So, on Monday I drove my 2011 Ford Flex from OKC to Houston, TX. I had an appointment at the Houston, TX VA and I don't fly. I've done the trip twice before in my Ford Flex without any problems.

I stayed at a hotel Monday night and on Tuesday morning I drove 5 miles to the VA. My Flex drove fine and I went to my appointment.

When I got into my Flex to drive back to OKC the Service Advanctrac message illuminated in the instrument cluster and I heard a chime right as I exited the parking lot. I drove my car another 5 miles to a parking lot. The entire time the message was illuminated and the steering wheel would occasionally pull back and forth as if one front tire had entered a rut.

I checked the Owner's Manual and it said the vehicle should be immediately serviced by a Ford Dealer whenever the Service Advancetrac message is illuminated. So, I drove another 5 miles to Russel & Smith Ford on Highway 610 in Houston, TX. Interestingly, when I shut off and restarted my Flex the Service Advancetrac message didn't return. However, the steering wheel continued to intermittently pull and I noticed that the steering wheel was at the 1100 position when I drove straight down the road.

So, to make an even longer story short I left my Flex at Russel & Smith Ford and my father drove down from Red Oak, TX to give me a ride back to OKC. We got in about 2230 last night and I had to wake up and drive the Olds to work at 0530. Of course, I didn't get a wink of sleep. I kept thinking that I should have tried to drive my Flex back from Houston (all 500 miles), or that I should have rented a car for the return trip so I could have gotten in earlier and so I would have had a different vehicle to use besides the Olds.

I'm waiting with abated breath hoping the service department calls. At the very least I'm going to drive down to Houston, TX this weekend to retrieve my Flex (hopefully it won't be too expensive), or something...

Mostly, this thread is just a rant. I've already done some reading at a Ford Flex forum on this problem. If anyone has any experience with this problem I would appreciate advice.

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles. How many miles are on the Flex?

 

So what exactly is the problem? From what I read you have a 6 year old Flex, and a service light came on.

 

It has 116XXX mile son it.

The steering wheel is now out of alignment and instead of constantly pulling to one side of the road (like a car that is out of alignment tends to do) the steering wheel intermittently pulls one direction and then the other.

I replaced the lower control arms, stabilizer bar links, front struts and rear shocks about 10XXX miles ago. It's been running fine since then. I dread that I did something wrong when I had it apart, but it was pretty straight forward. Plus, I had it aligned at a tire shop after I installed the new parts.

From what I read on the Flex forum this problem can sometimes be attributed to a bad steering wheel positioning sensor. Or, maybe I hit something on the road on Monday that damaged components under the vehicle. Who knows.

 

I have a 2010 Flex with about 80,000 miles on it. It was used when I bought it with 27,000 miles on it. It has been a really good vehicle. Mine is not all wheel drive though. The only complaint I have is a rattle in the dash that seems to be fairly common on the Flex and the mileage is not very good.

 

Dont forget to add chat-r-free oil. Only for Phords



Sorry, had to

 

My dash rattles from time to time as well. There is a TSB that addresses this. We had it done on ours when it was pretty new (less than 5k miles).

I generally get 22-24 mpg depending on my driving. I do a lot of highway driving to and from work though.

 

 

So its a POS because you maybe hit something? If its a bad sensor that's probably a 20 minute job to replace it.

 

One would hope.

Despite my rant I suppose it isn't too much a POS, otherwise I would have gotten rid of it long ago. We bought it with 4 miles on it. In addition to the suspension parts the only other thing I've done to it besides oil and brakes is new spark plugs at 60XXX miles, a transmission flush at 102XXX miles and new coolant at 95XXX miles.

 

They are great cars. I love our 2010. When its time to get another car Ill get another Flex.

DSC_1422_zpsb21506e2.jpg

 

Hope its nothing serious. How come you have to go all the way to Houston to the VA? I use a combination of the VA clinic here in Ft Worth and the Dallas VA. Even Waco is closer than Houston.

 

Could be as simple as the steering rotation sensor in the column. Three different ones depending. Turbo or not and with or with out automated parking system. $24.00 to $153.00 parts wise. Thou needs to be checked out for sure.

Bad news is it could be a steering gear/steering control module issue if you have electric p/s with parking. $1,600 aprox for the rack assy.

 

I travel to the Houston VA to receive botox injections to treat essential tremors. It's my understanding that the doctor in the neurology department at the Houston VA is the only doctor in this area of the country that has the skill or training to administer botox this way. I asked the VA to do it in OKC or Dallas but it was turned down. I don't think there are doctors that can do this treatment there, if you google botox everything that comes up is cosmetic.

http://www.essentialtremor.org/treatments/botox/

Thankfully the Flex doesn't have parking assist.

 

The self jerking wheel makes me think you have electric rack regardless of the automated parking. PM me the last 8 of our VIN. Some Flex's had a recall for steering sensor and/or a p/s module reprogram.

