2009 Ford Flex

UPON MODERATE TO HEAVY ACCELERATION THE CABIN FILLS WITH CARBON MONOXIDE (EXHAUST FUMES) POST CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IF CABIN IS NOT QUICKLY VENTILATED BY OPENING ALL WINDOWS THE EYES ARE IRRITATED AND A VERY STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL RESULTS INDICATIVE THAT THE EXHAUST IS ENTERING THE CABIN AREA AFTER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS WHO REPLACED THE CABIN VENT BAFFLES. THIS HOWEVER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FORD CONCEDES IT IS A PROBLEM THAT STILL EXISTS ON 25% OF ALL FLEX MODELS BUT REFUSES TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH UNDER WARRANTY. THE DANGER OF THIS AMOUNT OF EXHAUST GASES POSES A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE HOWEVER FORD ENGINEERS HAVE YET TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AND IT STILL EXISTS ON LATER MODELS.

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.

OUR FORD FLEX CAME TO A STOP, (ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF) FROM APPROX. 10 MPH, WITHOUT THE DRIVER, MY WIFE, APPLYING THE BRAKES, IN A MALL PARKING LOT. SHE SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN. IT DROVE FINE. SINCE WE HAVE HAD BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE FLEX BEFORE, WE IMMEDIATLY TOOK THE FLEX TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, EVEN DRIVING IT "20 MILES" AROUND TOWN TO REPLICATE ANY PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CONTACTED FORD FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS. WE PICKED THE CAR UP TWO DAYS LATER AND MY WIFE & DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR 350 MILES TO VISIT RELATIVES. WHILE ON THIS TRIP, THE CAR STALLED, ENGINE QUIT, IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15 MPH. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE FLEX WITH FUEL. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WE HAVE HAD MANY BRAKE ISSUES AS WELL WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES SMOKE FROM SELF APPLICATION (THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON), ENOUGH SMOKE THAT OTHER DRIVERS HAVE WAVED US DOWN ON THE ROAD THINKING THE FLEX'S BRAKES WERE ON FIRE. WE HAVE HAD THE REAR ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED AT 15,300 MILES (UNDER WARRANTY) DO TO EXTREMELY QUICK WEAR. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE SMOKED AGAIN SINCE THIS REPLACEMENT. I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED IN THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/STABLITY CONTROL SYSTEM. OF COURSE, THE DEALER, AND APPARENTLY FORD, SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS ("NOTHING WRONG") AND IS RELUCTANT TO DOWNSHIFT (SAFETY FACTOR WHEN IN TRAFFIC), THE FRONT BRAKES ARE MAKING THAT GRINDING NOISE OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, AND TRIM PIECES FALL OFF THE CAR. THIS IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT KIDS IN AND WE ARE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH OUR FLEX AND FEEL THIS "FAMILY CAR" IS UNSAFE. WE ARE CONSIDERING CALIFORNIA'S "LEMON LAW" IF FORD AND THEIR DEALERS DON'T ACKNOWLEDE THAT THE FORD FLEX HAS SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

VEHICLE RUNNING SLUGGISH APPROX. 3 WEEKS PRIOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD FOR A DIAGNOSTICS CHECK. VEHICLE HAD A CODE P0422, TEST RAN VERIFIED EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT DRIVABLE. FUEL FILLER PIPE WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. FORD HAS PRIOR RECALLS FOR THIS PART OVER THE YEARS, ALTHOUGH FORD DID NOT COVER THIS REPAIR. 1 WEEK PRIOR ONE OF TWO ENGINE FANS WENT OUT REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTORS FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN ALL OF THE LIGHTS START FLICKERING AND A BURNING SMELL WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT WATER OVERFLOWED INTO THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO COME OFF, AS A RESULT THE BATTERY WAS OVER HEATING AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSING POWER. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 5 MPH BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED SIMULTANEOUSLY, NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,500.

HAD GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT BRAKES, JUST LIKE A STONE HAD GOT JAMMED BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP MOMENTARILY ONE TIME. HAD IT BACK TO DEALER TWICE BUT THEY COULD NOT SEE A PROBLEM. FINALLY AFTER THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND BRACKETS BUT I HAD TO PAY 139.00 FOR THE NEW PADS HAD APPROX. 33000K ON VEHICLE, THEY DID FIND A SERVICE NOTICE THIS LAST TIME. *LN