NHTSA Complaint #10544216 — 2009 FORD FLEX

WHILE DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY YOUNGEST SON, MY CAR SUDDENLY DECELLERATED AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR'S ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. FOURTUNATLY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO AN EXIT RAMP. THE RAMP HAD A WALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FAST EXITING TRAFFIC ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I COULD NOT SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE IN THIS LOCATION. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR ENOUGH TO MOVE IT TO A SAFER LOCATION 30-40 YARDS OFF THE EXIT (WHERE THE CAR AGAIN DIED). THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON EITHER MY TEMP GUAGE OR ANY WARNING LIGHTS THAT THE ENGINE HAD OVERHEATED TO THE POINT OF A CRACKED HEAD/BLOCK. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, FORD WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE COOLING FANS NOT WORKING AND HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 12B36 IN PLACE. I NEVER HEARD OF THE PROGRAM UNTIL THIS WEEK (9/18/13). I SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED AS AN OWNER OF THIS POORLY ENGINEERED VEHICLE THAT IT HAD SUCH AN UNSAFE DEFECT. SINCE I WAS 40K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY FORD'S SOLUTION WAS FOR ME TO BUY A NEW ENGINE AT THE COST OF $8000. I HAVE BEEN SAVING UP FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS TO PURCHASE A USED ENGINE AND HAVE A LOCAL GARAGE INSTALL IT. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS VEHICLE PUTTING MY AND MY SON'S LIVES IN DANGER. I HOPE OTHERS WITH THIS VEHICLE DO NOT HAVE TO BE PUT IN HARMS WAY AS WELL.