NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
32 reportsClear category filter75,986 miles · Mar 16, 2015
Electrical System
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.…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10694682
25,500 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
SIX AM, TOTALLY DARK, LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, TOTAL POWER FAILURE WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INCHING FORWARD. ENGINE DIED AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED WITHIN 30 SECONDS. BATTERY WAS NEW IN AUGUST OF 2014, ALL CONNECTIONS TIGHT. I WAS IN LANE THREE FROM THE RIGHT ON A SIX LANE FREEWAY THAT WAS TOTALLY IMPACTED WITH VEHICLE…
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SIX AM, TOTALLY DARK, LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, TOTAL POWER FAILURE WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INCHING FORWARD. ENGINE DIED AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED WITHIN 30 SECONDS. BATTERY WAS NEW IN AUGUST OF 2014, ALL CONNECTIONS TIGHT. I WAS IN LANE THREE FROM THE RIGHT ON A SIX LANE FREEWAY THAT WAS TOTALLY IMPACTED WITH VEHICLES. I TRIED TO EXIT TO RIGHT SHOULDER BUT COULD NOT AND ENDED UP BLOCKING LANES TWO AND THREE. NO POWER TO ANYTHING BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET SHIFT LEVER INTO PARK AND THE CAR STARTED. WOULD NOT START IN NEUTRAL OR DRIVE. HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 650 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10654410
81,000 miles · May 13, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
VEHICLE HAS HAD RADIATOR COOLING FAN(S) FAILURE(S) RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND OVERHEATING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10588180
78,496 miles · May 7, 2014
Electrical System
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 RE…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10587021
67,540 miles · May 7, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
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 INTERNE…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10587016
25,000 miles · Mar 31, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE COOLING FAN SYSTEM BROKE IN 3 YEARS SINCE I HAVE MY FORD FLEX 2009 MODEL. O BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEALER IN JANUARY 2011. FEW MONTHS AFTER THE COOLING SYSTEM BROKE. THEN A YEAR LATER IT BROKE AGAIN AND RIGHT NOW IS BROKEN FOR THE THIRD TIME. I ALWAYS CHANGE FOR ORIGINAL PARTS BUT I WANT TO KNOW THE ROO…
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THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE COOLING FAN SYSTEM BROKE IN 3 YEARS SINCE I HAVE MY FORD FLEX 2009 MODEL. O BOUGHT THE CAR IN DEALER IN JANUARY 2011. FEW MONTHS AFTER THE COOLING SYSTEM BROKE. THEN A YEAR LATER IT BROKE AGAIN AND RIGHT NOW IS BROKEN FOR THE THIRD TIME. I ALWAYS CHANGE FOR ORIGINAL PARTS BUT I WANT TO KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS AND TO SEE IF FORD IS GOING TO MAKE A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10575936
100,200 miles · Mar 25, 2014
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
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 W…
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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 ODI #10574690
3,611 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
TWICE WHILE DRIVING MY FORD FLEX, I HAD SPONTANEOUS TOTAL SHUT DOWNS OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME, MY CAR WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND I WAS IDLING IN FRONT OF A FRIEND'S HOUSE WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. I STARTED IT RIGHT BACK UP (AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED PERFECTLY) AND I DROVE IT TO FORD WHERE T…
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TWICE WHILE DRIVING MY FORD FLEX, I HAD SPONTANEOUS TOTAL SHUT DOWNS OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME, MY CAR WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND I WAS IDLING IN FRONT OF A FRIEND'S HOUSE WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. I STARTED IT RIGHT BACK UP (AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED PERFECTLY) AND I DROVE IT TO FORD WHERE THEY DID SOME DIAGNOSTICS CHECKS AND FOUND NO ANOMALY. IT CONCERNED ME BUT THINKING IT MAY BE A FUEL INJECTION ISSUE WHILE ONLY IDLING, I WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS. ON JULY 20, 2012, AT 38K MILE, MY FORD FLEX DIED AGAIN! TOTAL SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR! NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER ANYTHING! BECAUSE I WAS ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT CATASTROPHE, THANK GOD. THE ENGINE STARTED UP AGAIN AS IF NOTHING OCCURRED. I DROVE DIRECT TO FORD WHERE THEY DID 10 MINUTES OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TOLD ME ONCE AGAIN THAT THERE WAS NO ANOMALY. I WENT A LITTLE CRAZY, INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS