What’s the reputation good and bad of the Ford Flex?
Posted by Mac-Tyson@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 40 comments
Almost every car that was in the US market I have an understanding of. I know what other people feel about it and I’ve usually seen one in my day to day life. For some reason I have 0 understanding of the Ford Flex. I don’t know if it was a good or bad. I just learned that even existed this year and to my knowledge it’s not like the car was obscure either.
Hopeful-1@reddit
Lincoln made an equivalent but more luxurious.
Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)
What was it called?
ShoogyBee@reddit
Lincoln MKT
applestofloranges@reddit
One of the ugliest cars to ever exist. Looks like a hearse.
ShoogyBee@reddit
Agree, I prefer the Flex.
Admirable_Addendum99@reddit
I absolutely adore mine
Western_Fish8354@reddit
How do you know if they have the tow package when looking at used
Pleasant_Studio9690@reddit
If it has a class III hitch installed, it should have the towing package. My new-to-me 2013 has the hitch as well as the wiring for the lights right next to it. If the Carfax has the original window sticker, it will be listed. It was shown as a $495 option on my 2013's sticker. I think it tows up to 4500 pounds with the tow package.
Western_Fish8354@reddit
Ok thank you
Jumpy_Childhood7548@reddit
The Flex integral water pump, may cost $1800-$2400 to replace, as they have an internal, timing chain-driven water pump.
Western_Fish8354@reddit
Is there a way to make it less of a headache?
Jumpy_Childhood7548@reddit
Buy one where the work has already been done.
Western_Fish8354@reddit
Alright thank you
applesauceporkchop@reddit
Plus: Not a van or a suv Plus: 3.5 twin turbo is fast as fuck Minus: engine design dooms the engine
Western_Fish8354@reddit
So better to just engine swap lol?
leastemployableman@reddit
The boxy shape makes turning feel kind of bad amd passengers often complain of car sickness
Trifling_Ghost@reddit
You know what? That's actually true 😆 (I've owned 2 so far.) And every passenger that looks at their phone gets motion sickness. My wife and son literally cannot look at their phones lol.
SunflowerYoureTheSun@reddit
I have a 2016 and I got it in 2020. It's hands down the best and most comfortable vehicle I've ever owned.
Calf-Kick-Chupacabra@reddit
I have a 2011 Edge with the same (albeit N/A) 3.5L engine and the same stupid water pump design. I just turned 200k today with no water pump issues.
I’ve been shopping the Flex hard the past few days because I find myself in a position to need a 3rd row, but I don’t want a minivan and every other SUV is too expensive or has issues.
The Flex ticks all my boxes and they’re still really rather reasonable. TTV6 just sounds like a hoot in an odd ball family SUV.
PLUS Magnaflow still makes an exhaust kit for them. H&R makes springs. There’s a few companies with tunes for them. You could make one awfully fun for an extra $2-$3k.
Mild_Times@reddit
Have an 09 red with white roof. AWD 3.5L naturally aspirated. All the bells and whistles. Factory Sony sound system with factor sub, 4 sunroofs, leather interior. Has 240k miles on it. Regular maintenence and quality parts. Still runs as good or better than some of my new cars. Tons of room. Super comfy, unique styling. I absolutely adore my flex. Only pitfalls are the known water pump failure that is a major undertaking to fix and the rear end is blocked in by the spare tire carrier and rear K frame so if it ever needs replaced youd be happier chewing on a live powerline. All that being said.. very very reliable, zippy AWD with room for literally anything. I get looks all the time just driving a stock flex.
MisterRay24@reddit
My roomate got an extended one so he could fit his surfboard INSIDE his car. He also hates the mpg it gets...
Admirable_Addendum99@reddit
It doesn't operate on mpg it operates on smiles per gallon lolllll
Liv4thmusic@reddit
Great, great SUVS but fugly!!
SaibotMAG1@reddit
Ford Flex had an optional ecoboost engine, twin turbo V6 and AWD which was known to beat Mustangs at the drag strip.
