2009 Ford Flex: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 181 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (15% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Apr 2016
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 181 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“On February 26, 2026, I purchased a used 2009 Ford Flex VIN from Header's Auto Sales. At time of delivery, the vehicle was equipped with tires that did not meet the manufacturer's required load rating for this vehicle. A licensed mechanic provided a safety assessment confirming the tires were improperly load-rated and unsafe to carry the vehicle load. We were not informed of this issue at sale. To make the vehicle safe to drive, I replaced all 4 tires at my cost. Improper load-rated tires can result in tire failure, loss of vehicle control, and crash. Dealer sold vehicle "as-is" without disclosure of this safety defect.”Owner report · Wheels · Jun 2026
“Rear subframe rusted at bolt mount. Vehicle could have experienced catastrophic failure wihle driving. Independent service center diagnosed and documented rusted area and potential for failure. Noise would happen during acceleration/deceleration but not in wet weather conditions. Until diagnosed as unsafe to drive, vehicle drove with rear passenger side sitting on rear spring, potentially causing spring to rust prematurely.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2025
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2023
Show 7 more owner reports
“Was driving and the steering wheel became stiff. I received no warnings indications or lights on the dash. I had to give it a hard turn to get it to a parking lot and have it towed to a dealership.”Owner report · Steering · Apr 2023
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2022
“While driving around February 20th, 2022 we started swerving uncontrollably and almost ran into the curb and flipped while going about 40 MPH. My husband put on breaks but it felt like we were sliding on ice....without any ice on the road. We almost flipped and were very shaken, and lucky. We got vehicle to Firestone and they said our left rear toe link had broke. Supposedly our vehicle year is not part of the recall, I think it should be. Thank you”Owner report · Suspension · Feb 2022
“The contact owns a 2009 Ford Flex. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present coming from the vehicle. After parking inside the garage, there was fuel leaking from the seam of the fuel tank on the passenger's side. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. Also, while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal would extend to the floor and the vehicle would not immediately stop. The contact determined that the brake booster was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and an unknown dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jul 2021
“While braking and parking my vehicle, my vehicle had unwanted acceleration. Going as high as 120mph and holding the brake the vehicle was still moving. I had to hurry and shift into park and turn off my vehicle. Other times this has happened while coming stop and it would go up to about 40mph and I would desperately hold the brake scared I would hit someone”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Oct 2020
“My cradle is rusted through all the way to the lower control arm and has a visible crack. I'm told this is a safety issue and concern as well as a safety hazard when one can be injured due to the engine falling out to name one. I'm told by a mechanic this is a factory default.I am very concerned and would greatly appreciate some assistance with this matter. Sincerely, [xxx] 09/05/2020 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford flex. The contact stated while his wife was driving 55 mph, the vehicle shifted independently into neutral. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over on the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted and driven to her destination. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer safford ford lincoln of salisbury located at 1902 n salisbury blvd, salisbury, md 21801, (443) 210-4835, and was diagnosed. The contact was informed that an unknown part needed to be replaced along with a software update. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2020
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2009 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Flex by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Ford Flex reliable?
NHTSA has 181 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2009 Ford Flex. The most complained-about area is engine (15% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2009 Ford Flex problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.
Does the 2009 Ford Flex have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.