IllustrationTRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY SPEED LIMIT WAS75 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
325–50K
550–75K
675–100K
6100–150K
2150K+
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
Unknown Or Other complaints
5 reportsTHROTTLE 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.
THE SHIFTER DOES NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE CAR DOES NOT STAY IN GEAR. IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS BECAUSE THE PIN IN SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING.
CAR OFTEN FILLS WITH A STRONG SULFUR (EGG LIKE) SMELL. VERY NOTICEABLE AFTER LONG TRIPS OR VERY HOT DAYS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT FORD HAS A PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OF ITS MODELS THAT THE SUN VISOR MIRROR POPS OUT WHEN YOU TRY TO USE IT AS A SHADE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A DRIVER WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO HAVE THIS SURPRISE DISTRACTION. MY WIFE ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED. I CURRENT…
Read full complaint
I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT FORD HAS A PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OF ITS MODELS THAT THE SUN VISOR MIRROR POPS OUT WHEN YOU TRY TO USE IT AS A SHADE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR A DRIVER WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TO HAVE THIS SURPRISE DISTRACTION. MY WIFE ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED. I CURRENTLY HAVE IT TAPED UP ON DRIVERS SIDE AND NOW IT HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE WITH ANY DISCOUNT LEAVING THE OWNER IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION. I GUESS ONCE SOMEONE HAS A WRECK MAYBE THEN FORD WILL DO A RECALL. *KB
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.