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Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Ford Explorer problems

Owners filed 33 complaints about the 2009 Ford Explorer with NHTSA between Apr 2009 and Apr 2021. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (5).

Full 2009 Explorer research
Complaints
33
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control5
  2. Engine4
  3. Power train3
  4. Wheels3
  5. Seats3
  6. Air bags2
  7. Seat belts2
  8. Service brakes2
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)2
  10. Electrical system2
  11. Structure2
  12. Visibility2
  13. Tires2
  14. Fuel/propulsion system1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20094
20101
20113
20124
20132
20142
20151
20164
20173
20186
20190
20201
20212

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

5 reports1 crash
“THROTTLE BODY ISSUES, INTERMITTENT STAHLS, PEDAL SURING FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATED. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ A DEFECT IN THE 2009 FORD MODELS. MY TRUCK IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REPAIR AND I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE EXPENSES OF REPAIRING THIS DEFECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2018Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11129927
Get this fixed

Engine

4 reports1 crash
“SUV SEEMS TO BE IDLED DURING START UP OR EVEN WHEN DRIVING. SOUNDS AIRY LIKE ITS TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ALSO I HAVE HAD BREAK PADS REPLACED MORE THAN USUAL. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS REPORTED THAT THEY HAVE GONE OUT MORE THAN NORMAL. EACH TIME GOING OUT BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. TODAY, CAR WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND CAR SPENT OUT OF CONTROL SPINNING AROUND 3 TIMES BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS TOOK PLACE IN THE PARKING LOT OF WALMART. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2020Power train, Service brakes, EngineCrash reportedODI 11324598
Get this fixed

Power train

3 reports1 crash
“WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR LURCHES AND LIGHTS COME ON SIGNALING POWERTRAIN ISSUE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2012Power trainODI 10460371
Get this fixed

Wheels

3 reports2 crashes
“2009 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. *LD *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2018WheelsCrash reportedODI 11061728
Get this fixed

Seats

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT INDEPENDENTLY RECLINED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE SEAT AND NOTICED THE BOLT THAT DETAINED THE BACK OF THE SEAT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2013SeatsODI 10496479
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Air bags

2 reports1 crash
“MY CAR HAS AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND I HAVE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND A FEW ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2021Air bags, Seat belts, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11389683
Get this fixed
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.