Storage Compartments
Center Console
.............................................143
Overhead Console ......................................
144
Starting and Stopping the Engine
General Information ...................................
145
Ignition Switch ..............................................
145
Keyless Starting ...........................................
146
Starting a Gasoline Engine ......................
146
Engine Block Heater ...................................
149
Fuel and Refueling
Safety Precautions .......................................
151
Fuel Quality .....................................................
151
Fuel Filler Funnel Location .......................
152
Running Out of Fuel ....................................
152
Refueling .........................................................
154
Fuel Consumption ......................................
156
Engine Emission Control
Emission Law ................................................
158
Catalytic Converter .....................................
159
Transmission
Automatic Transmission ...........................
162
All-Wheel Drive
Using All-Wheel Drive ...............................
166
Brakes
General Information ....................................
173
Hints on Driving With Anti-Lock Brakes ........................................................................\
.
174
Parking Brake .................................................
174
Traction Control
Principle of Operation ................................
175
Using Traction Control ...............................
175Stability Control
Principle of Operation
................................
176
Using Stability Control ...............................
177
Parking Aids
Principle of Operation ................................
178
Rear Parking Aid ...........................................
178
Active Park Assist ........................................
179
Rear View Camera ......................................
183
Cruise Control
Principle of Operation ................................
187
Using Cruise Control ...................................
187
Using Adaptive Cruise Control ...............
188
Driving Aids
Blind Spot Information System .............
194
Cross Traffic Alert ........................................
196
Steering ...........................................................
199
Collision Warning System ........................
199
Load Carrying
Cargo Nets ....................................................
202
Roof Racks and Load Carriers ...............
202
Load Limit ......................................................
202
Towing
Towing a Trailer ...........................................
208
Trailer Sway Control ..................................
209
Recommended Towing Weights ..........
209
Essential Towing Checks ...........................
211
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels ......
214
Driving Hints
Breaking-In .....................................................
216
Economical Driving .....................................
216
Driving Through Water ...............................
217
Floor Mats .......................................................
217
3
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Table of Contents
INTERIOR MIRROR
WARNING: Do not adjust the mirror
when your vehicle is moving.
Note: Do not clean the housing or glass of
any mirror with harsh abrasives, fuel or other
petroleum or ammonia-based cleaning
products.
You can adjust the interior mirror to your
preference. Some mirrors also have a
second pivot point. This lets you move the
mirror head up or down and from side to
side.
Auto-Dimming Mirror
Note: Do not block the sensors on the front
and back of the mirror. Mirror performance
may be affected. A rear center passenger or
raised rear center head restraint may also
block light from reaching the sensor.
The mirror will dim automatically to reduce
glare when bright lights are detected from
behind your vehicle. It will automatically
return to normal reflection when you select
reverse gear to make sure you have a clear
view when backing up.
SUN VISORS Rotate the sun visor toward the side
window and extend it rearward for extra
shade.
Illuminated Vanity Mirror
Lift the cover to switch the lamp on.
MOONROOF (If Equipped)
WARNING:
Do not let children play
with the moonroof or leave them
unattended in the vehicle. They may
seriously hurt themselves. WARNING:
When closing the
moonroof, you should verify that it is free
of obstructions and make sure that
children and pets are not in the proximity
of the roof opening.
You can manually open or close the sliding
shade when the moonroof is closed. Pull
the shade toward the front of your vehicle
to close it.
The moonroof controls are located on the
overhead console and have a one-touch
open and close feature. To stop it during
one-touch operation, press the control a
second time.
88
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Windows and MirrorsE138666 E162197
12 Volt DC Power Point
WARNING: Do not plug optional
electrical accessories into the cigar lighter
socket. Incorrect use of the cigar lighter
can cause damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty, and can result in fire or
serious injury.
Note: When you switch the ignition on, you
can use the socket to power 12 volt
appliances with a maximum current rating
of 15 amps.
If the power supply does not work after you
switch the ignition off, switch the ignition
on.
Note: Do not hang any accessory from the
accessory plug.