Of course the dealer it is at probably has already checked that.

 

I've got a 09 Flex SEL with 126K with nary a problem. 26 mpg and a great dog hauler!





TK65 - better enjoy your '10 Flex and get the goody out of it. Word from Ford is no Flex on the drawing boards after 2018. Sorry sales (240,000 total units since inception) and the fact that 25% of all sales are in California. Never caught on.

 

The VA, although inconvenient at times, can do miraculous things when required.

 

Sounds like you're steering rack may be bad. I have a 2011 ford f150 and my electric steering rack was bad. On a sharp turn in a parking lot, the advance Trac light would come on. The next key cycle, the light would go off. I didn't have an offset steering wheel though. Mine had about 70,000 miles when it happened. May be the same thing on yours. Many vehicles are now going to electric steering racks.

 

I had wondered if the rack and pinion was electric (i.e. fly by wire). Hopefully I get some news today.

 

Our 2010 Flex has over 150k now but I had to replace wheel bearing hub assemblies that prematurely went bad and re align the rear that was eating tires. Front rotors were warped changed those and now it mainly just has some groaning in the right front that may be CV or something when your moving away from a stop or backing up P-R or P - D . The wheal bearings were noisy and making god aweful road noise. Overall it has been pretty good otherwise

 

What's it doing with all that money?

 

Don't be an @$$. Go back and read the forum heading. "Discuss your Oldsmobile or other car-related topics." There are also forums devoted to non-Olds engines, non-Olds classifieds, and a general "clubhouse" forum where anything can be discussed so long as it's not politics or religion.

So, yes, it's an Oldsmobile site, but that doesn't mean that other topics can't be talked about.

 

LOL oops

 

Dave, what kind of truck do you drive? Lol

 

We had problems with our first flex, an 2009 AWD model. Once in a while the steering wheel would not return after making a right turn and the rear brake locked up once during a long trip. Since the model was new and the caliper was unique, had to wait a few weeks for a replacement. Never found out what was wrong with the steering since it started at the end of the two year lease.

Was skeptical on leasing another one, but there is no other vehicle like it out there with the same cargo area and limousine like seating - amazing leg room for even the second/third row adult passengers. We always order the SEL with AWD, tow package, vista roof, and standard 18" rims. First one had 20" rims with very low profile tires that were terrible in the snow.

We are now on our fourth Flex and any problems have all been minor. Will be ordering our fifth Flex this month. Only drawback are limited color selection. First was Ingot silver, then Kodiak brown, Ginger Ale metallic, and now Mineral Grey. Trying to decide between Magnetic metallic or White Gold for the 2017 model.

 

Own a 2011 Flex with 40,000 miles, couple issues so far. Interested in OP problem, not a problem yet with ours.

 

I'm so afraid of newer cars and all that drive by wire stuff. It's like driving a computer and I've never had a computer last more than four years before acting up. LOL

 

Industry standard is still mechanically actuated hydraulic brakes, mechanically engaged gear sets, mechanically driven with electric motor ASSISTED power steering. The only "by wire" device is the accelerator, and your neutral engage is still always there (a lever.)

I think even the pushbutton start cars will shut off in any condition by holding the button for just a bit.

 

Cool, I didn't know that.

Ok... $1400 because of damage to the passenger's side lower control arm (they're best replaced in pairs).

My wife says we are going to trade it in on another Kia so...

 

Should have drove the Soul. I take it from the wife every chance I get. Getting used to the gearing in her manual trans took a while though, quite a difference from my trucks.

65 98 convert.
84 Ford Ranger 4x
02 Dodge 2500 Diesel 4x
15 Soul

 

I disagree, there are vehicles now with a rotary select **** or push buttons which makes neutral actuation electric. Look at Hyundai, Dodge, Lincoln, Acura, Mercedes, and others.

 

We bought the 2010 used with 34,000 miles on it. Believe it or not it had never been drove in the summer. Garage kept and super clean. Ill get a used one again, because my only beef is the price of a new one. I think these cars are future collectables because of their unique looks, utility, and the EcoBoost horsepower. Dont be surprised to see used ones spike in price one Ford balances out production.

 

Yeah, I would of gotten better mileage; however, the wife would have killed me if it was her Kia that was damaged. Now I guess she gets to buy another Kia. As long as I have my Oldsmobile.

 

I have a Ford Taurus X which is built on the same platform as the Volvo XC90.
This has been an incredible 7 passenger AWD that drives great. It has 120km and the only problem I've had is an ignition coil that cost me $30 and I changed the plugs while I was at it. I believe the Flex replaced it.

 

We were just about to order a Taurus X but then the Flex was introduced. That was another great AWD wagon, with great rear seat leg room and cargo capacity. Just did not have the same ground clearance as the XC90, but still a nice wagon. Also hoped they would had increased the ground clearance on the AWD Flex.

 

I said it was standard not absolute.

 

It seems they are all moving this way, although I have not seen it on a Toyota.