Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Ford Ranger
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Ford Ranger has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 169 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V158000 Driver's Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21E013000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V081000 Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V046000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V024000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V384000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V352000 STEERING COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V040000 FRACTURED FRONT SPINDLE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 144 complaints
- Engine 3 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 3 complaints
- Power Train 3 complaints
- Service Brakes 3 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 3 complaints
Of the 169 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 169 complaints, owners report 4 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Ford Ranger suffers from a high number of airbag-related recalls, overshadowing other aspects. Despite being structurally sound, the frequent airbag issues pose significant safety concerns. Complaints are primarily around airbags, service brakes, and some drivetrain components, which could incur unexpected costs over 5 years.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | N/A | $200–$800 | very common |
| Service brakes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| Front wheel spindle | 80,000–110,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake inspection and replacement
- Replace spark plugs
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Coolant system flush
- Replace timing belt
- Inspect suspension components
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Upfront wobbling noise
- Spongy brake pedal
- Grinding noise during braking
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Ford Ranger at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.