2010 Ford Flex fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My 2010 Ford Flex began inadvertently surging forward in acceleration without me making it do this exactly 3 months after I purchased the vehicle. The Ford Dealer was unable to re-produce the problem on several occasions and said my vehicle was fine. No error messages reported in the computer. This has continued to happen sporadically since ownership. I have had another Ford Dealership (as well as an independent mechanic) try and reproduce and diagnose the problem with no luck. Several weeks ago I was driving my vehicle in my residential neighborhood when all of a sudden my car surged forward with great acceleration with no warning. I had to swerve into a driveway and cut the vehicle off to get the vehicle under control. I am 82 and have a heart condition. This safety issue is critical as someone could get hurt or killed. Ford has several complaints of this happening with several models. I believe it is a Ford design flaw in the vehicles electronic throttle system. Ford Corporate was put on notice of these events after the latest safety event. Please, I urge the NHTSA to issue a recall before lives are lost. I can no longer drive this vehicle as I am concerned someone is going to get hurt. It is being towed to the Ravenel Ford Dealership for inspection and diagnosis again.....

NHTSA complaint #11484426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

LEAKY FUEL TANK. STRONG SMELL OF LEAKY FUEL. WORRIED THAT VEHICLE MIGHT CATCH FIRE. TOOK IT INTO MY LOCAL OIL CHANGE PLACE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND LEAK. I CAN SEE A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON MY DRIVEWAY - ABOUT 2-3 FEET ROUND. BELIEVE FUEL TANK HAS CORRODED. BUT I AM TOLD THE TANK IS MADE OF PLASTIC. LOOKED UP 2 OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINTS WITH SIMILAR FAILURE COMPLAINTS. VEHICLE HAS 152,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11406309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SUDDEN REPEATED INTERMITTENT STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING

NHTSA complaint #11348920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE CAR'S FUEL GAUGE WILL SUDDENLY DROP TO EMPTY AND THE CAR WILL RUN OUT OF FUEL. BY DOING SOME RESEARCH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD FLEX AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE MOST RECENT WAS THIS WEEKEND WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT DIED IN TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA complaint #11287849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ACCELERATING ON INTERSTATE RAMP, VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING. IT SPUTTERS AND DIES AFTER CRANKING. WE HAD AAA TOW IT OFF THE ROADSIDE AFTER 90 MINUTES WAITING.

NHTSA complaint #11223103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2010 FORD FLEX LIMITED ECOBOOST AWD. ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITH NO LIGHTS, NOTIFICATIONS, OR WARNING. FIXED SHORT TERM BY TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND SIZE OF THE TIRES, SPECIFICALLY FOR SMALLER PEOPLE. RECALL FROM FORD FOR 2011, WILL NOT HELP AT ALL WITH A 2010 FLEX. HAS ALREADY CAUSED ONE ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO REAR DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL AFTER STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK WHILE REVERSING. FUEL PUMP ALSO NOT ENGAGING, RESULTING IN STALLS AND THE CAR NOT STARTING (NO TICKS, HUMMING, BUZZING, LIGHTS AND RADIO WORK). OVERALL, A VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION IF THEY WERE TO OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY, ESPECIALLY AT SPEED. CAR WAS PURCHASED AROUND 1 1/2- 2 MONTHS AGO. BOTH ISSUES ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT.

NHTSA complaint #11128114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS TANK LEAKS AT THE SEAM.

NHTSA complaint #11100080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

PURCHASED A PRE-CERTIFIED 2010 FORD FLEX AT VERMONT DEALERSHIP 3.07.2014 WITH A PREMIUM EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. TRAVEL BETWEEN VERMONT AND NEW YORK. APPROXIMATELY APRIL /MAY 2017 NOTICED POWERFUL SMELL OF GASOLINE AFTER FILLING VEHICLE, COULDN'T CLOSE GARAGE DUE TO SMELL AND PARKED AWAY FROM OTHERS. GARAGE REPLACED ROTTED FILL NECK YOKE 5.12.2017. PROBLEM SEEMED TO ABATE BUT PERSISTED , NOW IN GARAGE AND EXTENSIVE WORK TO DROP GAS TANK WHERE THE METAL FLANGE CONNECTING FUEL LINE AND PUMP TO THE TANK IS TOTALLY CORRODED. THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES FOR SALT CORROSION FROM ROAD SALT TO THE FUEL TANK CAUSING DANGEROUS LEAKS. I COULD HAVE BLOWN UP AND MY HOME FROM THIS !! THAT RECALL TARGETS NORTHERN STATES SUCH AS THE ONE I PURCHASED MY CAR INCLUDING VERMONT AND NEW YORK RECALL NUMBER 15S3. NO FIRE AS A) I WAS VERY LUCKY B) IT'S IN THE GARAGE WITH A HUGE BILL.

NHTSA complaint #11041464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ABRUPTLY AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED. THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED 62 MILES BEFORE EMPTY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE ISSUE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10945140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS TANK WILL NOT FILL PROPERLY, WHEN CALLED DEALER, WAS TOLD THERE ARE "PROBABLY SPIDERS IN THE GAS TANK, THEY GET INTO THE FILTER AND BUILD WEBS AND CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, WILL COST YOU $275.00 FOR US TO CHECK, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, THIS HAPPENS OFTEN WITH THE CAPLESS GAS TANKS".

NHTSA complaint #10662145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WE HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY TWO TIMES THE GAUGE WILL SAY 70 MILES TO EMPTY AND 30 SECONDS LATER GOES TO ZERO THE CAR RUNS OUT IF GAS IN THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR I HAVE ALSO RUN OUT OF GAS ON THE STREET I TOOK IT AND PAY $200 TO A MECHANIC WHO IS NOT ABLE TO FIX IT THE FORD DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT RECOMMENDED A $700 FUEL SENDING UNIT HOWEVER THEY WERE UNSURE IF THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE A TIME HASSLE AND VERY STRESSFUL ON A FOUR-YEAR-OLD CAR THAT I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I GO TO FILL UP THE TANK THE GAS TANK ISN'T ACTUALLY EMPTY EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS IT IS AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10643819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ORIGINAL OWNER 2010 FORD FLEX, ECOBOOST ENGINE: SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH SHUDDERING AND STALL IN FAST LANE; UP HILL WHILE PASSING AT SPEED, 60MPH TO 20MPH IN SECONDS CAUSING NEAR COLLISION FROM BEHIND. ENGINE WOULD NOT RECOVER, 20MPH IN FAST LANE WITH SEMI'S AND SPEEDING TRAFFIC, NO PULL-OFF AREA. CLEAR DRY DAY, TEMPERATURE AROUND 55 DEGREE. NOT THE FIRST TIME ENGINE SHUDDERING EXPERIENCED, BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS. ALWAYS OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION (PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR PASSING, ETC.). BEGAN TO NOTICE LOSS OF POWER, WHINING AND GRINDING NOISES FROM TURBOS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO; SUBSEQUENT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BOTH TURBO CHARGERS WITH BILLOWING BLACK SMOKE AND OIL DRIPPING FROM EXHAUSTS. 38K MILES, GARAGE KEPT, ALL SERVICE POINTS MAINTAINED, DRIVEN LIKE GRANDMOTHER SINCE NEW. FIST THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT 18K MILES, NOW ENGINE FAILURE AT 38K. DO SOMETHING NTSB BEFORE THESE VEHICLES KILL SOMEONE!

NHTSA complaint #10556609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE FUEL TANK WHEN HE OVERFLOW VALVE FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SPORADICALLY, THE VALVE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO BE FILLED TO CAPACITY AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO FILL THE TANK, IT WOULD OFTEN TAKE APPROXIMATLEY 30 MINUTES TO FILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA complaint #10550357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2010 FORD FLEX 2000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING @ 35 MILES PER HOUR , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STALLED. GAS ACCELERATOR WAS INOPERABLE. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO DRIVE INTO A PARKING LOT CLOSE BY AND BRING CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT. CAR TURNED ON AFTER THE 5TH ATTEMPT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISAPPEARED. THE 1ST OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THIS 2ND OCCURRENCE IT TOOK AWHILE. THEREFORE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ( NORTH PARK LINCOLN FORD IN SAN ANTONIO, TX )ON 06/09/10 AND OBD CAME BACK WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT FORD ENGINEER WAS ON PROPERTY AND COULD NOT FIND THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.. CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA complaint #10335733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

POST RE: FLEX DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THURS JUN 11, 2009 6:07 PM THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY MOM WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING HERS THROUGH A PARKING LOT, IT JUST STALLED OUT! SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE SAME DAY AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SINCE THEN IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HOPE YOU HAVE BETTER LUCK WITH YOUR DEALER FINDING THE PROBLEM. !@#$%!!!!!!!! IT HAPPENED TO ME TODAY!!!!!!! I WAS ON MY WAY TO A MEETING THIS MORNING AND AS I WAS GOING INTO A CURVE THE CAR DIED!!! KAPUT! DEAD! NO BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING!!!! THANK GOD THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE I WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE OTHER LANE. AND, THANK GOODNESS I HAD READ THIS POST A WHILE AGO SO I KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I TWISTED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE RIGHT AND ROLLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT. IT STARTED LIKE NOTHING. I CALLED MY SA WHO OBVIOUSLY SUGGESTED I BRING THE CAR OVER RIGHT AWAY, WHICH I DID. I ALSO TOLD HIM ABOUT THIS POST AND RICHMONDFLEX'S NOTE ON THE TSB (THANKS BUD!). SINCE I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR, I'M ALSO HAVING THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKE PROBLEM, WHICH IS BACK. THAT WAS A SCARY MOMENT THIS MORNING!!!! POST RE: FLEX DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FRI JUN 12, 2009 3:23 PM IN ANOTHER POST I THOUGHT OUR STEERING LOCKED UP, BUT AFTER TALKING TO MY WIFE, THE SAME STALL HAPPENED TO US (LONG STORY ON THE ACTUAL EVENT). TOTALLY FREAKED HER OUT TO THE POINT SHE WOULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR. I LOOKED UP ON LINE TO SEE IF THE CAR HAD ANY TSBS AND IT STATED WE DIDN'T. I STILL TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (NOT THE ONE WE BOUGHT IT FROM) AND HAD THEM LOOK IT UP AND LO AND BEHOLD THERE IT WAS. THEY SAY THE ISSUE OCCURS AT LESS THAN 10 MPH. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER (IT TOOK 45 MINUTES) AND SAID I SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO. FOR THOSE THAT JUST HAD IT HAPPEN OR HAVE YET TO HAVE IT HAPPEN, GO TO YOUR DEALER, IF NOTHING ELSE FOR THE PEACE OF MIND. MY CAR HAS 2K MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10306377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.