2011 Ford Flex Engine Problems

In September 2022 was going down the highway at 70 miles an hour for my vehicle to shut off with no warning lights everything locked up even the steering wheel get it to the side of the road sat there for about 20 minutes the car lights on the inside came back on started it got it home to find out that my coolant or water pump was missing all fluids took it to a repair shop by the name of superior auto repair for them to tell me there was a defect with the water pump but they weren’t going to break down the engine for the adjuster to come out to inspect I have found that the type of engine that I do have did have recalls on it for the water pump being faulty causing the engine to seize up and basically having to be replaced

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated while his wife was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat. The contact's wife was able to pull over safely. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that water was detected inside the engine and that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was 146,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER SON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SON CALLED AN UNKNOWN FORD DEALER AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP THAT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TRAVELING ALONG THE INTERSTATE AT REGULAR SPEED, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. A LEAK FROM THE WATER PUMP OCCURRED AND FLOODED THE ENGINE AND OIL RESERVOIR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY SMOKE AND OVERHEAT. AFTER ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO SIT AND COOL DOWN SO NOT TO START A FIRE WHEN THE HOOD IS LIFTED, THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE TOOK PLACE. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND ANTIFREEZE MIXED IN WITH THE MOTOR OIL.

ON 09/18/19, I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND - LIKE ROCKS KICKING UP UNDER MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20-25 MPH ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET. I DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR ME. I TRIED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND MY STEERING WAS LOCKED. I RECEIVED NO WARNING LIGHTS AND MY CAR TEMPERATURE REMAINED THE SAME - BETWEEN COLD AND HOT. AFTER GOING TO THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WATER PUMP OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND NOT A FREEWAY. THE CAR HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

WATER PUMP FAILURE LED TO TOTAL ENGINE LOSS. REPORTED ON MULTIPLE FORD VEHICLES

MY 2011 FORD FLEX 3.5L ENGINE HAS HAD CADASTROFIC FAILED DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL CHAIN DRIVEN WATERPUMP. THE O-RINGS ON THE WATERPUMP FAILED THERE BY ALLOWING OIL INTO THE COOLANT AND CAUSING THE PREPELLERS ON THE WATERPUMP TO BREAK OFF AND BLOCK THE WATER PASSAGES IN THE ENGINE WITH THE OIL AND PROPELLER PARTS. ALSO, ALLOWING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, I HAVE COME ACROSS MANY FLEX OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHE FORD OWNER THAT HAVE THE SAME 3.5L ENGINE WITHE THE INTERNAL CHAIN DRIVEN WATERPUMP HAVE HAD THE SAME OR GERRY SIMULAR ISSUES AND MANY HAVE HAD TO SPEND THOUSANDS FOR A NEW ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS DESIGN FLAWED ENGINE AND WATERPUMP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE ENGINE IDLED ROUGHLY AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN OIL CHANGE WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED VIOLENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT A DELAYED RETURN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THEY FOUND COOLANT IN THE OIL AND THE ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RECOMMENDED A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER (PLANET FORD, 20403 INTERSTATE 45 N, SPRING, TX 77388, (888) 471-0592) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

CAR HAS METICULOUS SERVICE RECORD, I HAD 86K MILES ON CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT START TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THE CERAMIC WATER PUMP EXPLODED, CAUSING COOLENT TO MIX WITH OIL. NOW I NEED NEW ENGINE $8,000. I HAVE USED SAME DEALERSHIP FOR CAR MAINTENANCE FOR LAST 7 YEARS.

TIMING CHAIN RATTLE UPON STARTUP IS GETTING WORSE. SAME ISSUE WITH F150 ECOBOOST MOTORS WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL BUT NOTHING FOR FORD FLEX. THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING CAN CAUSE AN ENGINE LOCKUP AND CREATE A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT.

DEFECTIVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ARE MADE WITH TWO TYPES OF METALS STAINLESS STEEL OUTSIDE AND CAST IRON INSIDE. WELL MY TURBO WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKIN TO VILLA FORD IN ORANGE CALIFORNIA AND THEY REPLACED THE TURBOS. TWO DAYS LATER I LOOSE BOOST AGAIN AND THE TURBOS EXPLODED CHUNKS OF METTLE LIKE THE FIRST THEY SAID THEY CHECKED TO MAKE SURE NO METAL MADE IT TO INTAKE AND DID COMPRESSION TEST AND ALL WAS GOOD. WELL I LOOSE BOOST AGAIN AND IT WAS METAL IN TURBO AND RUPTURED BOOT AT TURBO IT TURNS OUT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS BREAKING OFF CHUNKS INTO MY INTAKE SYSTEM. I TAKE IT TO THEM AGAIN AND THEY REPLACE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND I TELL THEM TO SMOG IT BECAUSE TAGS ARE DUE. THEY HAD MY CAR OVER 120 DAYS AND SAID THEY CAN'T SMOG IT YET BECAUSE CODES ARE MISSING TO DRIVE IT AND PUT SOME MILES ON IT AND I DO SO JUST TO FIND THAT IT WON'T PASS SMOG SO NOW FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY OF THE DAMAGES MORE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE THOUSANDS WE PAID TO CORRECT THE MATTER. IN CLOSED ARE PICS OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE CHUNKS ARE BLOCKING #1 &#3 CYLINDER FROM EXHAUST TO EXIT SO NOW I HAVE COMPRESSION LOSS IN CYLINDER 1&3 AND THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW MOTOR

SHUTTERED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. BOTH TURBOCHARGERS ON THE ECOBOOST ENGINE ARE DESTROYED AT 62,000 MILES. METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL FILTER CLOGGED OIL LINES. MOST LIKELY ENGINE DESTROYED. *TR

I HAVE FULL DOCUMENTATION FROM FORD TO BACK UP MY STORY: LAST YEAR THE CAR BEGAN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY. IN BUFFALO, NY (WE LIVE IN THE CHICAGO AREA). THE STALLING GOT SO BAD THAT SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING BACK HOME 10-HOURS+. SHE WENT INTO THE LOCAL DEALER THERE AND HAD THE CAR PLUGGED INTO THE COMPUTER...WHICH DETECTED NO FAULTS. SHE MADE SURE TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM FULLY AND IT IS DOCUMENTED ON THE RECEIPT. THE CAR HAS CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I READ THAT THE FORD DEALER CAN INSTALL A "BLACK BOX" WITH A BUTTON THAT ONE CAN PUSH WHEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM HAPPENS. WE DID THIS AND WE GOT THREE GOOD PUSHES OF THE BUTTON WHEN IT SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED AND THE DEALER DOWNLOADED THE INFO AND FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY IS FAULTY....OF COURSE THE CAR (WE HAD EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN) IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY FOR ABOUT 1.7K MILES (NOT TIME). NOTE THAT THE CAR FAILED TO TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...IT WAS ONLY AT MY INSISTENCE THAT THEY PUT IN A "BLACK BOX" THAT ANY PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE PERSON ON THE PHONE KEEPS TELLING ME THAT "THE CURRENT PROBLEM" OCCURRED AFTER THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT OUR DOCUMENTED MAINTENANCE HISTORY PROVES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM DATING FROM LAST YEAR. THIS IS A YEAR-OLD PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER WAS ONLY JUST ABLE TO DIAGNOSE...AND THEN ONLY BECAUSE I LEARNED ABOUT THE "BLACK BOX" THAT WAS AVAILABLE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM LAST YEAR, AND BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM WE ARE NOW ON THE HOOK FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE COPIES OF THE RECEIPT FROM LAST YEAR. OH, AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY MY WIFE HAD TO PAY FORD $108.70 FOR THEM TO PLUG THE CAR IN LAST YEAR... THE CAR NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR DISPLAYED FAULT CODES WHEN PLUGGED INTO THE COMPUTER NORMALLY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THE BLACK BOX WAS SUGGESTED AS A DIAGNOSTIC OPTION HOWEVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO FRACTURE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE TO BEND THE ENGINE VALVE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS SUDDEN REDUCTION OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH TURBO BOOSTER WERE REPLACED. MOST RECENTLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND ONE OF THE TURBO BOOSTER WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,260.

