There are 22 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2009 Ford Flexin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The door ajar sensor malfunctions and is crazy expensive to fix. There are numerous posts and videos online of workarounds bcz it’s so common but they don’t seem safe since that’s a safety feature and the workarounds are simply a way to trick or bypass the warning sensors since the doors are actually closed in most cases. Ford needs to take ownership of this and issue a recall. There’s a tire pressure sensor failure as well.
You can be driving down the road, and all your gauges will stop working, and all the warning lights on the dash will light up. The first time this happened my wife got stuck at a gas station all the warning lights were on and the car would not start, people tried to jump it and it would not affected at all. I looked on the internet and found were someone said to beat on the passenger side floorboard, I called my wife and told her to try that, and when she did the car would start. It doesn't do it all the time, you never know when it's going to happen. We have to just stomp on the passenger floor to get everything to start working again. If I had not found this information from somebody else on the internet my wife would have been stuck about a hundred miles from home. I've taken it to the Ford house and they say they've never heard of anything like this but I know it's happened before two other people that's how I knew to stomp on the floorboard on the passenger side.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN CITY HIGHWAY OR CITY ROADS THE ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WILL CUT OFF, (IE. RADIO, BLINKERS, HEAT & A/C CONTROLS) WILL SHUT OFF AND THE DRIVE CONTROL BUTTON WILL APPEAR WITH THE DOOR AJAR AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IT IS NOW STARTING TO MAKE A DINGING SOUND WHILE YOU DRIVE AS WELL AS SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS ON FIRE. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY SHUT AND SEALED. THERE ISN'T A TIME OR INSTANT WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. IT WILL JUST GO IN AND OUT! FORD YOU REALLY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SINCE FAMILIES ARE USING THESE VEHICLES. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 09 FLEX.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR DASH LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS SECURE AND LOCKED. INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF WHEN AJAR LIGHT IS DISPLAYED AND POWER LOCKS UNLOCK/LOCK AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AT NIGHT WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF THE ENTIRE TIME WHEN YOUR DRIVING BLINDING YOU AS WELL AS I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I STOLE THE CAR. WHILE PULLED OVER I WAS ASKED TO STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND WHEN I EXITED THE CAR IBECAME POSSESSED AND THE ALARM WENT OFF AND INTERIOR LIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING AND FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE CAR ALARM CONSISTENTLY GOES OFF AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT CAUSING THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD IF YOUR NOT AROUND TO SHUT IT OFF. THIS IS ALSO ISSUE AS MY CAR CAN GET STOLEN AT ANY TIME IF THE FACTORY ALARM ISN'T WORKING OR I COULD GET CARJACKED BECAUSE THE DOORS WON'T STAY LOCKED.THIS ISSUE HAPPENS IN PARK, IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING AS WELL AS IT OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER REPORTS AND FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS IN THE 2009 FLEX AS WELL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
IT KEEPS SAYING SENSOR WE HAD REPLACED TWICE IS STILL BAD. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ACCELERATE SOMETIMES
"TAKATA RECALL " DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT ONLY STAYS ON FOR LESS THEN 2 MINUTES AND SHUTS ITSELF OFF ..
1#-FEB 25,2015 BLEW THE TWO HEATING HOSES OFF BACK OF MOTOR WHILE CAR WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT WITH GEAR IN PARK, TOOK TO JOE COOPER FORD TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE AND DID. 2#- ON MARCH 14,2015 @ ABOUT 0930 DURING A TRIP TO TEXAS, GOT CAUGHT IN TRAFFIC IN FORTH WORTH TEX ENGINE OVER HEATED AND SPEWED ANTI-FREEZE FROM BOTTOM OF CAR. WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND AFTER FURTHER CHECKING WE FOUND THAT THE "COOLING FANS" DID NOT WORK. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2007. JOE COOPER FORD DID NOT BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION EVEN THOU THEY KNEW THE CAUSE AND WAS NOT FORTH COMING, NOR HAVE WE HEARD FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE CHECK THE FORUM FOR FORD FLEX AND FOUND THAT THIS IS AND ON GOING ISSUE SINCE 2007 WITH THE FORD FLEX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CENTER CONSOLE FAILED TO OPERATE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BELL SOUND AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE SERIES OF FAILURES. HALL FORD (1310 NORTH ROAD ST, ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27909) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PERFORMED A SERIES OF UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY, 2014 AS A USED VEHICLE W/WARRANTY (POWERTRAIN). WHILE TRAVELING FROM ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE CAR OVERHEATED. AFTER SPEEDING UP TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC IT SUDDENLY COOLED BACK OFF. NOW, DURING THIS SAME TIME, THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED BLOWING COOL AIR UNTIL WE SPED UP TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. AFTER THAT, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC. SAME PROBLEM. THE FANS STOPPED WORKING. HERE RECENTLY, I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONLY THIS TIME, WHEN I SPED UP THE CAR DIDN'T COOL DOWN. THE COOLANT WAS FINE BUT THE CAR STILL OVER HEATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE COOLING FAN MODULE AND IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. NOW, I'VE READ IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH 2008-2012 FORD FLEX VEHICLES. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2011-2012 SERIES BUT NOT EARLIER MODELS. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THESE VEHICLES. THE SAME RECALL THAT WAS AFFORDED TO THE 2011-2012 MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE AFFORDED TO OWNERS OF EARLIER MODELS. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $600 TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS POWERTRAIN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ASAP. I HAVE 6 CHILDREN AND CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND $600 ON SOMETHING THAT IS NOT EVEN MY FAULT OR THE FAULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR
