Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Ford Flex. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Air Bag Second Stage may not Inflate Properly
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (181)
181 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 181 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 19.9% |
| Electrical system | 32 | 17.7% |
| Service brakes | 32 | 17.7% |
| Power train | 23 | 12.7% |
| Steering | 18 | 9.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 9.4% |
| Unknown or other | 17 | 9.4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 8.3% |
| Structure | 12 | 6.6% |
| Electronic stability control | 10 | 5.5% |
How 2009 compares with other Flex years
Best and worst Flex years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 181 | 1 |
| 2010 | 139 | 1 |
| 2011 | 144 | 2 |
| 2012 | 64 | 2 |
| 2013 | 580 | 6 |
| 2014 | 249 | 4 |
| 2015 | 110 | 4 |
| 2016 | 98 | 3 |
| 2017 | 42 | 4 |
| 2018 | 67 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2009 Flex for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2009 Ford Flex FAQ
How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Flex have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 16V247000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2009 Ford Flex problems?
Owners filed 181 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (36), Electrical system (32), Service brakes (32) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2009 Ford Flex get?
EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 17 city, 24 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2009 Flex compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Ford Flex model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (42) and the 2013 the most (580). The 2009 drew 181. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.