KnownCarProblems2009 Ford Ranger Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Ford Ranger, most often about the air bags (85% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles). It is 12th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory3 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2009 Ford Ranger problems
Air bags
144 complaints · 85%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
The contact owned a 2009 Ford Ranger. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle crashed head on into a second vehicle. The contact's vehicle sustained severe front end damage. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The driver sustained back and neck injuries, which did not require medical attention. The…
"takata recall" I have been trying to get an appointment to have this air bag replaced. This is safety recall notice19s01 / NHTSA recall 19v-010. It is on a 2009 Ford Ranger pickup. It has been 3 months sense I went in to schedule an appointment, been back in 2 more times t see what the hold up is & I get the run…
Engine
6 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that when depressing the brakes, the steering wheel would shake abnormally. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer and the contact was advised that the rotors would need to be turned. In addition, there was coolant leaking from the vehicle and bubbling through…
Exact same problem as NHTSA campaign id 11v126000. Engine shroud penetrated high pressure fuel line, with fuel spraying out of line. Cannot believe vehicle did not catch on fire. Our 2009 Ford Ranger VIN # not covered by recall - it should be. Ford refuses to acknowledge the problem or cover the repair for our VIN #.…
Brakes
6 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
I brought my 2009 Ranger to the dealer for a safety inspection and oil change and during the inspection it was noted that the front brake rotors had substantial pitting and scoring on the in-board side of the rotor. The vehicle failed inspection and required replacement of the rotors. It was noted that the pads showed…
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Ranger. While driving at 55 MPH, the front end of the vehicle began to wobble. While depressing the brake pedal, the contact heard a grinding noise coming from the rotors of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the rotors were changed; however, the failure…
Steering
3 complaints · 2%Traveling home from a trip out of town, we experienced a slight pull to the right, which only happened once at the beginning of our trip. We were thinking it may be time for an alignment. As we were traveling home, we stopped for gas and upon returning to the expressway and gaining speed, something in the front right…
Wheels and tires
3 complaints · 2%Front hub assembly came apart causing the passenger front wheel to almost come off the vehicle. The dealer in ashland wisconsin indicated that it was very dangerous to drive the car and could have cause a very bad accident if traveling at higher speeds when it happened.
Driver side hub assembly came apart causing the brakes to lock up with a sudden stop almost causing an accident. Higher speeds would have caused a major accident.
Body and structure
3 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Notified by person driving behind me my spare tire was going to fall out. Stopped and had someone look at it and the bed of my Ford Ranger had rusted out and if I hadn't stopped it would have fallen out on the highway. We examined under truck and the whole back bed is rusted out.
A 2009 Ford Ranger was purchased as a replacement for a toyota tacoma that was subject to the manufacturer buy-back program for defective frame steel resulting in excessive corrosion. The 2009 Ranger has now failed the vermont vehicle inspection for excessive frame rust in several locations. This Ranger has 34,000…
Transmission
3 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: manual transmission, clutch assembly.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH and attempting to shift gears, the clutch engaged prematurely, which prevented it from shifting. As a result, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnosed the failure but decided to replace the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Ford Ranger recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on april 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and november 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s12.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 ranger, 2006-2012 fusion, lincoln zephyr, lincoln mkz, 2006-2011 mercury milan, 2007-2010 ford edge, and lincoln mkx vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began march 17, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s05.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 mustang, 2004-2011 ranger, 2009-2011 mercury milan, 2006 ford gt, 2008-2012 fusion, 2007-2010 edge and lincoln mkx, and 2009-2010 lincoln mkz vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2013 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, ford is recalling certain 2010 ford edge, fusion, mustang and ranger, lincoln mkx and zephyr/mkz, and mercury milan vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone b." ford is also recalling certain 2009 ford edge, fusion, mustang and ranger, lincoln mkx and zephyr/mkz, and mercury milan vehicles ever registered in the st
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing march 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2012 ford fusion and mustang and lincoln zephyr and mkz vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, ford is recalling certain 2009 ford ranger, edge, fusion and mustang, lincoln mkx, mkz and zephyr and mercury milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia and west virginia, or "zone b." additionally, unless included in "zone a" or "zone b" above, ford is recalli
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on july 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 ford ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2007-2010 ford edge, lincoln mkx vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles, and 2005-2011 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 ford ranger, edge and lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,
Lights: brake lights
Risk: Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the switches free of charge. The safety recall began on august 15, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 ranger trucks built from january 25, 2011, through april 25, 2011 at the twin cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005 model year excursion vehicles, and 2002 through 2007 model year f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate.
Suspension: multiple axle
Risk: If a spindle fractures, the wheel may separate from the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front spindle if necessary free of charge. The recall began on february 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling 11,134 my 2009 4x2 ranger vehicles. Some front wheel spindles were improperly manufactured creating the risk that a spindle may fracture during the normal useful life of the truck.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2009 Ford Ranger
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Ranger?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (144 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); engine (6 complaints); brakes (6 complaints, typically around 31,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Ranger have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 10, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Ford Ranger?
- It is 12th of 23 Ranger model years by number of complaints, with 169 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.