2009 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2009 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2009 Ford Explorer. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2009 Ford Explorer have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 75,954 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Transmission went out while driving on expressway speed limit was75 MPH on cruise control”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 19, 2021 · Unknown or other
“My car has AIRBAG light on and i have constant problems with the fuel system, and a few electrical problems.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 24, 2021 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2009 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 4WD, Explorer Sport Trac 2WD, Explorer Sport Trac 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–15 / 19–21 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/4.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Automatic 6-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2009 Ford Explorer
How do I know if my 2009 Ford Explorer has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.