2009 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
400 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Ford F-150, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 51,500 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2009 Ford F-150 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2009 sits among all F-150 years
What owners report
“Abs module defective in the truck, power steering going out. Rpm modole not working.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 F-150
“Two separate times driving in motion while pressing down the accelerator, the car jumps to 6000+ rpm and would not slow down or respond to brakes. The only way to stop was to force truck into neutral and turn off engine coasting to a stop.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 F-150
“Spark plug blows out of heads at 80774 miles prior to first tune up interval. Could of caused a engine fire.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 F-150
“While traveling to work brakes went all the way down to the floor and then my abs & brake check system light came on has not turned off. Truck is not safe to drive”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 F-150
“Exterior door handle must be pulled several times before door opens. Delays entry into vehicle, both sides affected. No difference noticed with vehicle running or prior to starting. This has been happening for a long time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 F-150
“Random downshift to first gear while traveling down the highway at 70mph resulting in wheel lock-up and engine redline.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 F-150
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 338 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 55,715 miles. Half of those reports fall between 21,858 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 F-150 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 18, 2008, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2009. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HOUSING EMBOSSMENT RETAINING THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SPRING MAY FRACTURE DURING NORMAL USAGE RESULTING…
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE INITIALLY NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A FORD OR LINCOLN/MERCURY DEALER IF ANY INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IS LOOSE OR FAILS TO RETURN TO THE STOWED POSITION AFTER…
FORD IS RECALLING 8,735 MY 2009 F-150 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY BE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED. THIS MAY…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH REMOVED AND REINSTALLED WHICH WILL PROVIDE PROPER ADJUSTMENT. THE REMEDY WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 13, 2009.…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 2009 Ford F-150 drew 400 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (1997).
What are the most common 2009 Ford F-150 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Ford F-150 are electrical (59 complaints), speed control (54), and engine (52).
At what mileage do 2009 Ford F-150 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Ford F-150 problems around 55,715 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 21,858 and 100,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Ford F-150 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.