Complaints
49
per 10K Sold
9.4
US Sales
52,190
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
7
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2009 Ford Explorer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#15 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:50,750 mi
Crash-related:1
#24 complaints
Engine Problems
Crash-related:1
#33 complaints
Wheel Issues
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Ford Explorer.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 1 | — | 50,750 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,750
Engine Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Ford Explorer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Explorer Years
2009 Ford Explorer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Ford Explorer reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Ford Explorer has 49 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 5 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Ford Explorer?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (5 complaints, avg 50,750 mi); Engine Problems (4 complaints); Wheel Issues (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Ford Explorer?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 50,750 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Ford Explorer include 8 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2009 Ford Explorer as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2009 Ford Explorer?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2009 Ford Explorer
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99