2009 Ford Flex: engine overheating

Filed Apr 20, 2018 · Engine · 100,000 miles · TX

2009 ford flex limited overheats while idling for the past 3 years. Ran multiple vacuum tests and there is no leak or shortage of coolant. A/c blows hot while idling. Replaced relays, thermostat, and fuses to no avail. Replaced cooling fans recently with oem parts. Car is no longer overheating, but now has a strong electrical or melting smell after driving. Fans potentially failing again.

Filed Apr 21, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · IN

I purchased this vehicle in may, 2014 as a used vehicle w/warranty (powertrain). While traveling from st.louis, missouri in stop and go traffic, the car overheated. After speeding up to get out of traffic it suddenly cooled back off. Now, during this same time, the air conditioner stopped blowing cool air until we sped up to get out of traffic. After that, it didn't happen again until I was stuck in traffic. Same problem. The fans stopped working. Here recently, I was stuck in traffic and the car overheated and the check engine light came on. Only this time, when I sped up the car didn't cool down. The coolant was fine but the car still over heated. I took the car to the dealership today and was told that it is the cooling fan module and it should be replaced. Now, I've read in several different places that this is a problem with 2008-2012 ford flex vehicles. A recall was issued for the 2011-2012 series but not earlier models. Owners of these vehicles should not have to be responsible for faulty materials used to make these vehicles. The same recall that was afforded to the 2011-2012 models should also be afforded to owners of earlier models. The dealership wants $600 to repair this because my warranty only covers powertrain. Please address this asap. I have 6 children and cannot afford to spend $600 on something that is not even my fault or the fault of normal wear and tear.

Filed Jan 23, 2015 · Engine · 55,000 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 ford flex. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the cooler fan failed to operate. As a result, the vehicle overheated as the radiator warning light illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to dealer. The technician diagnosed that the cooling fan needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Filed Jun 8, 2014 · Engine · 47,813 miles · TX

2011 @ 47,813 miles: car not cooling or takes a long time to cool in cabin- ford found "coolant fan inoperable and coolant fan assembly replaced" to min avail would stop working intermittently (purchased flex used from dealer 8 weeks prior); air condition condenser damaged: "replaced air conditioner condenser, evc nd recharged system" by ford (our cost) safety: passenger side air bag light comes off/on intermittently- ford found nothing nor could reassure air bags working correctly; power steering cooler damaged- ford replaced at our cost; may 2013 @ 63,349 miles: air conditioner intermittently shuts (off no blower) while lights showing A/C on- ford, "rear actuators failed- replaced, updated temp. Sensor june 2013 @ 64,078 miles: passenger air bag lights come off and on intermittently- ford found, " air bag wiring connector not securely attached to seat frame; grinding noise and car seems to downshift while driving; ford' "glitch in computer system;" clicking noise in dash board happens when A/C both off and on- ford, "recirculation door actuator failure- replaced by ford; june 2014 @ 73,046 safety: air conditioner turns off intermittently, not cooling while idle; engine overheating quickly (I.e. At stop signs) all of which can blow the engine; we replaced cooling fan relay to no avail; ford," cooling fan module failed- we replaced @ ford for $1094.26 to no avail. Engine continuing to overheat: air conditioner not cooling while idle.

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 7, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 67,540 miles · SC

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.

Filed May 7, 2014 · Electrical · 78,496 miles · SC

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.

Filed Jan 10, 2014 · Engine, Seats · 60,000 miles · AL · 2 injuries

Several complaints: first the A/C makes a popping noise when turned on. It works fine as of now though. Second, drivers side 2nd row seat will not fold down 99% of the time. It's stuck somehow. Third, gas light no longer works. Fourth is the biggy. Car is overheating due to radiator fan's no longer working. It runs hot when idling or moving at a slow pace. This has happened multiple times during the hot, summer months of 90*+ and I have a two and a four year old. Three days ago it happened in 20* weather with a wind chill of below zero on the side of the interstate with my husband being my nearest help who was 45 minutes away. My children were crying after just 10 minutes or less that they were freezing and that their toes hurt. But what am I to do on the side of the interstate? I have contacted ford several times and it's always the same answer "there is no recalls. Take it to your nearest ford dealer". I found out at the end of last year that we have an extended care plan. It's currently all being repaired under the plan, thank goodness, with only a $100 deductible and a rental car. We're very fortunate in that aspect. I feel as though this should all be a recall due to the amount of people having these same problems, especially the overheating. Nobody should be having to pay a dime out of pocket to fix these issues. However, ford could care less. They got their money from the purchase of the vehicles and obviously could care less about safety and making things right. When people ask how I like my flex. My reply is "originally I loved it, now I hate it" and I tell them exactly why if they ask, which is every time. First and last ford. Bad company all the way around.

Filed Sep 18, 2013 · Engine · 140,000 miles · TX

While drive on the highway with my youngest son, my car suddenly decellerated and eventually the car's engine completely died. Fourtunatly I was able to get out of the lanes of traffic and onto an exit ramp. The ramp had a wall on the passenger side and fast exiting traffic on the drivers side. I could not safely exit the vehicle in this location. After about 5 minutes, I was able to start the car enough to move it to a safer location 30-40 yards off the exit (where the car again died). There was no indication on either my temp guage or any warning lights that the engine had overheated to the point of a cracked head/block. At the time of this incident, ford was aware that there were issues with the control module for the cooling fans not working and had a customer satisfaction program 12b36 in place. I never heard of the program until this week (9/18/13). I should have been informed as an owner of this poorly engineered vehicle that it had such an unsafe defect. Since I was 40k miles out of warranty ford's solution was for me to buy a new engine at the cost of $8000. I have been saving up for the past 4 months to purchase a used engine and have a local garage install it. I am not happy about this vehicle putting my and my son's lives in danger. I hope others with this vehicle do not have to be put in harms way as well.

Filed Jul 11, 2012 · Engine · 65,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford flex. The contact stated that the driver was driving the vehicle and the coolant temperature light illuminated on the instrument panel. The driver stopped the vehicle and noticed that it was overheating. The driver also noticed that the air conditioner failed. The vehicle was able to be driven to the residence after resting for thirty minutes. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 65,000.