2009 Ford F-150 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Ford F-150. Part of Generation 12 — 2009–2014.

20082010
Complaints
397
per 10K Sold
9.6
US Sales
413,625
Crashes
34
Fires
8
Injuries
24
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2009 Ford F-150 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#152 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:49,389 mi
Crash-related:8
#241 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:83,299 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:4
#341 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:103,608 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Ford F-150.

Unintended Acceleration
52
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
49,389
Electrical Faults
41
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Avg Miles
83,299
Engine Problems
41
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
103,608
Steering Defects
29
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
65,619
Brakes
25
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
86,614
Transmission / Drivetrain
23
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
74,561
Body Structure
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
47,778
Fuel System
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
72,462
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
70,288
Headlight/Taillight Failures
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
35,650
Hydraulic Brakes
11
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
43,205
Tire Defects
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
38,985
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,371
Gasoline Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
40,944
Seat-Related Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
28,316
Wheel Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
68,852
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
93,950
Structural Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
26,683
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
129,970
Latches / Locks
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wiring & Fuses
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Ford F-150

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~280,946 vehicles.

11V049000Structure:body:door
~280,946 affected

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 IN INSUFFICIENT SPRING FORCE TO RETURN THE HANDLE TO THE FULLY STOWED POSITION.

Other Ford F-150 Years

2009 Ford F-150 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Ford F-150 has 397 NHTSA complaints, 34 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 52 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (52 complaints, avg 49,389 mi); Electrical Faults (41 complaints, avg 83,299 mi); Engine Problems (41 complaints, avg 103,608 mi). 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 F-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,885 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 F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Ford F-150 include 34 crash-related reports, 8 fire reports, 24 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 F-150 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 280,946 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Ford F-150?
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 F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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