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2009 Ford Flex recalls and problems

The 2009 Ford Flex has 1 safety recall and 181 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
181
Crashes / fires
7 / 2
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2009 Ford Flex vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2009 Ford Flex recalls

Recall 16V-247: Air Bags

Reported Apr 26, 2016 · 695 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

2009 Ford Flex problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine36
Electrical System32
Power Train23
Steering18
Engine and Engine Cooling17
Unknown or Other17
Service Brakes, Hydraulic16
Fuel/Propulsion System15
Service Brakes14
Structure12
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)10
Suspension9

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 6
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 4
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 2
  • Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System) — 1
  • Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and Attachments — 1
  • Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars — 1
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 1
  • Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 60,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2009 Ford Flex complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Wheels · reported Jul 17, 2026
On February 26, 2026, I purchased a used 2009 Ford Flex VIN from Header’s Auto Sales. At time of delivery, the vehicle was equipped with tires that did not meet the manufacturer’s required load rating for this vehicle. A licensed mechanic provided a safety assessment confirming the tires were improperly load-rated and unsafe to carry the vehicle load. We were not informed of this issue at sale. To make the vehicle safe to drive, I replaced all 4 tires at my cost. Improper load-rated tires can result in tire failure, loss of vehicle control, and crash. Dealer sold vehicle "as-is" without…
Electrical System · reported Dec 9, 2025
You can be driving down the road, and all your gauges will stop working, and all the warning lights on the dash will light up. The first time this happened my wife got stuck at a gas station all the warning lights were on and the car would not start, people tried to jump it and it would not affected at all. I looked on the internet and found were someone said to beat on the passenger side floorboard, I called my wife and told her to try that, and when she did the car would start. It doesn't do it all the time, you never know when it's going to happen. We have to just stomp on the passenger…
Unknown or Other · reported Mar 9, 2025
Rear subframe rusted at bolt mount. Vehicle could have experienced catastrophic failure wihle driving. Independent service center diagnosed and documented rusted area and potential for failure. Noise would happen during acceleration/deceleration but not in wet weather conditions. Until diagnosed as unsafe to drive, vehicle drove with rear passenger side sitting on rear spring, potentially causing spring to rust prematurely.
Electrical System · reported May 27, 2023
The door ajar sensor malfunctions and is crazy expensive to fix. There are numerous posts and videos online of workarounds bcz it’s so common but they don’t seem safe since that’s a safety feature and the workarounds are simply a way to trick or bypass the warning sensors since the doors are actually closed in most cases. Ford needs to take ownership of this and issue a recall. There’s a tire pressure sensor failure as well.
Steering · reported Apr 22, 2023
Was driving and the steering wheel became stiff. I received no warnings indications or lights on the dash. I had to give it a hard turn to get it to a parking lot and have it towed to a dealership.

Other Ford Flex years

20192018201720162015201420132012201120102009

Compare all Ford Flex years · All Ford models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Ford Flex have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 Ford Flex: 16V-247 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Ford Flex?

Owners report engine problems most often (36 reports), followed by electrical system (32). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 60,000 miles.

Are Ford recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Ford dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.