YearToAvoid

2009 Ford Flex Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

70/100

#4 most-complained of 11 Flex years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Ford Flex has 181 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 70 out of 100 — #4 highest of 11 Flex model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (58 complaints, 32% of the total). Complaints report 7 crashes, 2 fires, and 6 injuries.

Complaints
181
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
7 / 2
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 23 hwy

Top 2009 Ford Flex problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine58 (32%)
  2. Brakes37 (20%)
  3. Electrical System32 (18%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain23 (13%)
  5. Other20 (11%)
  6. Fuel System19 (10%)
  7. Steering18 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (9%)
  9. Structure & Body16 (9%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers7 (4%)
2009 Ford Flex complaints: complaints filed per quarter192009 Q12010 Q42012 Q32014 Q42016 Q32018 Q32020 Q22022 Q2
257 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2014 Q1 (19).

2009 Ford Flex recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V247000Apr 26, 2016Airbags695 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

2009 Ford Flex fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Flex years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Caution70181118.5
2010Caution50139118
2011Caution60144218

All Ford Flex years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Ford Flex a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Ford Flex ranks #4 of 11 among Flex model years (Complaint Index 70/100, verdict: Caution). It has 181 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Flex?
The most reported problem areas are engine (58 complaints), brakes (37 complaints), and electrical system (32 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 60,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Ford Flex have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Ford Flex, most recently reported 2016, covering airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Ford Flex?
EPA rates the 2009 Ford Flex at 18.5 MPG combined (16.5 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.