2009 Ford Mustang

● Typical for this model
2009 Ford Mustang
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:57:01.949Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Complaints
181
Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 2009

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Air bags

75% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 18 complaints 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1989: 111 complaints 1990: 87 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 70 complaints 1992 1993: 102 complaints 1994: 368 complaints 1995: 603 complaints 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2001: 173 complaints 2002: 118 complaints 2003: 145 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2009 181 2010: 261 complaints 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 439 complaints 2016: 379 complaints 2016 2017: 268 complaints 2018: 196 complaints 2019: 152 complaints 2020: 122 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 85 complaints 2025: 20 complaints 2026: 8 complaints
1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 5 complaints 1983 1984: 18 complaints 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1989: 111 complaints 1989 1990: 87 complaints 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 70 complaints 1992 1993: 102 complaints 1994: 368 complaints 1995: 603 complaints 1995 1996: 246 complaints 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2001: 173 complaints 2001 2002: 118 complaints 2003: 145 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2009 181 2010: 261 complaints 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2013: 271 complaints 2013 2014: 359 complaints 2015: 439 complaints 2016: 379 complaints 2016 2017: 268 complaints 2018: 196 complaints 2019: 152 complaints 2019 2020: 122 complaints 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 85 complaints 2025: 20 complaints 2025 2026: 8 complaints
1980: 4 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 5 complaints 1984: 18 complaints 1984 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 30 complaints 1986 1987: 38 complaints 1988: 108 complaints 1988 1989: 111 complaints 1990: 87 complaints 1990 1991: 78 complaints 1992: 70 complaints 1992 1993: 102 complaints 1994: 368 complaints 1994 1995: 603 complaints 1996: 246 complaints 1996 1997: 176 complaints 1998: 236 complaints 1998 1999: 213 complaints 2000: 311 complaints 2000 2001: 173 complaints 2002: 118 complaints 2002 2003: 145 complaints 2004: 116 complaints 2004 2005: 705 complaints 2006: 423 complaints 2006 2007: 615 complaints 2008: 347 complaints 2009: 181 complaints 2009 181 2010: 261 complaints 2011: 466 complaints 2012: 469 complaints 2012 2013: 271 complaints 2014: 359 complaints 2014 2015: 439 complaints 2016: 379 complaints 2016 2017: 268 complaints 2018: 196 complaints 2018 2019: 152 complaints 2020: 122 complaints 2020 2021: 55 complaints 2022: 50 complaints 2022 2023: 15 complaints 2024: 85 complaints 2024 2025: 20 complaints 2026: 8 complaints 2026

2009: 181 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19804
19810
19821
19835
198418
198516
198630
198738
1988108
1989111
199087
199178
199270
1993102
1994368
1995603
1996246
1997176
1998236
1999213
2000311
2001173
2002118
2003145
2004116
2005705
2006423
2007615
2008347
2009181
2010261
2011466
2012469
2013271
2014359
2015439
2016379
2017268
2018196
2019152
2020122
202155
202250
202315
202485
202520
20268

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

75% · 136 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Ford Mustang. While driving 50 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained head and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was not filed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-01-18

I was traveling at about 40 MPH in mid morning traffic. I went through a traffic signal on a city street at which time my engine accelerated at a high RPM. I could not control the vehicle or stop it even though I had depressed the brake pedal.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-08

Also filed under Vehicle speed control

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the passenger side of the vehicle was hit by another vehicle traveling at approximately 45 MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 2010-04-26

Vehicle speed control

12% · 22 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Just bought a 2009 Mustang GT on March 13TH. Took it to the store, and was at a traffic light waiting for a green light. The light changed and I pulled the car out.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-06

The clutch/flywheel/ and or other components of the drive train/engine/transmission connection are faulty and are known to fail for the 2007-2009 Shelby Ford Mustang GT 500 as documented in the numerous Ford Technical Service Bullitens (TSB).

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-11-13

Also filed under Power train and engine

Electrical system

4% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing wiring.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

I have experienced problems with sensor faults prior to the first incident. Around May 22 I started experiencing water leaking under my dash board first when I thru a cawash. Then it rained and water came again.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-07-25

Also filed under Structure

Service brakes

4% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY

Power train

4% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing manual transmission.

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2016-06-10Air bags15V319000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2014 Mustang vehicles manufactured April 6, 2004, to June 21, 2014, and 2005-2006 GT vehicles manufactured February 20, 2004, to September 22, 2006.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2016.

  2. R
    2018-02-02Air bags16V384000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford...

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  3. R
    2018-02-14Air bags17V024000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas,...

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  4. R
    2018-05-21Air bags18V046000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the...

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

  5. R
    2021-03-17Air bags21E013000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair.

    Remedy: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

  6. R
    2021-03-17Air bags21V081000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.

Buy-smart checklist

2009 Ford Mustang — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 136 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 22 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 7 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 15V319000 · Air bags
  • Recall 16V384000 · Air bags
  • Recall 17V024000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V046000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21E013000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21V081000 · Air bags

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2009 Ford Mustang reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2009 Ford Mustang is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Mustang?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 75% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Mustang have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.