Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Ford flex. The contact owned the vehicle for less than two months and stated that the steering u joint, wheel bearings, and engine failed. The dealer (car nation, 317 south philadelphia blvd, aberdeen, md 21001, (410) 995-8888) stated that the vehicle could not be repaired since the contact put 1,000 miles on the vehicle. The manufacturer had not been contacted. The…
2009 Ford Flex steering problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 18 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Ford Flex, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Ford Flex steering system exhibits multiple distinct failure modes that owners describe as severe safety hazards. The most alarming is sudden, complete engine shutdown while driving—dropping power steering and power brakes simultaneously. Owners report this at various speeds with no warning lights; in one case, the dealer found a binding throttle body after the owner forced extended diagnostics. Throttle body replacement fixed that instance, but other owners describe the same scenario with dealers unable to pinpoint a cause.
Power steering loss at low speeds is another repeated complaint. The wheel locks up hard or becomes unresponsive, especially in parking lots and slow turns, while functioning normally at highway speeds. Dealers have replaced racks, pumps, and belts without resolution in some vehicles.
Tie rods snap during normal driving—one owner's spouse heard a pop while turning at low speed and lost all steering control, hitting a parked car. Investigation revealed an inch of play in the tie rod from improper factory installation. Owners also report wheels seizing intermittently, steering wheels turning themselves at speed, and a subframe that broke at 24,000 miles. One vehicle exhibited constant steering vibration from day one through 58,000 miles despite five brake and wheel replacements; the dealer ultimately admitted it was a lemon but would not replace it.
Same Ford Flex steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stall/shutdown with loss of power steering and power brakes
Engine shuts down completely without warning while driving at various speeds, eliminating power steering and power brakes. Owners report the vehicle becomes extremely difficult or impossible to steer after shutdown. In at least one case, diagnostic testing revealed a binding throttle body.
When: 38,000 miles; while idling and at 30 mph while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine shutdown with all warning lights illuminating; Loss of power steering immediately upon shutdown; Loss of power brakes immediately upon shutdown; Engine restarts normally after shutdown; No fault codes detected by dealer diagnostics; Intermittent occurrence makes diagnosis difficult
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement (Part # 17T4Z-9E926-FA) resolved at least one case; one owner was told the fix would be new throttle body, reprogram computer, and clean injectors
Power steering failure at low speeds
Power steering randomly loses function, particularly at low speeds in parking lots and during turns. Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn or completely unresponsive. Function may return after a few minutes or remain failed. No warning lights or diagnostic codes appear.
When: Throughout ownership; 77,000 miles reported in one case; 30,000 miles in another
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn at low speeds; Steering wheel may become completely locked or immobile; Problem occurs especially during parking lot maneuvers and low-speed turns; Steering may function normally at highway speeds; No warning lights or fault codes; Intermittent nature; function may return temporarily
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replaced in at least one case; steering pump and belt replaced in another case without resolving the issue
Tie rod failure and improper installation
Tie rods snap or fail during normal driving, causing sudden loss of steering control. One owner reported the inner tie rod snapped while turning a corner at low speed, causing a collision. Investigation revealed the outer tie rod had excessive play (1 inch) due to improper factory installation.
When: 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden inability to steer while turning; Audible popping sound before steering failure; Excessive play in tie rod (1 inch up and down, side to side); Loss of steering control resulting in collision
Repairs/costs cited: Inner tie rod replaced after failure; improper factory installation identified as root cause
Persistent steering vibration and pulling
Vehicle exhibits constant vibration in steering from day one of ownership that never resolves despite multiple dealer visits and component replacements. Dealer attributed vibration to brakes, then wheels, then acknowledged the car as a lemon but refused to replace it.
When: From 5 miles on the odometer through 58,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle vibrates constantly from purchase; Vibration described as similar to an unbalanced washing machine; Vibration persists regardless of brake or wheel changes
Repairs/costs cited: Five sets of brake pads and rotors replaced; original 17-inch wheels replaced with 19-inch wheels and Hankook Optimo tires (12,000 miles in, tires became bald); none resolved the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner at 31,000 miles: 'Don't bring back, we can't fix... it's a lemon, go arbitrate it out, we know it's a bad car, but we can't get you a new one'
Hard steering with loss of assist and sudden loss of control
Steering suddenly becomes very stiff and loses assist without warning. In some cases, the wheel may turn by itself at speed. One owner reported the steering wheel seized while driving 60 mph. No warning lights or diagnostic codes appear.
When: Various mileages; one case at 60 mph highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely stiff and hard to turn; Complete loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel may seize entirely; Steering wheel may turn itself to the right at highway speeds; No warning lights; No diagnostic codes; Intermittent; may occur multiple times
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported this is the third time power steering has failed in their vehicle but repair history not detailed
Wheels intermittently seizing or locking
Wheels independently seize or lock up while driving at various speeds, making the steering wheel difficult or impossible to turn. Owner had to repeatedly depress accelerator to unlock the steering wheel.
When: 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wheels seize or lock intermittently; Steering wheel becomes locked and difficult to turn; Occurs at various speeds; Repeated acceleration pedal depression required to unlock steering
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer were notified; vehicle was not repaired
Rear subframe breakage
Rear subframe breaks while driving at low speed, creating a loss of control scenario. Failure occurred at relatively low mileage.
When: 24,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Part of vehicle breaks off under right rear wheel while driving 15 mph and turning left; Loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Rear subframe replacement covered under warranty; tie rod was also replaced during the repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and confirmed repair would be covered under warranty
Steering U-joint failure
Steering U-joint fails early in vehicle ownership, contributing to a cascade of early-stage failures.
When: Less than 2 months of ownership; 106,080 miles on odometer
Symptoms owners cite: Steering U-joint failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer refused repair citing 1,000 miles driven on vehicle; manufacturer was not contacted
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
My Ford flex 2009 turns on then when I go pout the car on reverse it pulls my car and makes a loud sound then I put it to drive and it does the same when I go to press the gas pedal it does not go at all. The ac turns on but it does not accelerate and the airbags light starts to turn on and off this is now . But a month ago it was drivable and when I was driving in the freeway going 70 miles the…
Was driving onto ramp and steering became harder to drive and there was a humming sound. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Ford Flex?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Ford Flex?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 30,000 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 77,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 115,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Ford/Flex.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.