NHTSA Complaint #10493676 — 2009 FORD FLEX

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF BOTH RADIATOR COOLING FANS. THE ENGINE ENTERED REDUCED POWER MODE DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE WHILE MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A BUSY STREET. JUST PRIOR TO THIS THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IDLING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 OR 15 MINUTES. TEMPERATURE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL ENGINE ENTERED REDUCED POWER MODE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. USUALLY THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM IS THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWING WARM AIR WHEN STOPPED AND ENGINE IS AT AN IDLE. FORD HAS THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (#12B36) THAT IS COVERING THE REPAIRS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON 2011 AND 2012 FORD FLEX VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNERS. THE 2009 AND 2010 MODEL YEARS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THIS PROGRAM. A LETTER WAS SENT TO 2011 AND 2012 FLEX OWNERS OFFERING THIS REPAIR. BOTH FANS HAVE BEEN TESTED AND FOUND TO BE INOPERATIVE. FAN CONTROL MODULE APPEARS TO BE OK. I SPOKE TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY (CASE #[XXX]) 01/21/13, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (12B36) IS COVERING 2011 AND 2012 MODEL FLEX VEHICLES. AN INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS THAT OTHER MODELS MAY ALSO BE COVERED. I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM SHOULD COVER THE 2009 AND 2010 MODEL VEHICLES FOR SAFETY REASONS OR A MAYBE A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. I WILL BE PURCHASING A NEW FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLING IT MYSELF BUT HAVE NO WAY TO REPROGRAM THE PCM TO HELP PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I WILL ALSO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT IT BEFORE REPLACING THE FAN ASSEMBLY AS ASKED BY FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR