2009 Ford Ranger Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Ford Ranger has a complaint index of 63 and ranks 7th worst out of 17 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 85% of its 169 complaints, backed by 7 recalls including 3 do-not-drive campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 63/100
- #7 of 17 Ranger years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 169
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 7
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17.5
- 15.5 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 1
Top 2009 Ford Ranger problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags144 (85%)
- Engine8 (5%)
- Brakes6 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (2%)
- Other3 (2%)
- Steering3 (2%)
- Structure & Body3 (2%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (2%)
- Electrical System2 (1%)
- Fuel System2 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Driver's side airbag failed to deploy during a frontal crash at low speed, leaving the driver with back and neck injuries.
- Front right suspension component reportedly snapped at highway speed after the truck had pulled slightly to the right on a prior trip.
- New tires blew out at very low mileage, with the sidewall reportedly failing on a highway drive.
- Steering vibrated excessively at various speeds shortly after purchase, with the dealer calling it normal.
- Engine idle speed reportedly refused to drop until the truck came to a complete stop, forcing heavy brake use.
- Doors froze shut in cold weather shortly after purchase, with owners citing a possible seal design issue.
2009 Ford Ranger recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V158000Mar 10, 2021Airbags2,602,668 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- NHTSA 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Airbags1,067 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
- NHTSA 18V046000Jan 11, 2018Airbags327,796 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
2009 Ford Ranger fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 17.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,700
- 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 Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Ford Ranger a good year to avoid?
- It carries a Caution verdict, not Avoid. Its complaint index of 63 ranks it 7th worst among 17 model years of the Ranger, worse than average but not the worst.
- What is the main problem with the 2009 Ford Ranger?
- Airbags dominate the complaint record, making up 85% of the 169 complaints filed, with a median failure mileage of 60,000 miles.
- Does the 2009 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2009 Ford Ranger, 3 of which are do-not-drive campaigns tied to airbag inflators and modules.
- How does the 2009 Ranger compare to other Ranger years?
- Its complaint index of 63 is lower than the 2008 (88, Avoid) and 2011 (75, Avoid) model years but higher than the 2010 (31, Caution) and 2007 (44, Caution) years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Ford Ranger?
- EPA rates it at 17.5 mpg combined (15.5 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700.