2009 Ford E-150 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Ford E-150, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
- Interior & seats111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
- Body & structure111.1%
- Suspension111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD E-150. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE NUMBER SEVEN DRIVER SIDE SPARK PLUG FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TREAD ON THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS STRIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE SYSTEM CAME ON MY TRUCK DID WANT TO STOP ON CITY STREET THE BRAKE SYSTEMCAME ON MY SKID WILL COME ON
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
ADULT MALE DRIVER, I'VE RAN A TRUCK SALES SINCE 1971, DRIVING ALL BRANDS AN THIS IS A FIRST AND THE MOST DANGEROUS 2 OR 3 MINUTES OF MY LIFE..... DRIVING A 2009 FORD F150 61,62 MPH ON CRUISE, COMING INTO LEARY GEORGIA AN APPROACHING 2 VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME, I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PETAL TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS THE START OF A NITE MARE. THE THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN, FROM 60 I GO TO 75 -80 I HAD TO PASS THE 2 CARS AHEAD IN TOWN OR REAR END THEM. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AN THE TRANSMISSION KEPT DOWNSHIFTING GIVING IT MORE POWER. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NO LIGHTS. I WAS PREPARED TO HIT WOODS OR BUILDING TO DODGE THE CARS ON STREET, HAD A FULL 90 DEGREE RT TURN TO MAKE AN CROSS A RR TRACK, NEEDING BRAKES AND LIGHTS I TURNED IGNITION ON , FULL THROTTLE AGAIN, TURNED IGNITION BACK OFF AND STEERED UNDER A SERVICE STATIONS CANOPY AND BACK OUT ON THE STREET AND ACROSS JUMPED THE CURB AND INTO A GOD SENT VACANT LOT, GRASSY, WET AND SOFT. IT STOPPED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND TAKING MY NITROGLYCERIN ,I STOPPED SHAKING ENOUGH TO START THE ENGINE, IT IDLED. I LOCKED IT AND LEFT A NOTE ON THE WINDSHIELD TO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WILL KILL YOU, WILL RUN AWAY FULL SPEED. DON'T BLAME IT ON DRIVER ERROR-CELLPHONE-TEXTING OR ALCOHOL- IT WAS A RUNA-WAY TRUCK AND WILL SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILL YOUR WIFE, SON OR DAUGHTER THAT'S INEXPERIENCED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON APPROXIMATELY 8/25/2010, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN ELECTRICALLY. IT COULDN'T BE STARTED BY AAA. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND A BURNED WIRE THAT WENT FROM THE FUSE BOX TO A JUNCTION BOX. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AS THE WIRE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKES AND WHEN IT GETS HOT THE WIRE BURNS OUT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE VEHICLE CAN EVENTUALLY GO ON FIRE. IT WAS REPAIRED AND THEN ON 9/25/2011 THE SAME THING OCCURRED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AMERICAN FORD ON RT 17 SOUTH IN PARAMUS NEW JERSEY. THEY FOUND AGAIN A BURNED WIRE FROM THE FUSE BOX. I ASKED THEM NOT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL SOMEONE FROM THE NATIONAL SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATES THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
(DEFECTIVE LOCK/HANDLE) THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE DOOR WAS IN A LOCK POSITION AND A PASSENGER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. SOMETHING SNAPPED. THEN THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED. AFTER MY FRIEND DID ME A FAVOR TO FIX IT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED THEN MY COWORKER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE I UNLOCKED IT FROM THE CAR ALARM, THEN A COMPONENT ON THE HANDLE SNAPPED. SO NOW I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE BACK OR SIDE DOOR. *KB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ADULT MALE DRIVER, I'VE RAN A TRUCK SALES SINCE 1971, DRIVING ALL BRANDS AN THIS IS A FIRST AND THE MOST DANGEROUS 2 OR 3 MINUTES OF MY LIFE..... DRIVING A 2009 FORD F150 61,62 MPH ON CRUISE, COMING INTO LEARY GEORGIA AN APPROACHING 2 VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME, I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PETAL TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS THE START OF A NITE MARE. THE THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN, FROM 60 I GO TO 75 -80 I HAD TO PASS THE 2 CARS AHEAD IN TOWN OR REAR END THEM. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AN THE TRANSMISSION KEPT DOWNSHIFTING GIVING IT MORE POWER. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NO LIGHTS. I WAS PREPARED TO HIT WOODS OR BUILDING TO DODGE THE CARS ON STREET, HAD A FULL 90 DEGREE RT TURN TO MAKE AN CROSS A RR TRACK, NEEDING BRAKES AND LIGHTS I TURNED IGNITION ON , FULL THROTTLE AGAIN, TURNED IGNITION BACK OFF AND STEERED UNDER A SERVICE STATIONS CANOPY AND BACK OUT ON THE STREET AND ACROSS JUMPED THE CURB AND INTO A GOD SENT VACANT LOT, GRASSY, WET AND SOFT. IT STOPPED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND TAKING MY NITROGLYCERIN ,I STOPPED SHAKING ENOUGH TO START THE ENGINE, IT IDLED. I LOCKED IT AND LEFT A NOTE ON THE WINDSHIELD TO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WILL KILL YOU, WILL RUN AWAY FULL SPEED. DON'T BLAME IT ON DRIVER ERROR-CELLPHONE-TEXTING OR ALCOHOL- IT WAS A RUNA-WAY TRUCK AND WILL SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILL YOUR WIFE, SON OR DAUGHTER THAT'S INEXPERIENCED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
(DEFECTIVE LOCK/HANDLE) THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE DOOR WAS IN A LOCK POSITION AND A PASSENGER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. SOMETHING SNAPPED. THEN THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED. AFTER MY FRIEND DID ME A FAVOR TO FIX IT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED THEN MY COWORKER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE I UNLOCKED IT FROM THE CAR ALARM, THEN A COMPONENT ON THE HANDLE SNAPPED. SO NOW I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE BACK OR SIDE DOOR. *KB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE TIRES AND THE STEERING DAMPER WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .