2009 Ford F-150 Reliability
The 2009 Ford F-150 has 324 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and electrical system. Compared with other F-150 model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the F-150's typical year, while the 2011 drew 2,137 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
324
NHTSA owner complaints
2
Recall campaigns
28
Complaints citing a crash
8
Complaints citing a fire
2009 Ford F-150 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Speed control / throttle | 54 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 46 | 14% |
| Engine | 42 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 39 | 12% |
| Body structure | 34 | 10% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 33 | 10% |
| Steering | 29 | 9% |
| Tires | 13 | 4% |
2009 Ford F-150 recalls
2 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2009 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V150000 | May 5, 2009 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | 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… |
| 11V049000 | Feb 1, 2011 | Body structure — body / door | 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… |
How the 2009 compares with nearby F-150 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year F-150 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 492 | 7 | Engine | Solid |
| 2008 | 369 | 1 | Steering | Better year |
| 2009 (this page) | 324 | 2 | Speed control / throttle | Better year |
| 2010 | 851 | 1 | Visibility / wipers | Better year |
| 2011 | 2,137 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2009 Ford F-150
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 2 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2009 Ford F-150 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2009 Ford F-150 reliability FAQ
Is the 2009 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 2009 Ford F-150 has 324 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about speed control / throttle and electrical system. Compared with other F-150 model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the F-150's typical year, while the 2011 drew 2,137 complaints.
What are the most common 2009 Ford F-150 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Ford F-150 are speed control / throttle (54), electrical system (46), engine (42), service brakes (39). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2009 Ford F-150 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 Ford F-150, including 09V150000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch) and 11V049000 (body structure — body / door). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2009 Ford F-150 compare with the 2008 and 2010 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2008 has 369 complaints and 1 recall (better year); the 2010 has 851 complaints and 1 recall (better year). The 2009 has 324 complaints and 2 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2009 Ford F-150?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford F-150 research
Other Ford F-150 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2009 F-150, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.