2009 Ford Flex Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

36Engine complaints

20%Of all 180 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE36 · 20%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM30 · 16.7%

POWER TRAIN19 · 10.6%

Unspecified / other17 · 9.4%

STEERING17 · 9.4%

Share of the 180 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Ford Flex overview page.

What owners report

“CAR STALLED AT LOW SPEED. STARTED AGAIN WHEN STOPPED AND IN PARK. DURING EVENT, NO POWER STEERING / BRAKES AVAILABLE. NOT A SAFE CONDITION.”NHTSA complaint 10722268 — filed 05/29/2015

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10638546 — filed 09/23/2014

“VEHICLE HAS HAD RADIATOR COOLING FAN(S) FAILURE(S) RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND OVERHEATING.”NHTSA complaint 10588180 — filed 05/13/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Ford Flex have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2009 Ford Flex: 36 of 180 complaints on file (20%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Ford Flex have in total?

180 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 7 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 6 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.