THE CAR HAS A TERRIBLE SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THEY STATE THAT IT'S THE 'FILTER' BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THIS ISSUE HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY RESOLVED AND IS ON-GOING. THE CAR HAS OTHER MINOR DEFECTS WITH THE WINDOW OPERATION (LOUD SQUEALING AS IF THE WINDOW IS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING) AND THE DEALER HAS FAILED TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE SMELL INSIDE THE CAR COULD BE TOXIC AND UNSAFE FOR MY CHILDREN. HOW CAN I GET THE DEALER TO TEST THE AIR QUALITY AND QUIT REPLACING THE FILTER AS A TEMPORARY ATTEMPT TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM? *TR

THERE WERE TWO OCCURRENCES. ON 7/5/12, THE FLEX WAS PARKED BUT STILL RUNNING, WE RAISED THE REAR DOOR/TAILGATE TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE FLEX. ONE OF MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS STOOD NEAR THE BACK BUMPER AREA AND RECEIVED A BURN TO HER LEG FROM ONE OF THE EXHAUST PIPES CREATING A C SHAPE IMPRINT OF THE TAILPIPE OPENING. THIS WAS WITNESSED BY A HOTEL EMPLOYEE. THE ADULT LEANED IN TO THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES, BUT DID NOT BURN. ON 7/6/12, THE FLEX WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING. AGAIN, THE BACK DOOR/TAILGATE WAS RAISED AND WE WERE GETTING ITEMS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND GETTING READY FOR OUR EVENT. EVEN AFTER WARNING (OF THE TAILPIPE), THE SAME 4 YEAR OLD MANAGED TO RECEIVE ANOTHER BURN TO THE SAME LEG FROM THE EXHAUST/TAIL PIPE. *TR

OUR 2011 FORD FLEX WE BOUGHT "NEW" IN OCTOBER OF 2010. IT HAS ALL THE BELLS & WHISTLES & HAD A STICKER PRICE OF ALMOST $51,000 DOLLARS! THIS CAR DOESN'T LIKE TO GET WET! IT STALLS IN THE SNOW, RAIN, CAR WASH & EVEN PUDDLES! IT JUST "SHUTS DOWN" IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION.....IT WILL "PUTT PUTT" & ALMOST STALL ON HIGHWAYS. WE CAME SOOO CLOSE TO GETTING KILLED! UGH....WE HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN TO (METRO FORD IN RAYNHAM) AT LEAST "4" TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO & IT WAS THERE FOR "4 WEEKS"! THEN THIS WAS IT.........WE HAD TO TAKE OUR 19 YR OLD DAUGHTER TO THE ER LAST THURS. SHE FAINTED & HIT HER HEAD HARD! THIS CAR STALLED ALL THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL!! WE ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT THERE!! THIS CAR IS A LEMON!!! WE WANT THIS CAR REPLACED!!! *TR

THERE IS A STRONG SULFUR SMELL IN THE CABIN AFTER A HARD ACCELERATION, IT SMELLS SIMILAR TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER EXHAUST ODOR. SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ODOR BUT TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

THE EXHAUST MUFFLER HOLDING HOOK IS SEVERLY RUSTED. PART WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN 05/03/11. REPLACED PART IS SEVERLY RUSTED AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS 7500 MILES ONLY. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN TO A MINIMUM DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD SINCE THE MUFLER COULD FALL OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING DUE TO EXECIVE RUST OF THE SUPPORTS. *TR