FordTaurus X2009Overview/ford/taurus-x/2009/base/

2009 Ford Taurus X

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Taurus X.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2009 Ford Taurus X is an SUV equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission that achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 15/22/18 mpg while requiring 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil for maintenance. Regarding its standing in reliability history, this model year logged 11 total owner complaints with steering identified as the top complaint area alongside 2 recorded recalls. These figures contextualize the vehicle's reliability for researchers, signaling that steering system evaluations should take precedence due to the concentration of documented issues.

Model year20092008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 59 · 540 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 59 · 540 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat9T4Z8A586B

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200.4 in
Overall width74.8 in
Overall height67.3 in
Wheelbase113 in
Curb weight3959 lb
Track (front / rear)64.6 / 64.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 22 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.0-11.5
Brake FluidDOT 4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case FluidSYNTHETIC · GL-5

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0
Front Wheel Hub285 X Awd ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub285 X Awd ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub258 X FWD ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityLess auxiliary systems, 1.63. With auxiliary systems, 2.25. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityLess auxiliary systems, 7.00. With auxiliary systems, 9.50. oz
Standard BCI Group Number59
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature175-182 °F
Pressure Test14 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature175-182 °F
Engine Oil Pressure30 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1500 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs / 21 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle111 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket44 ft-lbs / 21 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle111 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.043 in / 0.393 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 9089 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1install 6 new exhaust manifold stud9 ft lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 90,000 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 3,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 90,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · PCV Valve (replace)
At 150,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2009 Ford Taurus X shows a dramatic decline in federal complaints versus the prior 2008 model year — from 153 down to just 11 — while recalls remained constant at 2, TSBs fell from 10 to 7, and the single 2008 investigation did not carry forward into 2009. Within the two-year federal record provided, 2009 represents the clear low point of the generation's complaint arc, though the data does not specify whether this reflects genuine reliability improvement, reduced reporting as the model approached discontinuation, or simply lower exposure on the road. The remaining complaints are thinly distributed across steering (2), powertrain/structure (2), suspension (1), and trailer hitch structure (1), and include 3 crash-related filings but zero fire complaints, meaning the residual concerns are mechanical and chassis-related rather than fire-safety issues. The two outstanding recalls warrant verification of completion before purchase, but the overall complaint profile makes 2009 a comparatively favorable year within the generation — a reasonable used-buying target provided the recall status is confirmed in writing.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
11
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 11 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering2
Power Train,Structure2
Suspension,Unknown Or Other1
Structure,Trailer Hitches1
Power Train1
Air Bags1
Tires1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V247000Air Bags:FrontalReported 26/04/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
RFI20210317_810-2021-03-17SuspensionThis SKU is a Control Arm. The customer communication requested return of unsold…
15R022016-04-28Fuel System, GasolineIn some of the affected vehicles that are operated in high-corrosion environments…
SIS-218412011-04-01Air BagsCOMM-TRANS LUND: SOME 2009-2011 MODELS MAY HAVE THE AIR BAG INICATOR FLASHING WITH A…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Taurus X. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 Taurus X take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 Taurus X have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Taurus X get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.