NHTSA Complaint #10744648 — 2009 FORD FLEX

WE BOUGHT OUR USED FLEX IN MARCH 2015, AND INITIALLY LOVED IT. ONCE HOT WEATHER HIT AND WE NEEDED TO USE THE AC, WE NO LONGER LOVE THIS CAR. WHEN SITTING STILL AT A RED LIGHT, THE AIR CONDITIONER IMMEDIATELY FAILS AND BEGINS TO BLOW WARM AIR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. AS I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE IT FOR THE REPAIR, I BECAME USED TO TURNING OFF THE AIR AT EVERY INTERSECTION. LAST WEEKEND (JULY 25, 2015), WE WERE STUCK IN VERY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC ON THE PARKWAY - GOING NO MORE THAN 10MPH AT MOST FOR APPROX. 30 MINS, SO OF COURSE WE HAD TO TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF IN THE 90+ DEGREE HEAT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NORMALLY RUNS AROUND THE HALF WAY POINT. IT WAS NOT A GRADUAL RISE, BUT A SUDDEN ONE TO WHERE THE GAUGE WAS PEGGED AT "H" AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE HAD A CAR FULL WITH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF, AND 4 CHILDREN - IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC IN THE MIDST OF CONSTRUCTION. WE TURNED THE HEAT UP TO 90 AND TURNED THE FANS FULL BLAST TO RELIEVE SOME HEAT OF THE ENGINE. THAT WAS NOT PLEASANT WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ALREADY OVER 90! ONCE WE CLEARED THE CONSTRUCTION AND GOT BACK TO REGULAR SPEED, THE GAUGE DROPPED BACK TO NORMAL LIKE NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED. WE'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT SINCE, AND FOUND THAT THE FANS ON THE RADIATOR NEVER KICK ON. EVER. DURING NORMAL OPERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS HOT, IT SHOULD KICK OFF AND ON OFTEN. THE FANS NEVER COME ON. THIS IS A HUGE AND DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR! THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN A RECALL AND TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD. THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO BE A "CHEAP" FIX. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES AND COVER SUCH A MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST A FEW CARS.