This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The contact coasted to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact would make several attempts to start the vehicle to regain normal functionality; however, the failure would recur within several hours or several days. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 MPH in a School Zone from a stop, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the traction control, engine, battery, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering box had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic had not repaired the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed the VIN was not under recall, nor were the repairs covered under warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 125,436.
The contact's grandmother owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who replaced the rack and pinion, and power steering pump. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.
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 that upon her husband starting the vehicle, the vehicle entered limp mode as he exited the driveway. Her husband then drove the vehicle back into the driveway and turned the vehicle off. The next day, her husband started that vehicle and was temporarily able to resume normal driving; however, the vehicle entered limp mode while in traffic as the power train warning light illuminated. Her husband was able to coast the vehicle back home while in limp mode and had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer initially diagnosed the vehicle with a defective throttle body; however, the failure persisted after the part was repaired. The contact made numerous trips back to the dealer; however, the failure persisted after each visit. The contact was then informed to take the vehicle back once the wrench light had illuminated. Once the wrench light illuminated, the contact began to drive the vehicle to the dealer. While driving, she heard an abnormal clunking sound coming from the vehicle as the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle entered limp mode. The contact made it to the dealer as antifreeze began leaking from the vehicle. The contact was then informed by the mechanic that the radiator fluid had begun to leak out of the vehicle as a result of the water pump, which was previously replaced. The mechanic also discovered that the radiator fluid had leaked out of the rear main seal of engine which caused engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with a case number. The vehicle remained at the dealer and was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
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.
- Haslett, MI, USA
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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.
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.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. While driving, the vehicle suddenly switched into 'limp mode' and the speed would not exceed 20 mph. The vehicle was towed to star Ford (1101 S. vann blvd, glen dale, ca) where it was diagnosed that the throttle body was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,000. The VIN was invalid.
Water pump, engine. All of a sudden out of the blue with no indications, warning, leaks, stalls, rough driving, no starts, lights or smells; sent to start car and it was making a metal grinding/rattling sound and would not start. I had it towed over to the Ford dealer and 2 days later they looked at it. They stated the water pump catastrophically failed, leaked into the oil pan, overfilled the oil pan and cause coolant/water to be circulated through engine causing no compression and seizing the engine. The dealership said it would have happened pretty quick. I am now in need of a new engine because of the water pump design flaw of Ford water pump emptying into the oil pan. Ford customer service says there is no recall or complaints in the NHTSA database so it is not a problem. But I have gone online and seen this exact complaint from people in many forums, on multiple models. This catastrophic water pump failure and design flaw has been going on for 11 years and Ford refuses to do anything about or to help the customer. This is not getting reported correctly or in the right place or simply service centers dont report to this database therefore Ford closes thier eyes to problems. I am just glad this did not happen to my wife on her trip to Michigan at night on the weekend with kids in the car. It must be an issue if I can find class action lawsuits on thei exact issue. Hold Ford responsible, they are going to kill someone or their families.
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.
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 cylinder from exhaust to exit so now I have compression loss in cylinder 1&3 and they tell me I need a new motor
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.
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.
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.
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.
It has happened since 2012 Sept, when I bought it at 4000km. I was about to start from a traffic light. I let go my brake and 'slightly' onto gas. "nothing at all happened." I push a bit harder and it crank into another gear as I felt like 'galloping'. I brought it to the body shop I knew (8 pm) and was told to go to dealers for transmittion check up. Did so, in 3 days - 'no code' no problem. It happened in November 2012; trying to catch up with traffic on 401 highway - March 2013, moving slowly in scity street - June and Oct 2013; from stop - April 2014, June 2015 and about to stop before traffice light - May 2016. I brought it into 2 different delears, 3 private bodyshops. Dealers found nothing - 'no code'; private body shop - water/ air trapped in gas/ fuel line; bad transmission etc. Contacted Ford customer sevices - told to contact local delears, record on file. No solution still. This is Ford!!!! once get the chance - go anything other than Ford!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Modesto, CA, USA