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2009 Ford F-150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford F-150 are lower than the model-year median of 676.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

289 reports with mileage · 35 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports8 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

324 reports
109,000 miles · Feb 29, 2016
Service BrakesSteeringWheels

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH A REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING THE TRUCK TO TURN TO ONE SIDE. TRAVELLING A LITTLE FURTHER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I TURNED THE TRUCK AROUND AND HEADED BACK TO MY HOUSE. TWO OR THREE TIMES AGAIN A REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING A LACK OF CONTROL. IF I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAU…

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH A REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING THE TRUCK TO TURN TO ONE SIDE. TRAVELLING A LITTLE FURTHER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I TURNED THE TRUCK AROUND AND HEADED BACK TO MY HOUSE. TWO OR THREE TIMES AGAIN A REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING A LACK OF CONTROL. IF I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE CONDITION WOULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO GO SIDEWAYS.

NHTSA ODI #10838963

1,000 miles · Feb 9, 2016
Power Train

SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, TYPICALLY AFTER BEING ON HIGHWAY FOR MORE THAN 100 MILES, WHEN I ACCELERATE IT WILL HESITATE THEN SLAM INTO GEAR. THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANG THAT ACCOMPANIES IT ALONG WITH A VIOLENT SLAM TO THE ENTIRE TRUCK. FREQUENTLY HAPPENS WHEN ASCENDING HILLS.

NHTSA ODI #10825034

113,500 miles · Feb 3, 2016
Engine

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS INSTALLED DEFECTIVE FASTENERS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS OF NUMEROUS MODULAR V8 (4.6L & 5.4L) EQUIPPED F-150S. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AMONG SEVERAL F-150 OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE US AND CANADA FOR MANY MODEL YEARS. THE PROBLEM WITH THESE MANIFOLD FASTENERS (STUDS) IS THAT AFTER THE NORMAL HEAT CYCLES O…

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FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS INSTALLED DEFECTIVE FASTENERS ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS OF NUMEROUS MODULAR V8 (4.6L & 5.4L) EQUIPPED F-150S. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AMONG SEVERAL F-150 OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE US AND CANADA FOR MANY MODEL YEARS. THE PROBLEM WITH THESE MANIFOLD FASTENERS (STUDS) IS THAT AFTER THE NORMAL HEAT CYCLES OF DRIVING AND SITTING, THEY BEGIN TO DETERIORATE AT AN EXCELLED RATE. ONCE A STUD OR STUDS HAVE FAILED, ENGINE EMISSIONS LEAVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM PRIOR TO REACHING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE WAY TO REPAIR THIS IS BY REMOVING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MANIFOLDS IN ORDER TO EXTRACT THE BROKEN STUD OR STUDS AND REPLACE THEM WITH IMPROVED PARTS, IN MANY CASES THE ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO CLEARANCE ISSUES. NOT ONLY IS THIS ISSUE VERY COSTLY TO THE CONSUMER AND THE ENVIRONMENT IT IS ALSO AN ARDUOUS PROCESS TO BE REPAIRED EVEN BY SOMEONE THAT IS MECHANICALLY INCLINED. MY 2009 F-150 CURRENTLY HAS THIS SAME ISSUE. EVIDENCE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM FOR ALMOST A DECADE: SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: 17320 COMPONENT(S): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10008169

NHTSA ODI #10824124

143,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Air BagsCrash

WE WERE DRIVING ON A FM ROAD IT WAS PITCH BLACK THAT NIGHT AND CAME UP A HILL AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WAS A BIG BLACK COW, I SWEREVED TO TRY AND MISS IT AND NOT HIT IT HEAD ON BUT CLIPPED ITS BEHIND ON THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL, THE NEXT THING I KNOW THE CAB IS FULL OF SMOKE AND SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING, SO I GO TO …

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WE WERE DRIVING ON A FM ROAD IT WAS PITCH BLACK THAT NIGHT AND CAME UP A HILL AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WAS A BIG BLACK COW, I SWEREVED TO TRY AND MISS IT AND NOT HIT IT HEAD ON BUT CLIPPED ITS BEHIND ON THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL, THE NEXT THING I KNOW THE CAB IS FULL OF SMOKE AND SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING, SO I GO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND KILLED IT MADE SURE EVERYONE WAS OK AND WENT TO THE ER TO GET MY CHILDREN CHECKED OUT, UNKNOWN WHY THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY

NHTSA ODI #10823416

17,400 miles · Jan 1, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WAS MOTION. MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE 93. DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE PEDAL DID NOT COME BACK, BUT RATHER WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. I WAS FORCED TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO A STOP. AF…

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VEHICLE WAS MOTION. MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE 93. DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO HIGHWAY SPEED. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE PEDAL DID NOT COME BACK, BUT RATHER WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. I WAS FORCED TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO A STOP. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I RESTARTED THE TRUCK AND IT WAS FINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE 4.6L 3-VALVE PER CYLINDER V-8 ENGINE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL OR ANY POWER OPTIONS. I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS AFTER READING OVER 100 REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THE MANUFACTURER DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA ODI #10817317

77,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMAT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 02/04/16*LJ UPDATED 02/29/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10809105

81,000 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Engine

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK DUE TO BROKEN EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO HEAD BOLTS. ON COLD START THERE IS A MODERATELY LOUD EXHAUST LEAK THAT DIMINISHES AS THE ENGINE HEATS UP. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED WHEN FIRST NOTICED.

NHTSA ODI #10808309

75,000 miles · Nov 25, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE EXPRESS WAY, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE TRUCK TOOK OFF, ACCELERATING AS IF IT WAS BEING FLOORED!. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ENGINE STILL CONTINUED TO REV ITSELF AND ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A STUCK FLOOR MAT BUT NOTHING WAS IN THE WAY. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND POPPED…

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TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE EXPRESS WAY, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE TRUCK TOOK OFF, ACCELERATING AS IF IT WAS BEING FLOORED!. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE ENGINE STILL CONTINUED TO REV ITSELF AND ACCELERATE. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A STUCK FLOOR MAT BUT NOTHING WAS IN THE WAY. I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND POPPED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL. THIS STOPPED THE ENGINE FROM REVVING ITSELF AND ACCELERATING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE! THANK GOD I DID NOT SMASH INTO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI #10806706

78,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL ATTACHMENT BOLT WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL L. IT POPPED OFF ITS SETTING AND FELL ON MY LAP. MAKING STEERING IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO ALIGN THE WHEEL AND SHOVEBIT BACK IN PLACE UNTIL I COULD GET VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ONLY THING…

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THE STEERING WHEEL ATTACHMENT BOLT WORKED ITS WAY LOOSE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL L. IT POPPED OFF ITS SETTING AND FELL ON MY LAP. MAKING STEERING IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO ALIGN THE WHEEL AND SHOVEBIT BACK IN PLACE UNTIL I COULD GET VEHICLE STOPPED. THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED AN SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS THE GOOD ALIGNMENT OF MY TIRES AND LUCKILY I GOT THE WHEEL LINED UP AND ON WITHIN A SECOND.

NHTSA ODI #10789937

92,273 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,273.

NHTSA ODI #10788584

Official recalls

2

11V049000 · Structure:body:door

Feb 1, 2011

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

09V150000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

May 5, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.