Ford Flex fire or smoke problems

Filed Feb 25, 2026 · Seats · MT · 1 injury

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, I was driving my 2013 Ford Flex with the driver’s seat heater activated. After a period of use, I began to notice an unusual electrical burning smell inside the vehicle. There were no dashboard warning lights or system alerts. I turned the seat heater off immediately once I detected the smell. I did not initially notice an injury at that time. The following day, I experienced significant pain and discovered burns on my buttocks in the area consistent with seat contact. I sought medical evaluation three days later and was diagnosed with second- to third-degree burns. Prescription treatment was provided. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for the cause of the overheating or odor. Based on the location and pattern of injury, and the timing of the electrical smell while the heated seat was activated, the burn appears to have resulted from a malfunction of the seat heating element.

Filed Jan 24, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA · fire

After reporting to work on [XXX], I discovered that the front of my vehicle was on fire. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and employees on site attempted to contain the fire using fire extinguishers. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter and successfully extinguished the fire. Despite these efforts, the vehicle was ultimately deemed a total loss. Later that day, my sister advised me to review footage from our Ring camera from that morning. The video shows visible sparks coming from underneath my vehicle prior to my departure. At that time, I drove approximately nine miles to work, unaware of any issue with the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 23, 2024 · Airbags, Electrical · MO · crash · fire · 1 injury

This accident didn’t involve myself. It involved my father who borrowed my 2011 Ford Flex for the evening. This was a one vehicle accident. It is unknown what happened to cause him to Swerve and hit a hit. The air bags didn’t deploy in the Vehicle. My father was wearing his seatbelt. An electric fire started and the car burnt along with my father he wasn’t able to be pulled from the vehicle before it caught fire. According to the witnesses, the airbags did not go off. My father had blunt trauma to the chest and to his frontal lobe and broken ribs. In addition to lots of other injuries that would’ve been avoided if the airbags would have went off. My father could’ve been alive if the airbags went off. But instead, he is dead. The pain and suffering and Trauma that I live through every day of my life of missing my father has been unbearable this past year. I 100% believe the fire started from the air bags not going off and it was faulty wiring in this vehicle. I believe this whole Heartedly. My father Didn’t deserve to die this way. I have a flash drive of the scene with pictures taken by the Missouri State Highway patrol that has been certified. I can send as Evidence as well. I have not viewed this flash drive as it would be too traumatic for me to view them of my father. I do not want to picture him like that. But I feel this case needs to be investigated. I no longer can be OK with this situation. The insurance company never inspected it. My insurance company was the General- Full Coverage- also the vehicle had a lean on it with Car Mart. Not sure if anyone inspected the vehicle after the accident. I know the Missouri house patrol did a full investigation. It set at at tow yard for months in Columbia, Mo. There were multiple people on the scene. Macon Co. ambulance, Macon Co. fire and rescue Macon Co. corners office which they called wrong time of death Which letters to believe my father wasn’t dead yet From the accident. The air bags could have saved HIM!!!!!!

Filed Jul 2, 2019 · Electrical · MI

When driving down city highway or city roads the all of the lights on the dash board will cut off, (ie. Radio, blinkers, heat & A/C controls) will shut off and the drive control button will appear with the door ajar and brake lights. It is now starting to make a dinging sound while you drive as well as smell like something is on fire. The car is completely shut and sealed. There isn't a time or instant where this is happening. It will just go in and out! Ford you really need to fix this problem since families are using these vehicles. I've done some research and see that it is a common problem with the 09 flex.

Filed Oct 1, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · MS · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford flex. While the vehicle was parked in the driveway, smoke appeared from the hood and the vehicle spontaneously caught on fire. The contact extinguished the fire and disconnected the battery cables. The air bag warning indicator was illuminated, but the air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Dec 1, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 110,000 miles · NC · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford flex. While the vehicle was parked in the enclosed garage attached to his home, a burning electrical odor was noticed. The contact went to the garage and noticed flames surrounding the front of the vehicle. The contact opened the hood and flames were visible between the rear of the engine and windshield. The contact extinguished the fire. The fire and police departments were not notified. No injuries were sustained. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and advised the contact to call his auto insurance company. No further assistance was offered. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic whom determined the cause of the fire as being related to the wiring harness leading to the power steering. The vehicle was also towed to capital ford lincoln of rocky mount (2012 stone rose dr, rocky mount, nc 27804 (252) 977-1234) where the wiring harness was diagnosed as the cause of the failure and replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. Consumer stated the vehicle was not running, nor was there a key in the ignition at the time of the fire. Updated 9/13/18

Filed Jul 3, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 27,000 miles · AK · fire

Driving the vehicle on the highway and heard a clunk and felt a slight loss of power and control. Pulled over to check vehicle and noticed flames coming underneath the engine compartment. Car soon became engulfed and was a total loss. The origin and cause expert hired by our insurance company suspects an injector line came loose on the engine and sprayed fuel onto exhaust manifold.

Filed Jun 8, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · AK · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 ford flex. While driving 65 MPH, there was an abnormal noise and a fire erupted under the front of the vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road, which was on fire. A fire inspection report was not yet confirmed and the vehicle was towed to a yard. The dealer (kendall ford of anchorage, 1950 gambell st, anchorage, ak 99501,(866) 591-3517) was notified several times, but had not yet responded. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was waiting to determine if they may be able to investigate what caused the fire. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000.

Filed Feb 5, 2017 · Fuel system · 62,000 miles · MA

My 2011 ford flex is back at the dealership after three turbos being replaced on it's 3.5 liter ecoboost engine. Our vehicle was at the delerahip for a month and we just got it back on thursday. On saturday I was on the highway when it began shuttering and just died. I was left powerless in the left lane of a four lane highway and had to manuver across three lanes to get to the shoulder with three children on board. Vehicle would not restart and while turning the key white smoke billowing from under the hood. Very strong smell of electrical burning. I thought it wa going to catch on fire and had the children get out of the vehicle on the side of a very busy highway. This is the third time at the dealership for this car with engine problems. Please advise on what course of action I need to take so this defective engine does not cause death or injury.

Filed Jan 21, 2016 · Transmission · 58,195 miles · MO

Power take off assembly failure - at ~59k miles into my 75k mile extended warranty I took my vehicle in to service because of an oil burning smell after highway driving. About a month or so later I returned to advise of the same smell. The seal was removed and replaced. Subsequent highway travel yielded additional burning oil odors that I've returned to the dealer for diagnosis but the cause was not identified until the last visit ' on 7/24/14 @ 58,195 mi. On 10/9/14@ 59,472 mi. On 04/22/15 @ 72,712 mi. On 11/23/15 @84,974 mi. References- http://jonathanlackman.com/blog/ford-edge-pdu-pto-transfer-case-issues-flex-500-mkx/ http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375439&page=13 http://www.fordedgeforum.com/topic/10914-ptu-leak-failures/page-11 at 84,974 the obvious fluid leak was identified as pto fluid as a result of the pto overheating. Now that my extended warranty has expired ford refuses to warranty repair coverage even though the problem has persisted since before the warranty expired but not identified by the ford mechanics. There are multiple instances of failure with this part on ford awd vehicle my complaint is that ford is aware of the failure and the issue was not addressed with my vehicle before my warranty expired and now I have to pay $1600 for the repair when servicing the complaint could have prevente d the failure and need for replacement. Ford has not proactively done anything to prevent failure and high out of pocket expenses to me or other customers. There is no recommended service other than replacement of the failed unit. There is a problem with the earlier units and ford should recommend service intervals to avoid failure and replacement of already failed units at their expenses since they advised of no service required