Note: Do not use the power point over the
vehicle capacity of 12 volt DC 180 watts or
a fuse may blow.
Note: Always keep the power point caps
closed when not in use.
Do not insert objects other than an
accessory plug into the power point. This
damages the power point and may blow
the fuse.
Run the vehicle for full capacity use of the
power point.
To prevent the battery from running out of
charge:
• Do not use the power point longer than
necessary when the vehicle is not
running.
• Do not leave devices plugged in
overnight or when you park your vehicle
for extended periods. Locations
Power points may be in the following
locations:
•
Inside the center console.
• On the rear of the center console.
• In the cargo area.
• On the passenger side floor panel.
110 Volt AC Power Point
(If Equipped) WARNING:
Do not keep electrical
devices plugged in the power point
whenever the device is not in use. Do not
use any extension cord with the 110 volt AC
power point, since it will defeat the safety
protection design. Doing so may cause the
power point to overload due to powering
multiple devices that can reach beyond
the 150 watt load limit and could result in
fire or serious injury.
Note: The power point turns off when you
switch the ignition off, or when the battery
voltage drops below 11 volts.
You can use the power point for electric
devices that require up to 150 watts. It is
on the rear of the center console. Note:
Depending on your vehicle, the power
point cover may open to the right or upward.
141
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Auxiliary Power PointsE194174
CENTER CONSOLE
Stow items in the cup holder carefully as
items may become loose during hard
braking, acceleration or crashes, including
hot drinks which may spill.
Available console features include:
Front storage compartment.
A
Cup holder.
B
Center storage compartment
with auxiliary power point and
USB ports.
C
Auxiliary power point or cigar
lighter.
D
Rear storage compartment.
E
Auxiliary power point.
F
Rear climate controls.
G Second Row Center Console (If
Equipped) Cup holder.
A
Armrest.
B
Utility compartment and
refrigerator unit.
C
Console Refrigerator and Freezer
(If Equipped)
This feature operates when the vehicle is
on or in accessory mode. Limit the time of
use when the vehicle is in accessory mode
to avoid the vehicle battery running out of
charge. You should only use this feature
when the vehicle is running. 143
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Storage CompartmentsE210728 E211667 E211653
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Vehicle modifications
involving braking system, aftermarket roof
racks, suspension, steering system, tire
construction and wheel and tire size may
change the handling characteristics of your
vehicle and may adversely affect the
performance of the electronic stability
control system. In addition, installing any
stereo loudspeakers may interfere with
and adversely affect the electronic stability
control system. Install any aftermarket
stereo loudspeaker as far as possible from
the front center console, the tunnel, and
the front seats in order to minimize the risk
of interfering with the electronic stability
control sensors. Reducing the
effectiveness of the electronic stability
control system could lead to an increased
risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle
rollover, personal injury and death. WARNING:
Remember that even
advanced technology cannot defy the laws
of physics. It’ s always possible to lose
control of a vehicle due to inappropriate
driver input for the conditions. Aggressive
driving on any road condition can cause
you to lose control of your vehicle
increasing the risk of personal injury or
property damage. Activation of the
electronic stability control system is an
indication that at least some of the tires
have exceeded their ability to grip the road;
this could reduce the operator ’s ability to
control the vehicle potentially resulting in
a loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. If your electronic
stability control system activates, SLOW
DOWN.
The system automatically turns on each
time you switch the ignition on. If a fault occurs in either the stability
control or the traction control system, you
may experience the following conditions:
•
The stability and traction control light
illuminates steadily.
• The stability control and traction
control systems do not enhance your
vehicle's ability to maintain traction of
the wheels.
If a driving condition activates either the
stability control or the traction control
system you may experience the following
conditions:
• The stability and traction control light
flashes.
• Your vehicle slows down.
• Reduced engine power.
• A vibration in the brake pedal.
• The brake pedal is stiffer than usual.
• If the driving condition is severe and
your foot is not on the brake, the brake
pedal may move as the system applies
higher brake force.
The stability control system has several
features built into it to help you maintain
control of your vehicle:
Electronic Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to prevent skids or lateral slides by
applying brakes to one or more of the
wheels individually and, if necessary,
reducing engine power.
Roll Stability Control
The system enhances your vehicle ’s ability
to prevent rollovers by detecting your
vehicle ’s roll motion and the rate at which
it changes by applying the brakes to one
or more wheels individually.
176
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Stability Control
Protected Components
Fuse Amp Rating
Fuse or Relay
Number
Anti-lock brake system pump.
50A 1
5
Center console power point (without rear
park aid).
20A 1
6
Power liftgate.
30A 1
7
Moonroof.
20A 1
8
Second row console power point.
20A 1
9
Third row power seats relay.
Relay
10
Heated rear window relay.
Relay
11
Trailer tow battery charge relay.
Relay
12
Starter motor relay.
Relay
13
Cooling fan number 2 relay.
Relay
14
Fuel pump relay.
Relay
15
Not used.
-
16
110V AC power point.
30A 1
17
Front blower motor relay.
40A 1
18
Starter relay.
30A 1
19
Storage bin power point.
20A 1
20
Instrument panel power point / cigar
lighter.
20A 1
21
Third row seat module.
30A 1
22
Driver power seat.
30A 1
23
Memory module.
Trailer tow battery charge.
30A 1
24
Not used.
-
25
233
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Fuses
Using Seek, Fast Forward and
Reverse
In radio mode, select a frequency band and
press and release either button. The
system stops at the first station it finds in
that direction.
In CD mode, press and release to select
the next or previous track. Press and hold
to move quickly forward or backward
through the current track.
In satellite radio mode, press and release
to select the next or previous satellite radio
station. If you select a specific category,
such as jazz, rock or news, press to find the
next or previous station in the category you
select.
USB PORT
WARNING: Driving while distracted
can result in loss of vehicle control, crash
and injury. We strongly recommend that
you use extreme caution when using any
device that may take your focus off the
road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of your vehicle. We recommend
against the use of any hand-held device
while driving and encourage the use of
voice-operated systems when possible.
Make sure you are aware of all applicable
local laws that may affect the use of
electronic devices while driving. The USB port allows you to plug in media
playing devices, memory sticks and charge
devices, if supported.
MEDIA HUB
WARNING:
Driving while distracted
can result in loss of vehicle control, crash
and injury. We strongly recommend that
you use extreme caution when using any
device that may take your focus off the
road. Your primary responsibility is the safe
operation of your vehicle. We recommend
against the use of any hand-held device
while driving and encourage the use of
voice-operated systems when possible.
Make sure you are aware of all applicable
local laws that may affect the use of
electronic devices while driving.
The media hub may be on the instrument
panel or center console.
The media hub may contain one or more
of the following inputs:
See
USB Port (page 323).
323
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing Audio System E201595
Function
Button
Playlists
Artist
Albums
Songs
Genres
Podcasts
Audio books
Composers
This button allows you to choose a specific
letter to view within the category you are
browsing.
A-Z Jump
If available, this allows you to browse the
folders and files on your USB device.
Explore Device
USB Ports The USB ports are in the center console or
behind a small access door in the
instrument panel.
This feature allows you to plug in USB
media devices, memory sticks, flash drives
or thumb drives, and charge devices if they
support this feature. Select this option to play audio from your
USB device.
Apps
The system supports the use of certain
audio apps such as iHeartRadio through a
USB or Bluetooth enabled device.
Each app gives you different on-screen
options depending on the app's content.
See Apps (page 408).
Supported Media Players, Formats
and Metadata Information
The system is capable of hosting nearly
any digital media player, including iPod,
iPhone, and most USB drives.
Supported audio formats include MP3,
WMA, WAV, AAC, and FLAC.
Supported audio file extensions include
MP3, WMA, WAV, M4A, M4B, AAC, and
FLAC.
391
Flex (TP3) , enUSA, Edition date: 201803, Second-Printing SYNC™ 3E211463