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2009 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Ford Explorer are lower than the model-year median of 609.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

26 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Child Seat complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2011
Child SeatInjury

I PUT OUR BRITAX DIPLOMAT CAR SEAT IN MY WIFE'S FORD EXPLORER. I ATTACHED THE SEAT BELT AND THE EXTRA LONG STRAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE CAR SEAT THAT GETS HOOKED TO A HOOK ON THE SEAT. THE EXCESS STRAP WAS HANGING OUT THE DOOR AND WE DID NOT REALIZE IT WHEN WE DROVE AWAY WITH OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE SEA…

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I PUT OUR BRITAX DIPLOMAT CAR SEAT IN MY WIFE'S FORD EXPLORER. I ATTACHED THE SEAT BELT AND THE EXTRA LONG STRAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE CAR SEAT THAT GETS HOOKED TO A HOOK ON THE SEAT. THE EXCESS STRAP WAS HANGING OUT THE DOOR AND WE DID NOT REALIZE IT WHEN WE DROVE AWAY WITH OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE STRAP WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND AND GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE TIRE AND VIOLENTLY PULLED THE CAR SEAT TOWARDS THE DOOR, THEN THE STRAP BROKE. WE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE CAR SEAT WAS BASICALLY LAYING SIDEWAYS ON THE BACK SEAT. OUR DAUGHTER WAS SCREAMING, AND WE THINK SHE MAY HAVE BEEN SMACKED INTO THE DOOR WHEN THE STRAP GOT PULLED UNDER THE TIRE AND YANKED THE CAR SEAT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY. MAYBE HAVE A SELF RETRACTING STRAP IN THE FUTURE, SO IT DOES NOT JUST HANG THERE (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2009, MAKE=EXPLORER, MODEL=FORD). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10413224

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Ford Explorer problems