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Light NHTSA footprint — 33 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2009 Ford Explorer has 33 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is cruise control at 5 complaints, typically surfacing around 50,750 miles (~$600 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Explorer | 635 | 4 |
| 2007 Explorer | 208 | 3 |
| 2008 Explorer | 148 | 3 |
| 2009 Explorer (this page) | 33 | 1 |
| 2010 Explorer | 115 | 2 |
| 2011 Explorer | 1,192 | 8 |
| 2012 Explorer | 822 | 7 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: cruise control is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 50,750 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When first starting the vehicle, there is a loud ticking noise. After researching it online, it appeared to be a very common problem with some of the exhaust manifold bolts snapping off causing a leak of exhaust gases. We took the car to a shop and the problem was confirmed.…
Ford: my 2009 Ford explorer eddie bauer v6 exhibits an intermittent fault/alarm with the rsc system while driving on public roads (street, freeway, highway). All the instances occurred had been properly documented and discussed with the local Ford dealer in repeated visits that…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Ford explorer. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a brick wall. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic…
I started the explorer and went about 300 feet and pulled over to allow an emergency vehicle to pass. The explorer continued to accelerate but was held back by the brakes until I shut the engine off. Upon restarting the explorer ran fine until another incident in mid october. I…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Ford Explorer is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2009 Ford Explorer does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the cruise control first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 5 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 50,750 miles. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 33 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is cruise control. Typical failure occurs around 50,750 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is cruise control, with 5 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 50,750 miles. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop.
The cruise control is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 50,750 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 33 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $600, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.