VEHICLE HAS HAD RADIATOR COOLING FAN(S) FAILURE(S) RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND OVERHEATING. *TR
VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON SEVERAL RANDOM OCCASIONS. AIR CONDITIONING BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN NOT MOVING. VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION ON SEVERAL RANDOM OCCASIONS. THE COOLING FAN RELAY WAS REPLACED WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED ALL RELATED PROBLEMS. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 67540 MILES. THE RELAY WAS REPLACED WITH A GENUINE FORD REPLACEMENT PART AND HAS FAILED AGAIN AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2011 AND 2012 MODELS BUT NOT THE 09. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD DESTROY THE VEHICLES ENGINE OR WORSE GET SOME ONE KILLED IF IT STALLS WHILE CROSSING TRAFFIC. *TR
VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON SEVERAL RANDOM OCCASIONS. AIR CONDITIONING BLOWS HOT AIR WHEN NOT MOVING. VEHICLE STALLED IN INTERSECTION ON SEVERAL RANDOM OCCASIONS. THE COOLING FAN RELAY WAS REPLACED WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED ALL RELATED PROBLEMS. THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS NOW DEVELOPED AFTER 8000 MILES. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2011 AND 2012 MODELS BUT NOT THE 09. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD DESTROY THE VEHICLES ENGINE OR WORSE GET SOME ONE KILLED IF IT STALLS WHILE CROSSING TRAFFIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE TIRE MONITOR DEFAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EVERY ELECTRICAL FEATURE FAILED INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, DEFROSTER AND ANTI SKID ACTIVATOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE REMOTE STARTED YET, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
2009 FORD FLEX WILL NOT START. WARNING ABOUT LOW FUEL, CHECK AWD WITH 3/4 FULL TANK OF GAS. *TR
ENGINE STALL AT SPEED. MERGING ON TO FREEWAY AT 50+ MPH, ENGINE CUT OFF, NO POWER. ASSIST BRAKES AND STEERING DISABLED. SAFETY ISSUE. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. WAITED 10 MINUTES AND CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. *TR
09 FORD FLEX. COMING UP ON A TURN AND MY CAR SHUTS OFF. I ROLLED TO THE CORNER PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SINCE I'VE HAD THE THIS CAR THAT IT SHUT OFF. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE IS HURT. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AS I TYPE. *TR
1. RECURRING BRAEK NOISE, BRAKES, ROTORS AND BRACKETS REPLACED REPEATEDLY. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES OVER 8 MONTHS. ABS SYSTEM ALSO REPLACED. 2. VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT PRESSING ON BRAKES - VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WOULD NOT MOVE. EVENTUALLY (30 TO 90 SECONDS) THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED. DEALERSHIP KEPT VEHICLE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY ISSUE (APPARENTLY NOT FIRST FLEX THIS OCCURED WITH) AND RETURNED VEHICLE WITH NO REPAIRS OTHER THEN TO REPLACE THE ABS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT ISSUE AND IT WAS LIKELY A ONE TIME OCCURANCE. WHEN ASKED DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CHAIN IN THE T-CASING (WAS TOLD IF THE CHAIN SEIZED IT WOULD CREATE THE REACTION THAT HAPPENED) I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT AS IT WAS TIMELY, EXPENSIVE AND UNWARRANTED. 3. THE ELECTRONICS ON THE VEHICLE TEND TO START/COME ON WHNEVER THEY CHOOSE WITH NOT ASSISTANCE. THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM/ELECTRONICS HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING REPEATEDLY SINCE THE NEXT TO LAST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE ABS WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST. *TR
GENERALLY OCCURS WHEN RESTARTING CAR ABOUT 15 -30 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING FOR AT LEAST 20 MINS WITH AC ON HIGH. ENGINE WILL REV UP AND DOWN ON RESTART, AND RPM AND SPEEDOMETER NEEDLES SWEEP BACK AND FORTH (READING OVER 100 MPH ON OCCASION) FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS WHILE CAR IS STILL IN PARK. CAR DOES NOT MOVE, THOUGH DID NOTICE ODOMETER SKIP UP ONCE. REVVING AND NEEDLE SWEEPING EITHER STOP ON OWN, OR WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. DEALERSHIP FOUND NO ERRORS ON CAR COMPUTER, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE, BUT WAS SHOWN WHEN CAR WAS DROPPED OFF. DEALERSHIP WANTS TO USE FLIGHT RECORDER BUT FLIGHT RECORDER NEEDED TO BE FIXED/SENT BACK. BEEN TRYING TO GET ANSWER FOR OVER A MONTH NOW. *TR
I HAVE A 2009 FORD FLEX BUILT OCTOBER 2008 WHICH STALLED YESTERDAY. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10-20 MPH WHEN THE STALL OCCURED. RESTARTED THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RARE. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT SO I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO SAFETY. PLEASE NOTE THAT POWER STEERING WAS LOST DURING THE STALL. I WILL TAKE THE CAR TO GET A LOOK AT BY THE DEALER AND HOPE TO GET THIS FIXED.
Showing 1–20 of 22 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026