Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to remove and cap the vacuum supply line or to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Ford F-150 powertrain problems
severe 30 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 30 powertrain complaints filed for the 2009 Ford F-150, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 30 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Of the 17 model years of Ford F-150 we track for powertrain problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (30).
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SOME 2004-2014 F-150 AND 2006-2008 MARK LT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) MAY EXHIBIT NOISY OR ENGAGED FRONT HUBS WHEN OPERATING IN TWO-WHEEL DRIVE (2WD) MODE. FOLLOW THE SERVICE PROCEDURE STEPS TO CORRECT THE CONDITION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗4R75E TRANSMISSION - GRINDING/WHINE/VIBRATION/GEAR SLIPPAGE - SERVICE KIT AVAILABLE ISSUE A service kit has been released to assist with proper repair of the 4R75E transmission in 2008 Mark LT, 2008-2010 F-150, 2008-2010 / 2013-2014 E-Series, 2008-2011 Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis and Town Car vehicles that exhibit a grinding, whine-type noise, vibration and/or gear slippage while driving, or a loss of reverse resulting from a planetary gear assembly failure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗4R75E Transmission - Grinding/Whine/Vibration/Gear Slippage - Serrvice Kit available
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 F-150 powertrain has a consistent pattern of failures across multiple systems. Owners report sudden full-throttle acceleration—especially with cruise control engaged—that overpowers the brakes; one incident occurred at a Ford dealership service bay where the truck plowed through the wall with the service adviser inside. Shifting problems dominate complaints: delayed engagement between gears, violent hard slamming shifts with loud bang noises, slipping that leaves trucks stuck mid-intersection, and transmission failure as early as 9,000 miles. The transmission won't reliably hold Park on grades; vehicles roll backward with the key out. Ford dealers and customer service explicitly told owners that rolling backward and hard shifts are "normal," programmed into the computer, and unfixable. Transmission fluid leaks from the wire harness grommet area, dealerships are backed up with the same repair, and owners are charged $650 for a fix worth $120 in parts. One owner identified a class-action lawsuit matching their PCM/TCM communication failures that cause highway stalling. The driveshaft support bracket welds are substandard, and carrier bearings fail repeatedly. Ford has not recalled or issued TSBs for these issues, and the manufacturer claims no awareness despite dealers acknowledging widespread complaints.
Same Ford F-150 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended full-throttle acceleration with loss of brake control
Engine suddenly accelerates to full throttle without driver input, particularly while cruise control is active. Brakes become ineffective or require maximum pedal pressure to slow vehicle. Moving transmission to Neutral is the only reliable method to regain control.
When: Reported at 71,000 miles and 50–85 mph highway speeds; one incident at dealership service bay on a vehicle with yellow engine light
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden full-throttle acceleration without pedal input; Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or requires excessive force; Engine revs at full RPM despite brake application; Occurs during or immediately after cruise control use
Transmission shift delay and hard slamming shifts
Transmission exhibits delayed response when shifting between gears (1–2, 2–3, and other transitions), followed by violent hard shifts that slam the truck with loud bang noise. TCM/PCM reprogramming and recalibration provide only temporary relief (4–5 days) before failure recurs. Dealers claim behavior is 'designed' or 'normal.'
When: From 9,000 miles onward; reported at 14,000, 18,500, and multiple service visits
Symptoms owners cite: Delay in gear engagement, especially 1–2 and 2–3 transitions; Hard, violent shift accompanied by loud bang noise; Safety concern: delayed acceleration response during freeway merging; Occurs over 20 mph during normal driving
Codes mentioned: TCM/PCM reprogrammed, Adaptive shift strategy reset
Repairs/costs cited: TCM/PCM recalibration; sensor reprogramming; effects temporary only
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers stated behavior is by design; nothing can be done; manufacturer claimed no awareness of issue
Transmission slipping, chattering, and gear-holding failure
Transmission slips out of gear, chatters, and surges unpredictably. Vehicle lurches forward into intersections, refuses to move under throttle, or gets stuck between gears, requiring engine shutdown and restart. Multiple reports of clutch pack failures necessitating replacement at relatively low mileage.
When: From 35,000 km onward; repeated failures at 35,000 km, 55,000 km, 90,000 km; multiple incidents by 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips and momentarily goes into neutral state; Chattering and violent chatter during gear engagement; Vehicle surges and lurches into intersection or traffic; Grinding and shaking when towing trailers; Stuck between gears; requires restart to resume driving; Hard slamming into gears after slip episodes
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch pack replacement (multiple instances); internal wiring harness replaced; automatic transmission gasket replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers advised this is 'common occurrence' and 'normal behavior'; multiple complaints at single dealership; no recalls or TSBs noted in narratives
Transmission fluid leak from wire harness grommet
Transmission fluid drains from wire harness sleeve/grommet area, causing complete or near-complete loss of fluid. Failure occurs at moderate mileage. Dealerships report this is a known, widespread issue with extended wait times for repair.
When: At 71,000 miles; complaints indicate pattern of failures across multiple vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid pooling on driveway under vehicle; Transmission fluid visible leaking from wire harness sleeve area
Repairs/costs cited: Grommet replacement; $650 repair cost ($120 parts + 1.5 hours labor); dealerships backed up with this issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known problem; no recall mentioned; dealerships overbooked with repairs
Transmission won't hold Park gear or shifts out of Park
Shifter will not engage or hold Park position. Vehicle rolls backward on inclines with transmission in Park or while parked on grade with key removed. Engine stalls when attempting to move from stopped position on hills.
When: From 6,000 miles; reported at 15,000, 71,000, 95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shifter refuses to lock in Park position; Vehicle rolls backward on grades while in Park; Vehicle rolls backward with key removed from ignition; Engine stalls when starting from stopped position on hills; First gear becomes inoperative after stopping; engine revs in neutral
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement (reported on at least one vehicle at 71,000 miles)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford customer service told owners rolling backward is 'normal'; Ford recommends using emergency brake; no repair offered; one dealership provided letter stating this is 'characteristic of the vehicle' and programmed into computer
Backward rolling in Drive/lower gears on grades
Vehicle rolls backward when stopped on a grade in Drive, 2, or 3 gear position, despite being in automatic transmission. Occurs on hills when vehicle is brought to a stop, as if transmission were in Neutral. Ford dealers and customer service confirm this is 'normal' behavior specific to this model.
When: Reported across multiple mileages; behavior present from early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward when stopped on incline in Drive; Vehicle rolls backward when shifted into 2 or 3 on grade; Happens despite Ford recommending use of gear 3 on grades
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealers and customer service explicitly stated this is 'normal' for this model; owner advised to use emergency brake; Ford declined to add warning to owner's manual
Unintended reversal acceleration and crashes
Vehicle suddenly accelerates backward in Reverse without driver input or request, causing collision into structures or objects. Airbags do not deploy. Police report filed in one incident.
When: Reported at 200,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates full-throttle in Reverse without warning; No driver control after initiation; Airbags fail to deploy despite collision impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; towed to yard
Random downshift to first gear at highway speed
Transmission unexpectedly downshifts to first gear while vehicle is at highway speed (70 mph), causing wheel lock-up and engine redline. Creates immediate loss of control and safety hazard.
When: At 70 mph highway speed
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden downshift to 1st gear at 70 mph; Wheels lock up immediately; Engine redlines
Driveshaft bracket weld failure
Rear driveshaft support bracket welded to frame cross member fails due to poor weld penetration. Bracket breaks cleanly at weld, not tearing metal, confirming substandard fabrication. Creates exposed sharp edges rotating at high RPM near fuel tank, presenting fire/explosion risk.
When: During stop-and-go traffic; bracket broke during low-speed operation
Symptoms owners cite: Bracket comes loose during stop-and-go driving; Weld shows no penetration into metal; clean break; Sharp blade-like edges at break point exposed near fuel tank
Carrier bearing failure in driveshaft
Rear driveshaft carrier bearing fails, requiring complete driveshaft replacement. Multiple replacement incidents on same vehicle indicate recurring defect or inadequate repair.
When: Multiple failures on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Loud humming/whining from rear; Noise increases with vehicle speed
Repairs/costs cited: Complete driveshaft replacement (occurred twice on same vehicle)
PCM/TCM communication failure and stalling
Powertrain control module and transmission control module lose communication, causing vehicle to stall without warning and fail to restart. No error codes initially, but periodic stalling escalates in frequency. Owner identified class-action lawsuit regarding PCM/TCM failures with identical symptoms.
When: Periodic over one year; frequency increasing; transfer case shift motor communication error appears at later diagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls mid-highway without warning; Vehicle restart succeeds after 20-minute wait; Stalling frequency increases over time; No diagnostic error codes present initially; Later: transfer case attempts shift to 4-Low at 55 mph, shutting down vehicle mid-highway
Codes mentioned: Communication to transfer case shift motor
Rear camera/SYNC guidance line display failure
Reverse camera guidance lines (truck-width and center-line indicators) intermittently disappear from screen, reappearing randomly. Makes reverse camera guidance feature unreliable and difficult to use for backing.
When: Intermittent; occurs and clears within hours to days
Symptoms owners cite: Guidance lines disappear from reverse camera display; Lines return next day or same day after multiple disappearances; Pattern shows lines present once or twice in morning, then absent for remainder of day
Transmission multiple failures at low mileage requiring replacement
Transmission burns out and requires repair or replacement at very low mileage (9,000, 15,000, 17,000 miles), with multiple failure cycles on same vehicle. Dealer delays full transmission replacement until third failure occurs.
When: 9,000 miles, 15,000 miles, 17,000 miles (three separate events)
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission burned out; Requires replacement or major repair
Repairs/costs cited: Parts replacement for first two failures; full transmission replacement after third failure
Erratic transmission shifting and park engagement failure
Transmission shifts erratically throughout normal driving. Park gear fails to engage approximately 20 percent of the time, allowing vehicle to roll on inclines despite shifter in Park position.
When: At 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Erratic shifting behavior; Park fails to engage ~20% of the time; Vehicle rolls on incline when Park selected
Repairs/costs cited: No repair made at time of report
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Ford f150. When stopped on a hill the vehicle does not go forward it rolls backwards and then the engine stalls. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer at least seven times and was given a letter stating this was a characteristic of the vehicle. He added that the failure was programmed into the computer so no repairs could be made. The failure mileage was 6,000.…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2009 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2009 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 30 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 14,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 47,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.