2009 Ford Flex: sudden loss of power

Filed May 19, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · AZ

My Flex has repeatedly lost power while driving. I can feel the car lose power, and the yellow wrench light comes on. After reading up on it, I learned that you have to turn the vehicle off, wherever you are, and restart it after a few minutes. The wrench light turns off, and the car runs as normal, with no records of codes. This is talked about over and over in online forums. The safety issue is that it has happened on the freeway several times while traveling at a high rate of speed. The car loses power, and you cannot accelerate. You have to find a way to stop immediately, put the car in park (and listen to the transmission clunk) and turn it off. This last instance put me in harms way on the freeway. The car lost power while traveling 70mph. I immediately lost speed and had to cross 3 lanes of traffic to pull over to turn the car off. All of the forums talk about the throttle body, but everyone says that’s not the issue. The OSS and TSS sensors are also discussed. The dealerships cannot find out what’s wrong because once the car is turned off and restarted, any codes are erased. The issue persists, and the car keeps losing power wherever and whenever. I am referencing the most recent incident on this form, however, this has happened at least 12 times since September, 2020. Please, please force a recall on this issue!

Filed Sep 23, 2016 · Engine · 71,500 miles · TX

Driving 65. Mph car lost power .iwas able to pull to side of road.turned car off and on it restarted took to ford dealership they said it was throttle body replaced at 700. There is no recall,but ford is aware of danger.ous defect .tech said.

Filed Aug 4, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 127,500 miles · MD

July 22, 2016. Wife started car in school parking lot and headed to the exit. While making a left hand turn onto the main road, and accelerating, loud noises again heard under the car and it lost power even while giving it gas. Had to pull over to the side of the road. Shut off car and re-started. No issues. Wife refuses to drive the car until fixed. Taken to dealer on july 29, 2016. Unable to duplicate. Returning to dealer aug 5 for computer re-flash. This is a significant safety issue that is being reported all over the ford flex forums and it appears ford motor company will not address the issue.

Filed May 11, 2015 · Steering · 52,000 miles · MI

Experienced a total loss of power steering. No codes/warning lights were shown. Power steering fluid was filled properly, and there were no leaks found. Thankfully this didn't occur at a higher speed as this is a terrifying safety concern. A message board was found with at least 6 pages full of people that experienced the same exact problem (http://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10080). This issue needs to be addressed before someone dies!

Filed Sep 23, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 78,000 miles · VA

Engine stumbled and then lost power. It re-started but idled at 750rpm. Car would not accelerate. Placing the car into neutral and depressing the accelerator did not increase the engine speed. This persisted about 3-4 minutes. Afterwards, the engine speed responded to the accelerator, and when placed in gear, accelerated normally. This has happened three times in the past year.

Filed May 13, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 81,000 miles · CA

Vehicle has had radiator cooling fan(s) failure(s) resulting in loss of power and overheating.

Filed May 28, 2013 · Driver assistance · 25,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford flex. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH from a complete stop, the traction control system activated independently and the warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis and they were unable to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000. Updated 07/23/13*lj the consumer stated when making a right or left turn from a stop or a near stop into traffic, the vehicle would lose traction control and there would be a loss of engine torque. The consumer stated within the first 11 months of owning the vehicle, his wife complained about the vehicle losing power, as she was attempting to merge into traffic. Updated 07/24/13

Filed Jan 21, 2013 · Engine · 70,000 miles · OK

This vehicle experienced failure of both radiator cooling fans. The engine entered reduced power mode due to high temperature while my wife was entering a busy street. Just prior to this the vehicle had been idling for approximately 10 or 15 minutes. Temperature light did not illuminate until engine entered reduced power mode. Check engine light did not illuminate. Loss of power without warning could be very dangerous under certain conditions. After some research I have found that this is not an isolated incident. Usually the first sign of a problem is the air conditioner blowing warm air when stopped and engine is at an idle. Ford has the customer satisfaction program (#12b36) that is covering the repairs regardless of mileage for the same problem on 2011 and 2012 ford flex vehicles at no cost to owners. The 2009 and 2010 model years are excluded from this program. A letter was sent to 2011 and 2012 flex owners offering this repair. Both fans have been tested and found to be inoperative. Fan control module appears to be ok. I spoke to ford customer service today (case #[xxx]) 01/21/13, and they verified that the customer satisfaction program (12b36) is covering 2011 and 2012 model flex vehicles. An internet search shows that other models may also be covered. I believe this program should cover the 2009 and 2010 model vehicles for safety reasons or a maybe a safety recall should be considered. I will be purchasing a new fan assembly and installing it myself but have no way to reprogram the PCM to help prevent this from happening again. I will also take the vehicle to the dealer to have them inspect it before replacing the fan assembly as asked by ford customer service. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 28, 2011 · Brakes, Electrical · 25,000 miles · DE

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!

Filed Jan 17, 2011 · Engine · 8,000 miles · SC

2009 ford flex (less than 8000 miles) suddenly stopped running while I was driving around a curve on a road at about 20 to 30 miles per hour. Lost power steering. Engine light, battery light and oil light came on. Car restarted after I stopped it on the side of the road.

Filed Aug 3, 2009 · Electrical · 13,900 miles · MO

2009 ford flex. Driving through my neighborhood when I noticed loss of power steering and brakes. The car had simply died while driving. Was able to stop it on the side of the street and restart it. Continued on without another occurrence. Learned through a web forum that this has occurred to approximately 8 other owners of this vehicle.