOT! 58,000 NOW, AND VIBRATING LIKE AN OFF BALANCE WASHING MACHINE. AND BBB AND FORD ARE NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. ALL I WISH WAS FOR A FLEX THAT DROVE SMOOTHLY. .... *TR

NHTSA ID
10560400
Incident
Jun 15, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .