Recall 11V049 affects 280,946 2009-2010 Ford F-150 trucks for interior door-handle spring failure. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 280,946 2009-2010 F-150 trucks because the interior door handle housing can fracture and leave the handle spring with too little force to return the handle fully. In a side impact crash, the door latch can open, and the dealer repair will be free once Ford makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The inside door handle on the 2009-2010 Ford F-150 uses a small spring to return the handle after you pull it. That spring is held by a raised section in the handle housing, called an embossment. When the spring and housing work correctly, the handle snaps back into its fully stowed position instead of staying partly pulled.
On affected F-150 trucks, that raised retaining section in the handle housing is vulnerable to fracture during normal use. Once it breaks, the spring no longer has enough force to pull the handle all the way back. The handle then sits out of position, which tells the dealer the return spring is no longer being held correctly.
There is no warning sign before failure. Once it happens, the inside door handle can stay partly open instead of sitting flat in its normal parked position.
Who's affected?
The same body-structure component is listed for both model years.
| 2009 Ford F-150 | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2010 Ford F-150 | body structure |
| Units affected | 280,946 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
NHTSA campaign 11V049 says a side impact crash can make the interior door handle spring fail and let the door latch open. If an interior handle feels loose or does not return to its stowed position, schedule service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2010 Ford F-150 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask whether inspection and repair parts are available for recall number 11V049.
- Schedule the interior door-handle inspection that checks for a loose handle or a handle that fails to return to the stowed position.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one, and ask the dealer whether the repair is a spring embossment reinforcement or door-handle module replacement.
- Drive with care until the repair is complete, and have any loose interior door handle checked before carrying passengers.
What happens at the repair
Ford's notice first sent owners to a Ford dealer only if an interior door handle was loose or failed to return to the stowed position after use. Once final parts opened, the dealer process was to inspect each interior door handle. Depending on the inspection, a Ford technician either adds a spring embossment reinforcement or replaces the interior door handle module. The dealer repair is free once available, including the inspection and the needed handle work.
Timeline
| February 1, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 10, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V049?
Recall 11V049 covers 280,946 2009-2010 Ford F-150 trucks with an interior door handle spring embossment that can fracture during normal use. If the spring force is lost, the handle can stay partly open and the door latch can open during a side impact crash.
What should I do if my 2009-2010 Ford F-150 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 11V049. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask for inspection of each interior door handle. The dealer will add reinforcement or replace the affected door-handle module for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Ford's remedy says dealers will inspect the interior door handles and either add spring embossment reinforcement or replace the interior door handle module free of charge.
What warning signs should I watch for on my F-150?
Watch for an interior door handle that feels loose or fails to return to the fully stowed position after you use it. Ford's remedy directed owners to take the truck to a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer if that condition appeared.
What if I bought my Ford F-150 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2009-2010 F-150 is included, then reference recall 11V049 when you call a franchised Ford dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V049000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V049 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V049000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →