2009 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 33 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 25th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 5 involved a crash. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EquipmentSep 3, 2010
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Campaign 10E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
33 reports, newest first.
Seats, Aug 2, 2011
THE FRONT PASSENGER HEAD RESTRAINTS PUSH THE HEAD FORWARD, CREATING STRESS ON THE NECK/BACK AND COULD CAUSE INJURY. SEATING IS UNCOMFORTABLE UNLESS THE SEAT IS RECLINED. WHICH POSES ANOTHER RISK AND SIGHT PROBLEM. *KB
Tires, Wheels, Equipment, Aug 2, 2011
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 WHILE DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOT. ALL 5 WHEEL STUDS HAD GRADUALLY BROKE OFF OVER A FEW MONTHS TIME. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATES THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MAINTAINED IS THE REASON FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A FAMILY CAR THAT IS DRIVEN BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND MISC DRIVING, NO TOWING OR HOT RODDING, AND A FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE. FORD NEVER RETURNED MY COMPLAINT OF ANY OTHER REASONING, ONLY REPLACED THE WHEEL STUDS ON DAMAGED WHEEL AND CHARGED ME $165 BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED 7K BEFORE. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK TIRE AT 42K MILES. DAMAGE TO MY REAR WHEEL HUB AND PAINT. NO DAMAGE OR INJURY DUE TO BEING IN PARKING LOT GOING 5 MPH. *KB
Child seat, Jul 17, 2011
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 REALIZE IT WHEN WE DROVE AWAY WITH OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE STRAP WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND AND GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE TIRE AND VIOLENTLY PULLED THE CAR SEAT TOWARDS THE DOOR, THEN THE STRAP BROKE. WE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE CAR SEAT WAS BASICALLY LAYING SIDEWAYS ON THE BACK SEAT. OUR DAUGHTER WAS SCREAMING, AND WE THINK SHE MAY HAVE BEEN SMACKED INTO THE DOOR WHEN THE STRAP GOT PULLED UNDER THE TIRE AND YANKED THE CAR SEAT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO IMMEDIATELY. MAYBE HAVE A SELF RETRACTING STRAP IN THE FUTURE, SO IT DOES NOT JUST HANG THERE (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2009, MAKE=EXPLORER, MODEL=FORD). *TR
Vehicle speed control, Sep 27, 2010
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 INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO INSTALL A VDR IN THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH IF THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500. UPDATED 1/21/11 *CN UPDATED 02/14/11
Visibility, Oct 5, 2009
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 REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY SAID WE PULLED IT OFF AND ITS NOT UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT WILL COST OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX! I DIDN"T BREAK IT! I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. IM AM UPSET THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE FOR ME FROM FORD, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHECK INTO IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM TO SEE IF IT IS A PROBLEM SO IT CAN BE CORRECTED BECAUSE WHEN IT GETS COLD IM GOING TO NEED MY DEFROSTER! MY FAMILY HAS BOUGHT OVER 8 VEHICLE FROM THIS DEALERSHIP AND WE OUR LOYAL FORD CUSTOMERS, ALSO THIS CAR DID HAVE 20000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT, SO THIS PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE ALREADY! I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED AND WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME FEED BACK FROM YOU ON THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR
Power train, Aug 17, 2009
2009 FORD EXPLORER LURCHES WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TR
Tires, Interior lighting, Jul 19, 2009
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 MAKES YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY A FORD ANY MORE. *TR
Seats, Apr 3, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE HEAD REST PUSHES THE DRIVER'S HEAD TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO ITS PERPENDICULAR DESIGN. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT SOMEONE WITH A SHORT STATURE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIS/HER HEAD DOWN. IF THE AIR BAG WERE TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER COULD BECOME SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 800.