The Lemon Index
200820103rd generation
12 owner complaints, first 3 years 15–23 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2009 Toyota Tacoma 2102009 Chevrolet Colorado2009 Nissan Frontier
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 9 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V158000 (airbags), 21E013000 (airbags) and 21V081000 (airbags) done? It has 8 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
- Ford sent dealers 10 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “If there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will…”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Ford's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 12 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 24K miles (2K to 39K km) on the car (9 of all 12 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 199 YouTube videos · 27.0M views · 1998–2011 Ford Ranger
Most-watched topics
- Steering & suspension483K views
How To Replace Lower Ball Joint 1998-2011 Ford RangerTRQ · 180K views · 5 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors373K views
How to Replace Front Exterior Door Handle 1998-2011 Ford RangerTRQ · 161K views · 4 videos - Oil changes & service356K views
2003 Ford Ranger gets MAJOR maintenance and repairsWally’s Workin’ · 173K views · 3 videos - Timing chain & engine355K views
1998–2011 Ford Ranger Front Suspension Rebuild | Complete DIY GuideHank's Garage · 109K views · 4 videos
Before you buy, watch
Top 5 Problems Ford Ranger Truck 3rd Generation 1998-20121A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 760K views
1998-2011 Ford Ranger Buyer's Guide (Common Problems, Options, Specs)Useful Vids · 400K views
Top Common Engine Problems 1998-2011 Ford Ranger Truck1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 192K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2009 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 10 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- If there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will…
- The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing…
- Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 8
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
Please see Ford's recall report for the specific part numbers.
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute hu…
Show all 8 recalls
- Airbags · recall issued 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Lights · recall issued 2011
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL …
- Suspension · recall issued 2009
FORD IS RECALLING 11,134 MY 2009 4X2 RANGER VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,600–$4,000 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
Every Ford Ranger year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 6 older years (1998–2004, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 14 Ford Ranger years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2009 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-ranger/?y=2009" title="Ford Ranger reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="468" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/ford-ranger/2009/">Lemon Index</a> (2009 Ford Ranger reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2009 Ford Ranger reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 12 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2009 Ford Ranger problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (25%), transmission & drivetrain (25%) and steering (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Ranger have?
8 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Ford Ranger get?
15 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2009 Ford Ranger have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 25% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Ford Ranger cost in fuel a year?
About $2,600 to $4,000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Ford Ranger have?
2.3L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
What Ford Ranger year is better than the 2009?
Nearby, the 2011 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (less than a sixth as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works