NHTSA Complaint #10409879 — 2009 FORD FLEX

OUR FORD FLEX CAME TO A STOP, (ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF) FROM APPROX. 10 MPH, WITHOUT THE DRIVER, MY WIFE, APPLYING THE BRAKES, IN A MALL PARKING LOT. SHE SHUT IT OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN. IT DROVE FINE. SINCE WE HAVE HAD BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE FLEX BEFORE, WE IMMEDIATLY TOOK THE FLEX TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG, EVEN DRIVING IT "20 MILES" AROUND TOWN TO REPLICATE ANY PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THEY CONTACTED FORD FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS. WE PICKED THE CAR UP TWO DAYS LATER AND MY WIFE & DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR 350 MILES TO VISIT RELATIVES. WHILE ON THIS TRIP, THE CAR STALLED, ENGINE QUIT, IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15 MPH. THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER FILLING THE FLEX WITH FUEL. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. WE HAVE HAD MANY BRAKE ISSUES AS WELL WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES SMOKE FROM SELF APPLICATION (THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON), ENOUGH SMOKE THAT OTHER DRIVERS HAVE WAVED US DOWN ON THE ROAD THINKING THE FLEX'S BRAKES WERE ON FIRE. WE HAVE HAD THE REAR ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED AT 15,300 MILES (UNDER WARRANTY) DO TO EXTREMELY QUICK WEAR. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE SMOKED AGAIN SINCE THIS REPLACEMENT. I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED IN THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/STABLITY CONTROL SYSTEM. OF COURSE, THE DEALER, AND APPARENTLY FORD, SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS ("NOTHING WRONG") AND IS RELUCTANT TO DOWNSHIFT (SAFETY FACTOR WHEN IN TRAFFIC), THE FRONT BRAKES ARE MAKING THAT GRINDING NOISE OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, AND TRIM PIECES FALL OFF THE CAR. THIS IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT KIDS IN AND WE ARE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED WITH OUR FLEX AND FEEL THIS "FAMILY CAR" IS UNSAFE. WE ARE CONSIDERING CALIFORNIA'S "LEMON LAW" IF FORD AND THEIR DEALERS DON'T ACKNOWLEDE THAT THE FORD FLEX HAS SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS.