repaired · 2017 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
2009 Ford FlexProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 181 owner complaints about the 2009 Ford Flex, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 16V-247 the manufacturer reports only 84% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Ford Flex has problems
181 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
36Engine1 crash/fire/injury
32Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
23Power train1 crash/fire/injury
18Steering1 crash/fire/injury
17Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury
16Service brakes, hydraulic
15Fuel/propulsion system
14Service brakes
12Structure
7217 other systems14 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 32 | 1 |
| Power train | 23 | 1 |
| Steering | 18 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 16 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 3 |
| Structure | 12 | 2 |
| 17 other systems | 72 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2009 Ford Flex recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
100kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 29 engine complaints. 48% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles14under 100k miles15100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Flex year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Flex median. How we score
'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Ford Flex safety ratings
2009 Ford Flex 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Flex owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
About 5 miles from home with no warning.The car went from regular temp to hot then stopped.Water mixed with the oil.The tech said the water pump just failed.I did not have any problems with it running hot or anything.
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…
LAST NIGHT, I WENT TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND WHILE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP UNCONTROLLABLY AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, IT KEPT MOVING IN REVERSE. I QUICKLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THE REVVING CAME DOWN. SHUT DOWN THE CAR, RESTARTED IT AND THIS TIME, I PUT…
Own a 2009 Flex?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.