Ford · Known Issues
2009 Ford F-150 Problems: 15 Known Issues
2009 model year · 1,203+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2009 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2009 model year · 1,203+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2009 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,203+ owner reports, the 2009 Ford F-150 has 15 documented known issues, with 4 rated critical. The most serious are Brake Line Corrosion and Hydraulic Failure (Salt-Belt 11th/12th-Gen F-150) ($300-$1,500 repair), Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM) Corrosion and No-Start / Stalling ($150-$450 repair), Internal Radiator Transmission Cooler Fails — Coolant/ATF Cross-Contamination ('Strawberry Milkshake') ($400-$1,500 repair) and 5.4L Triton 3-Valve Cam Phaser / Timing Chain "Death Rattle" ($1,500-$2,800 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Brake Line Corrosion and Hydraulic Failure (Salt-Belt 11th/12th-Gen F-150) with 765 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $25 to $4,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
TIRES:BEAD
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 trucks equipped with 17-inch spare tires. The spare tire could have been damaged when it was installed on the rim.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from the "Autolamps" switch position to "Headlamps On." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 vehicles. An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,203+ owner reports, the 2009 Ford F-150 has 15 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Brake Line Corrosion and Hydraulic Failure (Salt-Belt 11th/12th-Gen F-150), Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM) Corrosion and No-Start / Stalling, Internal Radiator Transmission Cooler Fails — Coolant/ATF Cross-Contamination ('Strawberry Milkshake'). Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2009 Ford F-150 has 15 known issues documented across 1,203+ owner reports. 4 issues are rated critical: Brake Line Corrosion and Hydraulic Failure (Salt-Belt 11th/12th-Gen F-150) and Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM) Corrosion and No-Start / Stalling and Internal Radiator Transmission Cooler Fails — Coolant/ATF Cross-Contamination ('Strawberry Milkshake') and 5.4L Triton 3-Valve Cam Phaser / Timing Chain "Death Rattle". Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Ford F-150 issues range from $25 to $4,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Brake Line Corrosion and Hydraulic Failure (Salt-Belt 11th/12th-Gen F-150), typically costs $300-$1,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
2004-2014 Ford F-150 brake lines, hoses, and ABS hydraulic components corrode aggressively in salt-belt states. Steel brake lines along the frame rust through, causing sudden loss of brake fluid and reduced or no pedal feel. Front and rear hard lines and rear axle flex hoses are… Repairs typically run $300-$1,500. Severity: high.
2004-2009 Ford F-150 (11th-generation) suffers from Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM) corrosion. The aluminum-housed module mounts directly to a steel frame crossmember above the spare tire — the dissimilar-metal contact creates galvanic corrosion, accelerated by road salt and moist… Repairs typically run $150-$450. Severity: high.
F-150s with an automatic transmission route ATF through a cooler built into the radiator end tank. When the internal barrier cracks or corrodes, the two fluids cross-contaminate: pink/foamy 'strawberry milkshake' ATF appears in the coolant and coolant gets into the transmission. Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: high.
The 2004-2010 5.4L 3-valve Triton uses variable cam timing (VCT) phasers fed by clean, high-pressure engine oil. With infrequent oil changes or normal high-mileage wear, the phasers' internal vanes and locking pins wear out, the plastic timing-chain guides crack, and the hydrauli… Repairs typically run $1,500-$2,800. Severity: high.
Ford modular V8s (and the EcoBoost V6 turbo manifolds) are notorious for snapping the small (8mm) exhaust-manifold-to-head studs/bolts. They are installed without anti-seize and corrode/fatigue from repeated heat cycling; on the turbo EcoBoost engines, a large share of the turbo/… Repairs typically run $50-$700. Severity: medium.
Ford's 4x4 F-150s use a vacuum-operated Integrated Wheel End (IWE) system instead of conventional locking hubs: vacuum keeps the front hubs UNLOCKED in 2WD and is released to lock them for 4WD. The system relies on vacuum lines, a hood-area solenoid, and a check valve that are hi… Repairs typically run $100-$700. Severity: medium.
The 6R80 six-speed automatic (2009-2017 F-150) is generally durable but is widely reported for a harsh, banging 1-2 upshift and erratic/flaring shifts, with thousands of NHTSA complaints. The internal solenoid body 'lead frame' (the mechatronic wiring carrier) can crack or develo… Repairs typically run $250-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The foam gasket that seals the roof-mounted center high-mount stop lamp (CHMSL / third brake light) against the cab dries out, compresses and shrinks with heat and UV exposure, breaking the watertight seal. Rainwater then runs down inside the cab from the roof opening, soaking th… Repairs typically run $40-$250. Severity: medium.
The rear axle (commonly the 8.8-inch) develops a speed-dependent whine or howl as the pinion bearing and ring-and-pinion gears wear, often the most common source of axle noise on Ford trucks. The noise typically appears under acceleration or on deceleration and changes with throt… Repairs typically run $500-$1,600. Severity: medium.
F-150 rocker panels and cab corners rust from the inside out. The rocker design traps road debris and moisture inside the panel, and clogged drain holes let water pool where it cannot escape, so corrosion starts behind the paint and bubbles outward before owners realize the struc… Repairs typically run $300-$4,000. Severity: medium.
On electronic shift-on-the-fly 4WD F-150s, the transfer-case shift motor (and its internal encoder that reports gear position back to the control module) is a common failure. Owners see a flashing 4WD indicator or 'Check 4x4' message, the system fails to engage or disengage 4HI/4… Repairs typically run $250-$650. Severity: medium.
F-150s have a long-running problem with rainwater entering the cab from the top rear of the cab. Two sources dominate: the foam/rubber gasket behind the high-mounted third brake light dries out and cracks, and the butyl-tape seal around the fixed rear window (or the slider track)… Repairs typically run $100-$600. Severity: medium.
High-mileage Triton V8 F-150s commonly set P0420 (and/or P0430) 'catalyst efficiency below threshold' as the catalytic converter degrades and the upstream and downstream O2 sensors start reading alike. It can be caused by a genuinely worn converter, contaminated/lazy O2 sensors,… Repairs typically run $500-$2,000. Severity: medium.
The driver's door master switch on 2009-2014 F-150s commonly fails electrically (distinct from the mechanical window-regulator/cable failure). Carbon builds up on the internal contacts from current arcing, and the switch's exposed door-panel location lets moisture in when the win… Repairs typically run $25-$200. Severity: low.
The door-ajar switch built into the door latch sticks or corrodes so the truck thinks a door is open. The result is a 'door ajar' warning that stays on, interior/dome lights that won't shut off, chimes, and a parasitic battery drain that can leave the truck dead overnight. It is… Repairs typically run $40-$200. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.