YearToAvoid

2009 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#21 most-complained of 21 Explorer years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Ford Explorer has 33 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #21 highest of 21 Explorer model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (9 complaints, 27% of the total). Complaints report 5 crashes and 5 injuries.

Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 19.5 hwy

Top 2009 Ford Explorer problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine9 (27%)
  2. Other7 (21%)
  3. Structure & Body5 (15%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (15%)
  5. Brakes3 (9%)
  6. Electrical System3 (9%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain3 (9%)
  8. Airbags2 (6%)
  9. Fuel System2 (6%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (6%)
2009 Ford Explorer complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2009Sep 2010Mar 2012Sep 2014Sep 2016Nov 2017Jul 2018Jan 2021
45 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2009 to Apr 2021; peak Aug 2011 (3).

2009 Ford Explorer recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2009 Ford Explorer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19.5 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,050
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Explorer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Best15208115.5
2008Best10148115.5
2009Best033016
2010Good45115116
2011Caution701,197619.5

All Ford Explorer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Ford Explorer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Ford Explorer ranks #21 of 21 among Explorer model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 33 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Explorer?
The most reported problem areas are engine (9 complaints), structure & body (5 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 77,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2009 Ford Explorer in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Ford Explorer?
EPA rates the 2009 Ford Explorer at 16 MPG combined (14 city / 19.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,050. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.