2009 FORD MUSTANG

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    airbag system

    71 unsafe

    71
    incidents
    Typical range: 22,500–60,000 mi

    Median 43,500 mi, based on 30 reports (69% had no usable mileage)

    • "ABOUT A MONTH AFTER MY PURCHASE OF MY NEW MUSTANG IN 2009, I HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON ALL THE TIME. I TOOK IT IN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY TO GET IT FIXED. IT TOOK THE FORD HOUSE 2 MONTHS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. 4 YEARS LATER SAME ISSUE. AIR BAG…"~600 mi, complaint #1133525
    • "TAKATA RECALL ISSUE GETTING PARTS TO COMPLETE RECALL. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIRBAG RECALL RESOLVED FOR OVER A YEAR, PASSENGER AIR BAG PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO DEALER. HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A YEAR FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG PARTS."~23,300 mi, complaint #1386506
    • "TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR PASSENGER AIRBAG AND REFUSES TO OFFER A RENTAL REPALCEMENT UNTIL THEY WILL REMEMDY MY AIRBAG. AS A RESULT I AM LIMITED IN THE ABILITY TO USE MY CAR."~41,000 mi, complaint #1435127
    • "TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE A YEAR AGO ABOUT THE AIRBAG BEING DEFECTIVE AND IS RECALLED. I HAVE CALLED REPEATEDLY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID THE PARTS TO FIX IT ARE NOT AVAILABLE BUT WILL NOTIFY ME WHEN THEY ARE.…"~60,000 mi, complaint #1274107
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS REPL…"~123,000 mi, complaint #1388421
  2. #2

    other

    6 unsafe, 13 annoyance

    19
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 16S26 / 16V-384 AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE DATE WITH MY DEALER, SHULTZ FORD IN WEXFORD, PA, BUT THEY SAID THE PART IS ON BACKORDER. PLEASE HELP AND RESOLVE SO I CAN USE MY VEHICLE."~25,000 mi, complaint #1463528
    • "TAKATA RECALL - 15S21 - NHTSA RECALL 15V-319 FORD DEALER LICCARDI SUPPOSEDLY DID THIS RECALL ON 8/9/2016. I STILL GET NOTICES FROM FORD THAT I STILL NEED TO HAVE THIS RECALL DONE. I FOUND THAT VIN ON THEIR RECALL INVOICE(#192789) WAS FOR A DIFFERENT CAR( 1ZVH…"~30,140 mi, complaint #1383666
    • "TAKATA RECALL I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TWICE TO ADDRESS THE RECALL BUT THE FORD DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE DISTRIBUTING THE RECALL PARTS BEGINNING IN THE SOUTH AND WORKING NORTHWARD (WE LIVE IN OHIO)…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1422615
  3. #3

    unintended acceleration

    12 unsafe

    12
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=24, median 84,500 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN HER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER 100 MPH. WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A ROARING NOISE SHE THOUGHT THAT HER CRUI…"~6,000 mi, complaint #772106
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUOUSLY APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT TO NO AVAIL. SH…"~35,000 mi, complaint #843651
    • "RANDOM ACCELERATION. BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE , PUT CAR IN DRIVE AND PRESSED ACCELERATOR TO MOVE FORWARD. ACCELERATION INCREASED ON ITS OWN. REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR, PRESSED THE BRAKE. ACCELERATION CONTINUED TO INCREASE, HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD..…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1595832
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES RE…"~130,000 mi, complaint #1222164
    • "PULLED UP A DRIVEWAY AND PUT MY 2009 FORD MUSTANG IN PARK, STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. WOULD DECELERATE AFTER PRESSING AND RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL BUT WOULD START ACCELERATING AGAIN ON IT'S OWN. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN RESTARTED ACTED AND DROVE FINE.…"~138,000 mi, complaint #1579693
  4. #4

    throttle and pedal

    10 unsafe

    10
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 20,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE SHIFTING FROM THIRD INTO FOURTH GEAR, THE RPMS SUDDENLY SURGED ALL THE WAY UP, DECREASED TO 6,000 RPMS, AND FINALLY SURGED ALL THE WAY BACK UP AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO…"~1,000 mi, complaint #730021
    • "ACCELERATOR STUCK - 2009 FORD MUSTANG GT - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DATE OF INCIDENT: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2010 LATE AFTERNOON AS I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER LEAVING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE REM…"~4,948 mi, complaint #827343
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHN…"~20,000 mi, complaint #872983
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS…"~33,000 mi, complaint #844980
    • "MY CAR STALLED A FEW TIMES WHEN I STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS THEN IT DIDNT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A FEW WEEKS. THIS TIME I WAS RUNNING INTO DUNKINS TO GET A COFFEE SHUT THE CAR OFF CAME OUT 2 MIN LATER STARTED THE CAR WENT TO DRIVE AWAY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.…"~135,000 mi, complaint #1356296
  5. #5

    suspension arms and bushings

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAVING HIS VEHICLE EXAMINED BY THE DEALER FOR A MINOR CRASH, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT WAS EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING…"~12,000 mi, complaint #741720
    • "DURING SAFETY INSPECTION DEALER DISCOVERED RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. AND RIGHT STABILIZER ROD WAS ROTTED AWAY. DEALER REPLACED BOTH PARTS. CAR WAS AT 20,000 MILES AT TIME OF THIS REPLACEMENT. AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY! *TR"~20,000 mi, complaint #941293
    • "DURING SAFETY INSPECTION, ON A 2009 FORD MUSTANG, LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DISCOVERED AS DEFECTIVE. PREMATURE FAILURE, VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 53,000. *TR"~53,300 mi, complaint #961338
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FOR MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED, THE REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE FAILING.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT…"~60,000 mi, complaint #916084
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THREE TIMES WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TH…"~80,000 mi, complaint #1644404
  6. #6

    wiring harness

    4 unsafe

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=8)

    • "THE COMPLAINT FILED BY PHONE ON 9/15/21 ID #10763956 INCLUDED IMPORTANT FACTS THAT ARE NOT SHOWING ON YOUR WEB PAGE. THE DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRONIC MODULE WAS CAUSED BY THE WATER LEAK AS REFERENCED IN FORD'S TSB 08-26-7 AND I ALSO FILED COMPLAINT WITH FORD CONSU…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1221689
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND OVERHEATED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS…"~37,000 mi, complaint #1283538
    • " 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. THE TIRE PRESSURE FAULT AGAIN CAME ON AND I…"~43,000 mi, complaint #996797
    • "WHEN IT RAINS, WATER IS LEAKING UNDER THE WINDSHIELD INTO THE DUCT WORK AND ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. HEAVY RAINS HAVE CAUSED AS MUCH AS 5 INCHES OF WATER TO LAY ON PASSENGER FLOOR. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE SMART JUNCTION BOX TO MALFUNCTION AND CAR IS…"~100,000 mi, complaint #1650454
  7. #7

    transmission manual clutch

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "CLUTCH FAILURE ON MY 2009 FORD MUSTANG GT500 - AT 18,000 MILES THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO M PURCHASING DEALER AND REQUESTED A DIAGNOSTIC, THEY INDEED CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR EXHIBITED THE PROBLEM BUT INFORMED ME THAT IT W…"~18,427 mi, complaint #823429
  8. #8

    abs module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND TRYING TO EVADE A DRIVER WHO RAN A STOP SIGN, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES OF MY 2009 FORD MUSTANG GT. EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE BRAKES DID LOCK AND THE CAR SKID LEAVING TIRE MARKS FOR…"~5,822 mi, complaint #746597
  9. #9

    control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER DRIPPING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE GLOVE BOX. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD LAMPS, INTERIOR LIGHTING, DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL, AND HAZARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDE…"~40,000 mi, complaint #1219143
  10. #10

    corrosion and rust

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE HOOD IS SEVERELY RUSTING ON THE FRONT EDGES"~22,000 mi, complaint #1293968
  11. #11

    cruise control conventional

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "2009 FORD MUSTANG GAINING SPEED UP TO 100 MPH ACTED LIKE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM FORD DEALER CHECKED IT OUT (CONCLUSION) NO PROBLEMS FOUND. *TR"complaint #755359
  12. #12

    differential

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON MY CAR WAS LEAKING FLUID WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED SO I INSPECTED IT MYSELF.WHEN I REMOVED THE FILL PLUG IN THE REAREND I HEARD PRESSURE ESCAPE.THAT TOLD ME THE PRESSURE RELIEVE…"~30,000 mi, complaint #1379465
  13. #13

    engine stall or no start

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 195 IN NEW JERSEY THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. IT LOST ALL POWER AND THE INSTRUMENTS ALL WENT OFF. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART WHILE THE CAR WAS ROLLING. I PULLED OFF ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. WAS ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE WHEN…"~39,875 mi, complaint #1214044
  14. #14

    evap system

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY VEHICLE (WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2010) HAS BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER SEVEN TIME IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE FORD TECH'S HAVE DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL RECOVE…"~1,292 mi, complaint #843437
  15. #15

    glass and windshield

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. THE WINDSHIELD IS MAGNIFIED AND DISTORTED. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE VISIBILITY IS UNCLEAR AND PRESENTS A SAFETY RISK. THE DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50."complaint #717435
  16. #16

    lighting exterior

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LAMPS HAVE DEBRIS THAT INTERFERES WITH THE VISIBILITY. IF VISIBILITY IS REDUCED, THE RISK OF A CRASH IS INCREASED. THE CONSUMER TO 2 DEALERSHIPS, BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE…"complaint #724295
  17. #17

    paint and clearcoat

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "BASICALLY, I FIRST NOTICED THE PAINT BUBBLING UP ON THE FRONT EXTERIOR EDGE OF MY HOOD ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AFTER BUYING THE CAR NEW. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE GENTLEMAN AT THE BODY SHOP SAID THAT HE'D SEEN IT MANY TIMES ON MUSTANGS AND OTHER FORD MO…"~17,000 mi, complaint #1255282
  18. #18

    steering electric assist

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "2009 MUSTANG GT STEERING WHEEL MAKE NOISE WHEN DRIVING SLOW, SUCH AS DURING PARKING. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAY THEY DONT KNOW WHY. I AM CONCERN THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFTEY ISSUE, E.G. STEERING STUCK DURING DRIVING OR STEERING WHEEL OUT OF C…"complaint #777306
  19. #19

    steering rack mechanical

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "MY 2009 MUSTANG 6CID, WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE IN AN UP AND DOWN MOTION. THEN IT STARTED TO BECOME LOOSE IN A SIDE TO SIDE MOTION TO A LESS OF A DEGREE THAN THE UP AND DOWN MOTION. SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND BY THE TIME I ARRIVED THERE…"~20,000 mi, complaint #939763
  20. #20

    tire failure

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD MUSTANG EQUIPPED WITH COOPER ZEON R53-61R20 TIRES, SIZE: 255/40/ZR19-XL (NA). WHILE DRIVING [REDACTED ADDRESS], THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT WAS ABL…"~57,944 mi, complaint #1623916
  21. #21

    transmission automatic

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "SERVO ON TRANSMISSION PUSHED SNAP OUT OF RETAINING GROOVE CAUSING LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED.SERVO PUSHED OUT OF TRANS,CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL THAN LURCHED AHEAD ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT."~119,222 mi, complaint #1618067

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for FORD MUSTANG directly.