NHTSA Complaint #10276362 — 2009 FORD FLEX

THIS IS A 2009 FLEX DEALER DEMO WITH 1450 MILES. IT HAS DIED TWICE WHILE DRIVING DURING A TEST DRIVE. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WHILE IN DRIVE, IN A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE ENGINE, A/C, RADIO/ACCESSORY POWER, AND ALL LIGHTS SUDDENLY DIED. IT WAS AS IF THE KEY HAD BEEN TURNED TO "OFF", EXCEPT THAT THE RETAINED ACCESSORY POWER AND ALL DASH/WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AS WELL. THE CAR RE-STARTED EASILY ONCE PUT INTO NEUTRAL. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN REVERSE, BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 3 MPH. THIS TIME THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED, AND A/C TURNED OFF, BUT THE ACCESSORY POWER TO THE RADIO AND DASH /WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON, AND THE SECURITY LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS BLINKING SLOWLY. AGAIN, THE CAR RE-STARTED EASILY. BOTH TIMES THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WENT OUT AND THE CAR WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND SHIFTING GEARS, RE-STARTING IT, AND SHIFTING BACK TO DRIVE TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS COLLISION IF IT HAPPENED WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HEARD OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND MOST OF THOSE WERE RESOLVED AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH A SIMPLE CHANGE TO THE COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE IN THE ENGINE. HOPEFULLY FORD WILL RECALL UNITS ALREADY SOLD TO MAKE THIS CHANGE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR