CarBrief

Owners filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Mustang, and 135 of them name the air bags[1][2]. Several air bag recalls are on file for this model year, so check the car's recall status before you buy or keep it[3][4][5][6][7].

181owner complaints[1]
5recalls[8]
16–20MPG combined (EPA)[9]

Reported problems

NHTSA lists 181 owner complaints for the 2009 Mustang[1]. Of those, 17 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 7 an injury, and no deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car. The counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Component group Complaints Crashes Injuries
Air bags[2] 135 11 7
Speed control[10] 22 9 1
Power train[11] 7 0 0
Brakes[12] 7 5 2
Electrical system[13] 7 0 0
Structure[14] 6 2 0
Suspension[15] 6 0 0
Engine[16] 4 0 0

Air bags. This group stands out with 135 complaints. The median mileage at failure is 44,500[2]. In a sample of 12 air bag complaints we read, owners describe air bags that did not deploy in a crash or deployed badly in 6 of them[2]. In 4 they describe a warning light that stays on or air bags reported as not working[2]. In 2 they raise worries about an air bag recall, including a repair part that was not yet available[2]. One text appears twice in that sample.

Speed control. There are 22 complaints, 9 of them with a crash[10]. The median mileage at failure is 45,000[10]. In a sample of 12 we read, 11 describe the car speeding up or the throttle or pedal sticking, often while the brakes did not stop it[10]. The sample is small, so treat it as a description of what owners wrote and not as a measure of how often this happens.

Power train. There are 7 complaints with a median mileage of 20,000[11]. In the 7 we read, owners describe a sticking gas pedal or an rpm surge in 2, a slipping or failing clutch in 2, and fluid leaking from the transmission or rear differential in 2[11].

Electrical system. There are 7 complaints, 1 of them with a fire[13]. In 4 of the 7 we read, owners describe water leaking into the cabin and reaching electronics[13].

Brakes. There are 7 complaints, with 5 crashes and 2 injuries, at a median mileage of 111,000[12]. The count is small.

Structure, suspension and engine each have 6 or fewer complaints[14][15][16].

Recalls

NHTSA has five recalls on file for the 2009 Mustang. All five involve air bag inflators. Whether a given car is covered depends on its build dates and, for several of them, on where it was sold or registered. The recall notices describe those rules. Ford customer service can confirm whether one car is covered.

One complaint in the sample we read came from an owner who got the 15V319 letter but was told the repair part was unavailable[2]. Another owner asked whether a dealer could disconnect the air bag in the meantime[2]. We cannot say from our data whether those cases were later resolved.

Fuel economy

EPA lists five versions of the 2009 Mustang. All are rear-wheel drive.

Engine and transmission City / Highway / Combined MPG Annual fuel cost
4.0L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd[9] 17 / 26 / 20 $3,350
4.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd[17] 16 / 24 / 19 $3,550
4.6L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd[18] 15 / 23 / 18 $3,700
4.6L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd[19] 15 / 22 / 18 $3,700
5.4L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, premium fuel[20] 14 / 20 / 16 $5,150

The first four use regular gas. The 5.4L needs premium[20]. EPA's annual cost uses its current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings list this model year as not rated for the two variants it lists, 2 DR RWD and C RWD[21][22]. That means we have no star ratings to report.

Engine and size

The EPA lists engines of 4.0L 6-cylinder, 4.6L 8-cylinder and 5.4L 8-cylinder[9][19][20]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, converted to inches and pounds. US models can differ slightly.

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
Coupe[23] 188 in 74 in 54 in 107 in 3,342 lb
Convertible[24] 187 in 74 in 54 in 107 in 3,351 lb
GT coupe[25] 188 in 74 in 54 in 107 in 3,488 lb
GT convertible[26] 187 in 74 in 54 in 107 in 3,483 lb

How 2009 compares with other years

1995: 616 complaints, 5 recalls19951996: 286 complaints, 3 recalls1997: 214 complaints, 2 recalls1998: 305 complaints, 4 recalls1999: 272 complaints, 4 recalls19992000: 395 complaints, 4 recalls2001: 249 complaints, 1 recalls2002: 166 complaints, 0 recalls2003: 231 complaints, 1 recalls20032004: 130 complaints, 1 recalls2005: 868 complaints, 5 recalls2006: 575 complaints, 5 recalls2007: 615 complaints, 5 recalls20072008: 347 complaints, 5 recalls2009: 181 complaints, 5 recalls18120092010: 261 complaints, 5 recalls2011: 466 complaints, 4 recalls20112012: 469 complaints, 6 recalls2013: 271 complaints, 5 recalls2014: 359 complaints, 3 recalls2015: 438 complaints, 11 recalls20152016: 379 complaints, 5 recalls2017: 268 complaints, 6 recalls2018: 196 complaints, 3 recalls2019: 150 complaints, 6 recalls20192020: 120 complaints, 8 recalls2021: 55 complaints, 6 recalls2022: 50 complaints, 9 recalls2023: 15 complaints, 6 recalls20232024: 84 complaints, 12 recalls2025: 19 complaints, 6 recalls2026: 8 complaints, 5 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Mustang model year. The 2009 is highlighted[8].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19956165
19962863
19972142
19983054
19992724
20003954
20012491
20021660
20032311
20041301
20058685
20065755
20076155
20083475
20091815
20102615
20114664
20124696
20132715
20143593
201543811
20163795
20172686
20181963
20191506
20201208
2021556
2022509
2023156
20248412
2025196
202685

The 2009 model year has 181 complaints and 5 recalls on file[8]. Looking at model years 2005 to 2014, 2009 has the fewest complaints. The others in that span range from 261 (2010) to 868 (2005)[8]. Its 5 recalls match 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2013, and the 2012 model year has 6[8].

Across every year listed, 1995 to 2026, 2009 is not the lowest. Ten years have fewer complaints. For example, 2002 has 166 complaints, 2004 has 130 and 2019 has 150, while 2015 has 11 recalls and 2024 has 12[8]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so use them as a rough guide only.

Should you buy a used 2009 Mustang?

The complaint record for this model year is smaller than for its neighbors from 2005 to 2014, but it is centered on air bags[2][8]. Five air bag recalls are on file, and four of them tell owners of covered cars not to drive until the repair is done[4][5][6][7]. Before buying, confirm with Ford or NHTSA that every recall that applies to that exact car has been completed, since two notices say parts were not yet available[5][6]. Owners also describe sticking throttles and cabin water leaks in the complaints we read, so a careful inspection makes sense[10][13]. Fuel costs depend a lot on the engine, from $3,350 to $5,150 a year[9][20].

Frequently asked questions

What are the common problems with the 2009 Ford Mustang?
Air bags are named in 135 of 181 NHTSA complaints, and speed control in 22[1][2][10]. These are unverified owner reports.
Does the 2009 Ford Mustang have recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists five recalls, all for air bag inflators: 21V081, 18V046, 17V024, 16V384 and 15V319[3][4][5][6][7].
What gas mileage does a 2009 Ford Mustang get?
EPA combined ratings run from 16 MPG (5.4L 8-cyl, manual) to 20 MPG (4.0L 6-cyl, manual)[9][20].
Is the 2009 Mustang a good year compared with others?
Among 2005 to 2014 model years it has the fewest complaints at 181, and it has 5 recalls[8]. Across 1995 to 2026 several other years have fewer complaints[8].
What is the NHTSA safety rating of the 2009 Mustang?
NHTSA lists both body styles it shows as not rated[21][22].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 181 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Ford Mustang (17 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 7 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 135 complaints name the air bags component group (11 crashes, 1 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 44,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 21V081, filed February 16, 2021: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 18V046, filed January 11, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  5. Recall 17V024, filed January 10, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  6. Recall 16V384, filed May 31, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  7. Recall 15V319, filed May 28, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  8. Owner complaints and recalls for every Ford Mustang model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  9. EPA rating for Mustang, 4.0L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  10. 22 complaints name the speed control component group (9 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 7 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 7 complaints name the brakes component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 111,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 7 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 6 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. 6 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,650). NHTSA vehicle records
  16. 4 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  17. EPA rating for Mustang, 4.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for Mustang, 4.6L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Mustang, 4.6L 8-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA rating for Mustang, 5.4L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  22. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, C RWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  23. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG 2DR COUPE RWD: length 188 in, width 74 in, height 54 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,342 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  24. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG 2DR CONVERTIBLE RWD: length 187 in, width 74 in, height 54 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,351 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  25. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG GT 2DR COUPE RWD: length 188 in, width 74 in, height 54 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,488 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  26. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MUSTANG GT 2DR CONVERTIBLE RWD: length 187 in, width 74 in, height 54 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,483 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.