2009 Ford Ranger 2.5L Diesel · DK09 MLF

A pattern of persistent rear lighting faults and growing drive-line wear emerges as the defining mechanical concern for this 2009 Ford Ranger. At the most recent assessment on 28 July 2026, the vehicle passed, but two minor defects were recorded: an offside rear registration plate lamp inoperative and a nearside front inner constant velocity boot severely deteriorated. That pass follows a failure just five days earlier on 23 July 2026, which recorded major defects for the nearside and offside rear position lamps and stop lamps being adversely affected by another lamp, alongside a major defect for an excessively worn rear propeller shaft universal joint. Earlier records show a further failed test on 23 May 2023, this time for rear registration plate lamps not illuminating with the position lamps. The rear lighting cluster has therefore produced failures across more than one test cycle, and the propeller shaft universal joint wear is a notable drive-line concern on a rear-wheel-drive pickup of this age and mileage. At 133,175 recorded miles over approximately seventeen years, the Ranger accumulates around 7,800 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a working pickup of its vintage. Annual mileage is relatively consistent, with tests spaced roughly twelve to eighteen months apart and no obvious extended lay-up periods. There is a modest gap between the May 2022 pass and the May 2023 retest within the same month, and another between the June 2025 pass and the mid-2026 retest, but nothing suggests prolonged off-road storage. The high overall mileage is consistent with a commercial or rural-use history, and the recorded advisories support that picture: a mud-covered underside was noted in 2025, and inner CV joint deterioration is now appearing on the front axle. For a vehicle of this vintage and mileage, accumulated wear on suspension bushes, bushes, brake discs, and driveline couplings should be anticipated. A prospective buyer should focus the inspection on the rear lamp clusters and their wiring. The repeated defects for lamps being adversely affected by the operation of another lamp suggest an earthing or feed issue at the rear light assemblies rather than simple bulb failure. On inspection, check that both rear position lamps and both stop lamps illuminate cleanly without flicker when the ignition is switched on and the brake pedal pressed, and inspect the rear lamp connectors and earth points for corrosion. The propeller shaft universal joint failure is a more serious flag: with the vehicle on a lift, check the rear U/J for any free play, slack, or roughness when rotated by hand, and listen on the test drive for clonking or vibration under load, particularly when engaging drive or reversing from a standstill. Any sign of rotational play in the joint warrants rectification before further use, as a worn U/J can lead to driveline vibration, imbalance, and eventual seizure. The constant velocity boot deterioration recorded on the nearside front inner joint is a known weak point on high-mileage pickups. On inspection, look for splits, grease loss, or flapping of the boot gaiter, and listen for clicking or knocking on full-lock turns, which would indicate that CV joint wear has already advanced beyond the boot condition. The 2024 rear tyre advisories, showing both rear tyres worn close to the legal limit and on edge, suggest alignment or suspension geometry wear; on a test drive, listen for knocks from the rear leaf springs and bushes over uneven surfaces, and check for uneven or stepped rear tyre wear on any replacement tyres fitted since. The 2021 brake pipe advisories for corrosion covered in grease or other material on both nearside and offside rear brake pipes should prompt a close visual inspection of the underbody brake lines for surface corrosion or weeping, particularly at unions and along the chassis run. Finally, with 133,000 miles recorded, a thorough check of the clutch take-up, gearbox synchro behaviour, and front and rear brake disc condition is advisable, as these are typical high-mileage service items on Rangers of this age.