Is the 2009 Ford F-150 a bad year?
324 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other F-150 years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Ford F-150 are in line with other F-150 years. Speed control stands out for this year: see below.
1st quietest of 20 F-150 years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 F-150 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 46,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 54 (17%) | 15k–72k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 46 (14%) | 40k–140k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 39 (12%) | 20k–108k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 34 (10%) | 15k–74k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 33 (10%) | 13k–80k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 29 (9%) | 36k–87k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 22 (7%) | 40k–104k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Tires | 13 (4%) | 4k–46k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 12 (4%) | 35k–54k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | 36k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 50 (15%) | 60k–150k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 12 (4%) | 50k–119k miles · ahead | — |
| Wheels | 7 (2%) | 61k–116k miles · ahead | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Seats | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 46,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 324 complaints: 28 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving 60 MPH, I left off the accelerator to slow down to 45 MPH the posted speed limit ahead. At 45 MPH, I slightly touched the accelerator to maintain the 45 MPH speed limit, the rpm's went over 4000 and would not stop.
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.
My truck stalled while entering freeway lanes. I went from 60MPH to 10MPH and was nearly read ended. The truck finally stalled just as I made it to the shoulder.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 46,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Ford F-150: 2
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. In the event of a side impact crash, the door handle spring can fail causing the door latch to open.
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. Delay or loss of brake stop lamp function may increase the risk of an accident.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 53
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Ford F-150. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area
Various vehicles equipped with a 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L modular 3 valve engine built on or before 8-Jan-2016 may exhibit symptoms that may include upper end engine…
4R75E Transmission Grinding/Whine/Vibration/Gear Slippage Serrvice Kit available
Ford/lincoln/mercury: failure of planetary gear assembly is due to transmission, on certain vehicles, exhibiting grinding, gear slippage, whine type noise…
Neighbouring years
2008 F-150: 369 complaints, keep it · 2010 F-150: 841 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford F-150 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All F-150 years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Ford F-150 a bad year?
324 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other F-150 years. At 46,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford F-150?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: speed control (54), electrical system (46), brakes (39), body structure (34), transmission and drivetrain (33).
How many recalls does the 2009 Ford F-150 have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 11V-049), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09V-150). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.