YearToAvoid

2009 Ford Taurus X Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

No verdict The 2009 Ford Taurus X has 11 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall, with a complaint index of 0, ranking better than the 2008 model year (complaint index 100). Transmission & powertrain issues make up the largest share of complaints at 36%.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
0/100
#2 of 2 Taurus X years
Verdict
No verdict
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
11
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
—
no alternative with data
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16 city / 23 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2009 Ford Taurus X problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain4 (36%)
  2. Structure & Body3 (27%)
  3. Brakes2 (18%)
  4. Steering2 (18%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (18%)
  6. Airbags1 (9%)
  7. Engine1 (9%)
  8. Other1 (9%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration or forward lurching at low speeds, sometimes resulting in a collision.
  • Some describe the transmission suddenly dropping into a lower gear or braking sensation while accelerating into traffic, then returning to normal.
  • Steering reports include the wheel becoming very hard to turn or suddenly losing power assist, with one owner linking it to a rack and pinion or gearbox failure.
  • One owner reported the engine losing power and slowing to a crawl while driving, requiring a restart to fix temporarily.
  • A driver frontal airbag failed to deploy after striking a deer at approximately 40 mph.
  • One owner reported a trailer hitch detaching while towing at 70 mph, causing the trailer to collapse.
2009 Ford Taurus X complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2013Mar 2014Nov 2015Jun 2018May 2023
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2013 to Jun 2025; peak Mar 2014 (2).

2009 Ford Taurus X recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V247000Apr 26, 2016Airbags695 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

2009 Ford Taurus X fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
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 Taurus X years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020082009
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008No verdict100153118.5
2009No verdict011118.5

All Ford Taurus X years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Ford Taurus X reliable?
NHTSA lists 11 complaints and a complaint index of 0 for the 2009 Taurus X, which ranks better (2nd of 2 model years) than the 2008 Taurus X, which has a complaint index of 100.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Taurus X?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 36% of reports, followed by Structure & Body issues at 27%, and Brakes and Steering each at 18%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2009 Ford Taurus X have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA recall 16V247000 covers a driver frontal airbag module that may not deploy properly; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do Ford Taurus X transmission problems appear?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 49,150 miles for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2009 Taurus X.
How does the 2009 Taurus X compare to the 2008 model?
The 2009 model has a complaint index of 0 versus 100 for the 2008 model, and both years share the same single recall count.

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.