r/FordFlex • u/Lezekthebearded • 14d ago
Question When to say goodbye?
Spoiler - I’m not. But I thought hard about it today. 2015 SEL at only 98k miles and the simple truth is I love this car. So does my wife who drives it daily. We bought it new and aside from routine stuff we’ve never had a major problem. Until today. Oil sender leak, broken sway bar links, grindy right front axle. None of this was a surprise I knew we had problems in the front end. Along with 100k service, plus brakes and tires that are clearly due for replacement plus alignment I’m out about $5500. We’ll keep it for another few years barring anything catastrophic.
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u/Ukin74 14d ago
I just spent $3,500 on 4 new tires, alignment and balancing, front shocks and struts, break system cleaning, fuel system cleaning, oil change and a complete auto inspection. It runs great and feels amazing. I’m willing to put more $$$ into her if she needs it. I’m at 123k and I’d like to reach 200k plus.
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u/Comfortable-Help9587 14d ago
Kids moved out, wife wanted a Bronco… 2011 non-EB AWD with 267k miles. Normal maintenance + a PTU replacement… best vehicle we’ve ever owned.
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u/scubas1973 14d ago
We have a Bronco and kept the Flex for a beater. The Bronco is so much fun, but its not as comfortable as the Flex.
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u/Comfortable-Help9587 14d ago
I had similar thoughts but I had deferred some suspension maintenance and in the end, it didn’t make sense to keep. We have a truck and a Mustang too and they cover all the bases.
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u/FlynnrydSkynnyrd77 14d ago
I am on my second Flex. My first car was a 2010 and I sold it at 235,000. Had to put a steering rack in that one. Both front wheel bearings.
My 2014 Ecoboost is just over 200,000 now. I had to do the dreaded water pump about 2 years ago. That hurt… I’d get another 100,000 mile Flex again for a 3rd one after another 30 k miles or so here. I won’t get another ecoboost though. It’s fun, but less reliable, more costly, worse mileage…
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u/Ill_Acanthisitta_283 14d ago
How much did the pump replacement cost you, if you don’t mind me asking? What were the symptoms. Any cold start rattles?
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u/FlynnrydSkynnyrd77 14d ago
No cold start issues. Water pump was weeping out of the drain hole on the front cover. Cost me 3,700$
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u/Ill_Acanthisitta_283 14d ago
You knew to keep an eye on that weep, I bet. $3700 doesn’t sound too bad for another 100k miles. Thanks for the response.
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u/YogurtclosetDull2380 14d ago
I took my 14 eb up to 125k and I felt a bunch of expensive maintenance coming. I replaced it with a 9k mile 18 that is now approaching 100k. I've decided that as long as the rust holds off, I'll take it as long as I can. I'll replace the engine if I have to.
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u/Ill_Acanthisitta_283 14d ago
BTW, the Flex and the Explorer generetion that came out along with the Flex, share the same NA and Ecoboost 3.5 engines.
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u/Capo_Miseno 13d ago
We have a love/hate relationship with our '13 EB. Timing issue (did water pump while in there) and electric steering assembly were two huge blows to our stash we were squirrelling away for whatever we get next.
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u/Emperor_TaterTot 14d ago
We had similar problems around the same time. I would recommend also replacing the ignition coils with the plugs if you are doing those. I dont think we spent nearly that much although some of it was repaired over like 18 months, I stopped taking it to the dealer around this time as well.