2009 Ford Ranger Problems

What owners report

Owner complaints for the 2009 Ranger are dominated by the Takata airbag inflator recalls: notices arrived, but dealers frequently had no parts and could not say when a replacement would be available. Beyond that, owners describe front brake rotors that pit or score early, frame and bed-floor rust on trucks with relatively low mileage, and an engine that holds speed or keeps revving after the throttle is released.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Takata airbag inflator recall, parts unavailable

   • 134 complaints (79%)
   • median 73,600 mi at 8.2 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners received recall notices covering the driver or passenger frontal inflator and then spent months or years trying to get the work done. Complaints describe being told at the counter that the replacement part was not in stock and that there was no estimate for its arrival, and in some cases that only one side was affected or that the local climate made the risk unlikely. Several owners say they stopped letting people sit in the front passenger seat while the campaign stayed open, and later filings follow the same pattern for newer campaign numbers. A few describe dealer scheduling runarounds rather than a parts shortage. Reported across the full mileage range, from near-new trucks to ones past 150,000 miles, with most filings between 2016 and 2023 as notices were mailed.

   Recall 21V158000Recall 21V081000Recall 18V046000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVE3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the recall repair records on the specific truck and confirm with a dealer that the frontal inflator campaigns are closed rather than only mailed. Bulletins covering an airbag module inspection and a flashing airbag indicator also exist for this model.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a letter from Ford in july 2016 informing me that my vehicle was included in the takata recall. I have heard nothing since then. Every time my wife has to ride in my truck, she and I both worry that I might be involved in an accident and she could be injured by the passenger airbag. Would it be safer if I could just have the airbag disconnected?”

   NHTSA complaint #11040811, filed 2017-10, 78,000 miles

   “Takata recall my passenger air bag notification warning letter is attached to my passenger sun visor. When seen by most potential passengers they refuse to ride in this vehicle. I have suffered a loss of passenger space because of this hazardous defect. Along with repair needed asap, I feel compensation for this delay is due.”

   NHTSA complaint #11040885, filed 2017-10, 600 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Front rotors pitted, wobble and grinding when braking

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a front-end wobble at highway speed, a steering wheel that shakes when the brake pedal is pressed, and a grinding noise from the front rotors. One inspection at roughly 27,000 miles found the inboard rotor faces pitted and scored while the pads still showed most of their material, and the truck failed inspection until the rotors were replaced. Others had rotors turned or replaced and reported the vibration returning. Heavy brake dust on the front wheels was reported early and dismissed as normal, and one truck under 35,000 miles was diagnosed first with a wheel speed sensor and then with a damaged tone ring. Mostly reported between about 1,000 and 37,000 miles, often within the first few years of ownership.

   What to check: Look at the inner face of both front rotors for pitting or scoring and ask whether they or the pads have been replaced. A highway-speed drive with firm braking will show whether the wheel or pedal shakes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 only 30% wear and the vehicle has only 27159 miles at the time of the service. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10461012, filed 2012-06, 27,159 miles

   “Immediately after purchasing 2009 Ranger xlt, noticed excessive dirt on front wheel rims. Complained about it to dealer first time I took the truck in for an oil change, also complained that I wasn't getting mileage expected. Was told it was just brake dust, it would easily come off with tire cleaner & hose, & truck needed to be broken in for mileage improvement. I kept complaining that brake dust seemed excessive to me, never had problem before. Installed ceramic brake pads, didn't help. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10662800, filed 2014-12, 2,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine revs or holds speed after throttle release

   • 5 complaints (3%)
   • median 22,100 mi at 1.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2010–2011

   Owners describe the truck failing to slow promptly after the gas pedal is released, holding speed for a distance on level ground and gaining speed on gentle downhills, with RPMs staying higher than they did when the truck was new. Others report the engine flaring when the clutch is pressed at a stop, or surging shortly after startup. Dealers reportedly found no stored fault, replaced engine components without resolving it, or replaced the clutch as a temporary measure before the symptom returned. Reported from about 1,000 to 25,000 miles, generally within the first two years of ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On the test drive, lift off the throttle at low speed and on a slight downhill and check that the revs drop promptly. Ask whether the throttle body has been diagnosed or the calibration updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased a 2009 Ford Ranger in july 2010. Twice since then when I come to a stop the RPM's still revs and I have to put the truck into neutral. I have had the dealer check it out be can't find any problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10356798, filed 2010-09, 20,200 miles

   “Trouble was first noticed in late february, 2010, and the problem has progressively gotten worse. While driving, after gas pedal is released, truck does not start to slow down for up to a half mile while traversing a level surface, depending on speed. Truck will not slow or even maintain speed while on gentle downhill - the truck will increase in speed. When new, the truck would slow down on the fore-mentioned gentle down-hill slopes. With foot off gas pedal, the rpms will not drop like the rpms did when vehicle was new. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10324790, filed 2010-04, 24,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Frame, bed floor and underbody rust

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report rust-through in the bed floor around the spare tire, along the frame rails and crossmembers near the front differential, and at the radiator, battery and fender supports. One owner was alerted by a driver behind that the spare tire was about to drop out, and another truck failed a state inspection for frame corrosion at around 34,000 miles. A separate complaint on a nearly new truck described rust on the engine mounts and steering pump, with the dealer stating the parts would not be replaced until they failed. Spread from under 1,000 miles to about 91,000 miles, on trucks from nearly new to roughly a decade old.

   What to check: Get underneath and inspect the frame rails, the bed floor above the spare tire, and the radiator and battery supports for flaking or holes. Ask whether the truck has spent winters in a road-salt state and whether it passes a current safety inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11002720, filed 2017-07, 91,000 miles

   “The frame on my truck has rust holes throughout the spare tire section all the way to the front cross member sorrounding the front differential. The radiator support and battery support are holding on by rust as well. The bed frame has supports that hold fenders on and they're rusted out. Ford needs to be held responsible. My truck cannot be the only one out there rusting this bad this quick! It's very unusual. Va state police weren't any help other than telling me it's a civil suit between me and the seller. I think it's more than that.”

   NHTSA complaint #11093761, filed 2018-05, 17,000 miles

Buying note. For this model year, the first question is whether the open frontal airbag inflator recalls have actually been completed on that specific truck, since parts delays were the dominant complaint. Also inspect the front brakes and the frame and bed floor for rust or scoring before purchase, and check by VIN which safety campaigns apply.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.