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Engine coolingPart report

2009 Ford Flex Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
9%of 181 total for the year
Median mileage
23,126miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2009 Ford Flex, 9% of the 181 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 23,126 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“This is the third time the cooling fan system broke in 3 years since I have my Ford FLEX 2009 model. O bought the car in dealer in january 2011. Few months after the cooling system broke. Then a year later it broke again and right now is broken for the third time. I always change for original parts but I want to know the root cause of this and to see if Ford is going to make a recall.”

NHTSA complaint #10575936, filed 2014-03, 25,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10376986, filed 2011-01, 8,000 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10441503, filed 2011-12, 25,000 miles

“Six am, totally dark, lights on low beam, total power failure while in heavy traffic and inching forward. Engine died and all electrical components failed within 30 seconds. Battery was new in august of 2014, all connections tight. I was in lane three from the right on a six lane freeway that was totally impacted with vehicles. I tried to exit to right shoulder but could not and ended up blocking lanes two and three. No power to anything but I was able to get shift lever into park and the car started. Would not start in neutral or drive. …”

NHTSA complaint #10654410, filed 2014-10, 25,500 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10559366, filed 2014-01, 60,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201921%
201611%
201462%
201341%
201175%
201086%
2009179%

Other parts of the 2009 Ford Flex

Engine
36 complaintsBrakes
33 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsFuel system
19 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsElectronic stability control
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Ford Flex

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology