Cypress, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE SYSTEM CAME ON MY TRUCK DID WANT TO STOP ON CITY STREET THE BRAKE SYSTEMCAME ON MY SKID WILL COME ON
NHTSA complaint #11144573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FaultScore report
2009 Ford E-150 problems
Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2009 Ford E-150 with NHTSA between 2011 and 2018. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 22 of 23 worst.
A
FaultScore 20/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford E-150.
How this is worked outThe numbers
10
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
36,100 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
43%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
What kind of bad
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
- Complaint volume — 10
- Against the median year of the Ford E-150. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
- Severity — 0
- 0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
- Early failure — 73
- 43% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.
How 2009 compares with every other Ford E-150
Click any bar to open that year's report.
What breaks on a 2009 Ford E-150
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Body & Structure
2
20.0%
Median failure at 30,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
2
20.0%
Median failure at 158,102 miles
Doors, Latches & Locks
1
10.0%
Median failure at 30,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
1
10.0%
Suspension
1
10.0%
Median failure at 83,000 miles
Brakes
1
10.0%
Electrical System
1
10.0%
Median failure at 36,100 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
1
10.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
4
57.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
1
14.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
1
14.3%
150,000+ miles
1
14.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2011
peak 3
Oct 2018
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 182,205 miles
Masonville, CO
ENGINE
SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT
NHTSA complaint #11000749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 134,000 miles
Colorado Springs, CO
ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10860521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,000 miles
Humble, TX
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10825092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dothan, AL
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10564544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dothan, AL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10564544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,100 miles
Suffern, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10428911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 miles
Bayside, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
(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.
NHTSA complaint #10416585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 miles
Bayside, NY
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
(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.
NHTSA complaint #10416585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 miles
Bayside, NY
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
(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.
NHTSA complaint #10416585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.