The base V6 model probably makes for an excellent van.
69FireChicken@reddit
I have a 2012 with close to 200k on it and it's the best SUV ever. I'd buy another in a heartbeat, I've been looking for a 2019 with under 50k miles for years. As far as high mileage cars go I have had great luck with mine but I wouldn't buy one with over a hundred just because I don't buy cars that way. I wish Ford still made them.
Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)
It’s funny you mention that since I looked out of curiosity and there’s actually a new listing for one. 2019 under 50K miles: https://www.edmunds.com/ford/flex/2019/vin/2FMGK5C89KBA34538/?radius=25
athensslim@reddit
I just hit the link: “Vehicle not available”. They don’t stay in dealer inventory for long.
Mac-Tyson@reddit (OP)
Yeah same I don’t buy cars over 100k Miles
MaximumDerpification@reddit
2 friends of mine have been driving them for like a decade, they both love it
Any_Honeydew9812@reddit
i want one SO bad .. a red limited with a white roof please and thank you.
but that ecoboost can be a bit of a time bomb sadly.. weird internal water pump likes to fail, timing chain issues too i think.
all that being said - you can slap a tune onto it and make 500 horsepower on stock internals... and that kinda sounds fun as fuck
hazmatt24@reddit
My BIL had one and did a 12.3 @ 112 with a 75 shot. Thing was fast for a brick.
Any_Honeydew9812@reddit
ahaha awesome!
Bahnrokt-AK@reddit
Ahhhh…. The pimple edition
Any_Honeydew9812@reddit
3.5 ecoboost about to POP
rustbucket_enjoyer@reddit
I own one. Fucking love the thing. Comfy, tons of room, plenty of power (especially EcoBoost) and feels good to drive. Sure the styling is a matter of taste and Ford didn’t sell as many as they wanted to, but those who like this car like it a lot. It has two major weak points:
1) is that Ford designed the transverse version of the Cyclone V6(Flex, Taurus, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Mazda CX-9, others) with a water pump inside the block driven by the timing chain. You have to remove the timing chain to get to it. And this pump has seals that eventually will fail, leading to the chocolate milk-ification of your oil. You can change it preemptively or keep an eye on the coolant level/the ground under the alternator area.
2) For the first few years on the AWD models, Ford didn’t put a drain port on the transfer case. They just told people it was filled with “lifetime fluid”. Turns out this was causing failures because the fluid actually does need to be changed every so often. From the ‘13 MY onward there was a drain and fill port. As long as you occasionally change it, you’re fine.
CarLover014@reddit
The main thing that's bad with them is the transverse-mounted engine. Because there's no room (there is room though), Ford had to relocate the water pump to be driven internally by the timing chain instead of being driven externally by the serpentine belt.
This makes replacing the water pump difficult because all the engine accessories and timing cover have to come off just to get to it. Where vehicle with serpentine belt driven water pumps typically are a 2 hour job and may cost $500 for parts and labor, on these, you're pretty doing a full timing job since the engine is torn down this far. Many places charge $2500-3000 to replace them.
Even worse, because Ford for some reason has never been able to design a reliable water pump, when it does fail, it will leak coolant right into the crankcase which will cause it's own wide range of issues. This usually will happen somewhere in the 125k-200k mile range.
39percenter@reddit
I love the styling. Finding a nice, used example for sale isn't easy.
Any_Honeydew9812@reddit
so true.
the ones that survive will 100% be collectable/desirable classic cars someday
machetemonkey@reddit
My cousin says it’s the ugliest car ever made; she despises the overgrown-wagon/not-quite-SUV aesthetic and thinks that “wood paneling is the only conceivable way it could be less appealing”
…she also says it’s the best family car she’s ever owned, and when hers died she immediately replaced it with another.
awqsed10@reddit
3.5/3.7 v6 are shit engines with bad water pump design. Other than that they're not bad.