2009 FORD EXPLORER

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    transmission automatic

    1 stranded, 3 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "2009 FORD EXPLORER LURCHES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TR"~12,000 mi, complaint #731586
    • "WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR LURCHES AND LIGHTS COME ON SIGNALING POWERTRAIN ISSUE. *TR"~78,000 mi, complaint #921184
    • "TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: DELAYED SHIFTING FROM GEAR TO GEAR, AND INCIDENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF PARK AND INTO GEAR, PROBLEMS ALSO IN THE TRANSMISSION'S DELAY IN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND OUT OF REVERSE. LOUD THUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL TO RE…"~88,350 mi, complaint #909998
  2. #2

    seat mechanism

    2 unsafe, 1 broken

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "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 DIAG…"~140,000 mi, complaint #961546
  3. #3

    throttle and pedal

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED…"~10,500 mi, complaint #816886
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER BRAKE OR STEERING ABILITY. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR APPROXIMAT…"~31,000 mi, complaint #1345551
    • "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 BELIE…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1499962
  4. #4

    airbag system

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY TRAVELED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO LOCK PROPERLY. THE DRIVER SU…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1170304
  5. #5

    exhaust system

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "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."~60,000 mi, complaint #1356466
    • "WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A LOUD TICKING NOISE. AFTER RESEARCHING IT ONLINE, IT APPEARED TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS SNAPPING OFF CAUSING A LEAK OF EXHAUST GASES. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP AND THE PROBL…"~85,000 mi, complaint #1024767
  6. #6

    glass and windshield

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "I HAVE A 2008 FORD EXPLORER AND THE REAR DEFROSTER WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE REAR GLASS DOOR FELL OFF. IT IS ONLY HELD ON THE WINDOW BY A SMALL WELD THE SIZE OF AN ERASER HEAD. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP WEISLEDER FORD IN POINT PLEASANT NJ, SAID THEY COULD NOT…"~34,500 mi, complaint #738342
    • "2009 FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW HINGE BROKE, CAUSING THE WINDOW GLASS TO DROP. I WAS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, PUSHED THE WINDOW RELEASE BUTTON, WINDOW STARTED TO OPEN, THEN THE HINGE GAVE OUT. WAS ABLE TO CATCH WITH RIGHT HAND, PINNING MY WRIST AGAINST THE G…"~105,000 mi, complaint #1296579
  7. #7

    other

    1 unsafe, 1 annoyance

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "PLEASE KEEP ANONYMOUS AND REFERENCED UNDER J9EL1, MC32SZ, KYH2U AS THE PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE WITH REAR LICENSE PLATE [REDACTED PLATE] MAY BE AN ISIS/ISIL MEMBER LEADER AND OR BOTH AND HAS SEXUALLY ASSAYED AND ABUSED ME SINCE 1993. HER C…"complaint #1321798
    • "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 REA…"complaint #867524
  8. #8

    unintended acceleration

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "I STARTED THE EXPLORER AND WENT ABOUT 300 FEET AND PULLED OVER TO ALLOW AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TO PASS. THE EXPLORER CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE BUT WAS HELD BACK BY THE BRAKES UNTIL I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE EXPLORER RAN FINE UNTIL ANOTHER INCIDENT…"~61,500 mi, complaint #1132578
  9. #9

    wheel or rim

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS AND LESS THAN 25K MILES HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES DUE TO THE INSIDE WEARING BALD ON MY 2009 FORD EXPLORER. JUNE 2011, 23 MONTHS OLD AND WITH 42K MILES RIGHT REAR TIRE WEARING DIFFERENTLY THAN THE OTHERS, CAME OFF WHIL…"~42,000 mi, complaint #871105
  10. #10

    brake hydraulics

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "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 WARRA…"~184,494 mi, complaint #1663229
  11. #11

    engine stall or no start

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOWN AND COUNTRY FORD (5041 FORD PARKWAY, BESSEMER, ALABAMA 35022, [REDACTED PHONE]) WHE…"~62,684 mi, complaint #1509889
  12. #12

    fuel pump

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AS A RESULT OF CORRODED EXPOSED WIRES UNDER THE CAR. THE WIRES HAD NO PROTECTIVE COVERING AND WERE CORRODED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. THE WIRES ARE UNDER THE REAR TIRE NEAR THE FUEL PUMP AND ARE NOT PROTECTED AGAINST DIRT, GRIME, SALT. THEY CA…"~84,931 mi, complaint #909970
  13. #13

    lighting interior

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON DASH ON RIGHT SIDE IF YOU TAP IT WOULD COME ON NOW ONLY ONE SIDE OF DASH LIGHTS UP AIR CONDITIONER BLOW OUT FROST ON COMPRESSOR RIGHT SIDE OF TRUCK DOOR LOCK WILL NOT COME UP WHEN YOU PRESS LOCKS DEALER NEEDS TO FIX THIS NOT THE CUST IT…"~169,015 mi, complaint #727806
  14. #14

    mirror

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "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 DI…"~67,000 mi, complaint #903306
  15. #15

    stability and traction control

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=4)

    • "FORD: MY 2009 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V6 EXHIBITS AN INTERMITTENT FAULT/ALARM WITH THE RSC SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC ROADS (STREET, FREEWAY, HIGHWAY). ALL THE INSTANCES OCCURRED HAD BEEN PROPERLY DOCUMENTED AND DISCUSSED WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IN R…"complaint #1336667
  16. #16

    steering rack mechanical

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHIC…"~76,000 mi, complaint #1108368
  17. #17

    transmission manual clutch

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "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."~135,000 mi, complaint #1483825
  18. #18

    trunk or liftgate

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE HINGES ON THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO DETACH ITSELF COMPLETELY FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…"~95,000 mi, complaint #1330634
  19. #19

    wheel bearing

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "IN MAY 2017 I HAD SERVICE PERFORMED ON MY 2009 FORD SUV (INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND TURN OF ALL FOUR ROTORS) AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. ON MAY 13, 2017, MYSELF, MY WIFE, AND OUR TWO CHILDREN (BOTH MINORS, AGES 2 AND 8) WERE INVO…"~102,520 mi, complaint #1447363

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for FORD EXPLORER directly.