2009 Ford Explorer: Best bet
Owners filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 22 for every 100,000 sold: 0.1× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's among the fewest of any Explorer year.
The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the seats and seat belts (31% of complaints).
- Complaint index
- 0.1×
- per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Explorer year
- Rank
- 1st of 14
- 1st = fewest complaints
- Complaints
- 13
- first five years; 22 per 100,000 sold
- Recalls
- 0
- campaigns
Photo: 2006–2010 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Problem areas
Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles- Seats and belts31% · 4 complaints
- Powertrain15% · 2 complaints
- Visibility15% · 2 complaints
- Wheels and tires15% · 2 complaints
- Engine8% · 1 complaints
- Fuel and propulsion8% · 1 complaints
- Lights8% · 1 complaints
- Speed control8% · 1 complaints
- Other15% · 2 complaints
Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.
Recalls
Check a VIN on NHTSA ›NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Ford Explorer.
A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.
Service bulletins
Ford sent NHTSA 20 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2009 Explorer. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:
- SSM 46451 · March 20172009-2017 vehicles equipped with a 6r80, 6r100, 6r140 automatic transmission have an updated main control valve body overhaul procedure.
- SSM 46412 · February 2017Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive (AWD) and built on or before 30-jun-2016 may exhibit a ticking and/or knocking…
- TSB-14-0069 · April 2014Lincoln/mercury/ford: there is fluid leaking around the transmission bulkhead connector sleeve, from the transmission.
- AS-21769 · March 2011Ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration.
- SSM 54601 · February 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code.
- SSM 52476 · April 2024All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code.
- TSB 19-2026 · February 2019Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white…
- DOR-S3J9G-11 · October 2018This SKU is a front upper ball joint.
Questions owners ask
- Is the 2009 Ford Explorer reliable?
- Owners filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 22 for every 100,000 sold: 0.1× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's among the fewest of any Explorer year. Ratings compare Explorer years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
- What are the most common 2009 Explorer problems?
- Owners' complaints most often involve the seats and seat belts (31%), the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (15%) and visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (15%). A complaint can name more than one area.
- Has the 2009 Ford Explorer been recalled?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Ford Explorer.
Sources
Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. The 2009 Ford Explorer on NHTSA.gov · How we rate