LEAVING FOR A 10- DAY VACATION THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND THAT THEY HAD THE FULL 10 DAYS TO FIX THE CAR OR THAT I WASN'T GOING TO BE PICKING IT UP EVER AGAIN. A FORD TECH DROVE MY CAR WITH A COMPUTER PLUGGED INTO THE CAR, TYPED IN THE PROBLEM AND AFTER MANEUVERING THE CAR TO TRY AND GET A REPEATED RESPONSE, THE CAR DID INDEED SHUT DOWN WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT! APPARENTLY, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BINDING INTERNALLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING PART # 1 7T4Z 9E926 FA, FORD WALNUT CREEK CA IS TELLING ME IT IS FIXED. LET'S HOPE SO. I PRAY THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A FATAL OR INJURY ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS PART'S FAILURE. I AM WRITING THIS AS AN ALERT AND A HEADS UP TO ANYONE WHO HAS HAD THE SAME SCARY EXPERIENCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469017
25,000 miles · Dec 28, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
I PURCHASED MY FLEX NEW ON OCT 2009 AND IT HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD (WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME) AT 20MPH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE COAST T…
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I PURCHASED MY FLEX NEW ON OCT 2009 AND IT HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD (WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME) AT 20MPH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON MY ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT WOULDN'T START. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED UP. THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY(WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME) AT 55MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP; THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING SO THEY DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. THE THIRD TIME WAS LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD(WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME) AT 20 MPH, ENGINE SHUT OFF, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF BRAKES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE SO THEY DIDN'T ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME ALL THREE TIMES. I'VE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY CANT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE SO THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO THEY DIDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX IT. I JUST DROPPED IT OFF THIS WEEK FOR THE FOURTH TIME. ITS VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE ESPECIALLY SINCE IM SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I FEEL ITS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. ITS A TOTAL INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DROP OFF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND NEED A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. LUCKILY WE WEREN'T INJURED BUT IM WORRIED THAT THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS AN INJURY COULD OCCUR. WHY HASN'T FORD LISTED THIS ISSUE IN THEIR TSB! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10441503
23,126 miles · Oct 13, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
INTERMITTENT NO START OF VEHICLE. TOWED TO DEALER AFTER 5 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. DELIVERED TO DEALERSHIP IN SAME NO START BEHAVIOR. UPON INITIAL ATTEMPT A RELAY WAS REPLACED AS THE PCM (MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER) WAS NOT RECEIVING POWER. SERVICE ADVISOR CALLS TO INDICATE VEHICLE IS READY AND STARTS UP AFTER REPAIR. AT THE DEAL…
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INTERMITTENT NO START OF VEHICLE. TOWED TO DEALER AFTER 5 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. DELIVERED TO DEALERSHIP IN SAME NO START BEHAVIOR. UPON INITIAL ATTEMPT A RELAY WAS REPLACED AS THE PCM (MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER) WAS NOT RECEIVING POWER. SERVICE ADVISOR CALLS TO INDICATE VEHICLE IS READY AND STARTS UP AFTER REPAIR. AT THE DEALERSHIP, PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, CAR STARTS UP, HOWEVER, DASH LIGHTS LIGHT UP, WARNING "CHECK AWD, CHECK THIS, CHECK THAT..." SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL (THE WRENCH). SHUT THE CAR DOWN, TRY TO RESTART, WILL NOT RESTART. TECH IS WITH ME AND OBSERVES BEHAVIOR AND TRIES AS WELL. NO START AGAIN. TECH ATTEMPTS TO DOWNLOAD ERROR CODES. MENTIONS RFI INTERFERENCE. WILL BE DOING ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC. PREVIOUSLY, CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR STALLING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65+). ENDED UP BEING A SOAKED PCM (MAIN ENGINE COMPUTER). THIS TOOK TWO TRIPS (TOWED BOTH TIMES). THIS IS NOW FOUR TIMES TO REPAIR THE SAME NON-RUNNING / NO START DEFECT. THE REAR BRAKES WERE ALSO REPAIRED DUE TO DRAGGING CALIPERS AS PER TSB 10-7-2. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10430152