YearToAvoid

2009 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

15/100

#18 most-complained of 21 F-150 years

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

The 2009 Ford F-150 has 324 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 15 out of 100 — #18 highest of 21 F-150 model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (97 complaints, 30% of the total). Complaints report 28 crashes, 8 fires, and 21 injuries.

Complaints
324
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
28 / 8
Injuries / deaths
21 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2009 Ford F-150 problems

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

  1. Engine97 (30%)
  2. Electrical System55 (17%)
  3. Structure & Body46 (14%)
  4. Brakes41 (13%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain33 (10%)
  6. Steering29 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires23 (7%)
  8. Fuel System22 (7%)
  9. Other15 (5%)
  10. Airbags12 (4%)
2009 Ford F-150 complaints: complaints filed per quarter202009 Q12011 Q12013 Q22015 Q22017 Q22019 Q32021 Q32024 Q2
381 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2010 Q1 (20).

2009 Ford F-150 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 11V049000Feb 1, 2011Structure & Body280,946 vehicles

    Structure:body:door

    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.

    Risk: In the event of a side impact crash, the door handle spring can fail causing the door latch to open.

    Remedy: 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 activation for replacement of the affect module. Once parts become available, owners will be renotified and instructed to take their vehicles to a ford or lincoln/mercury dealer for inspection of each interior door handle. Depending on the results of the inspection, the dealer will either add a spring embossment reinforcement or replace the interior door handle module free of charge. The safety recall began on february 10, 2011. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.

  2. NHTSA 09V150000May 5, 2009Electrical System8,735 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    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 result in a delay in brake stop lamp illumination when the brake pedal is depressed. In situations of very mild brake application, the brake stop lamps may not illuminate.

    Risk: Delay or loss of brake stop lamp function may increase the risk of an accident.

    Remedy: 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. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332 or through the internet at www.ownerconnection.com.

2009 Ford F-150 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19 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 F-150 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
2007Best5488215
2008Best10369115
2009Best15324216
2010Good40843116
2011Avoid852,189617

All Ford F-150 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Ford F-150 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Ford F-150 ranks #18 of 21 among F-150 model years (Complaint Index 15/100, verdict: Best). It has 324 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford F-150?
The most reported problem areas are engine (97 complaints), electrical system (55 complaints), and structure & body (46 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 50,800 miles.
Does the 2009 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 Ford F-150, most recently reported 2011, covering structure & body and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Ford F-150?
EPA rates the 2009 Ford F-150 at 16 MPG combined (14 city / 19 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.