Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Ford Mustang problems

Owners filed 181 complaints about the 2009 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between Jan 2009 and Nov 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (135).

Complaints
181
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags135
  2. Vehicle speed control22
  3. Power train7
  4. Electrical system7
  5. Suspension6
  6. Structure6
  7. Service brakes5
  8. Engine3
  9. Steering3
  10. Tires2
  11. Exterior lighting2
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  13. Seats1
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20098
201011
20116
20124
20132
20145
201517
201633
201761
201823
20195
20203
20210
20222
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

135 reports11 crashes1 fire6 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2009 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V319000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2022Air bagsODI 11472588

Vehicle speed control

22 reports9 crashes1 fire
“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). This vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Late this summer (2023), I was driving this vehicle with my kids in the car and attempting to merge on the entry ramp for the expressway. I experienced a sudden loss of acceleration and the RPMs immediately "redlined". I had to pull over to the shoulder of the expressway so I would not be rear-ended. I researched this issue and found hundreds of posts on Mustang forums documenting this known issue and the TSB issued by Ford. I have reached out to Ford directly and had my vehicle inspected at a Ford Dealership. The Ford Dealership indicated the issues were consistent with the known defective parts. There were zero warnings either by warning lights or symptoms and I am just fortunate to have been in an accident with my children. I only have approximately 27,000 miles on this vehicle and it is not modified in any way. I have the dealership documentation as well that I can…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2023Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11554858

Power train

7 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2019Power trainODI 11278023

Electrical system

7 reports1 fire
“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 NOT DRIVABLE. I NOW HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW BOX AND HAVE IT PROGRAMMED, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE READ ARTICLES ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER 2009 MUSTANGS. FORD HAS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. NOT ONLY IS IT EXPENSIVE TO FIX, IT ALSO IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE TO IGNITE WITHIN THE CAR. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2020Electrical systemODI 11312159

Suspension

6 reports
“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 THE SWAY BAR AND THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, DAYS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SAFE TECH AUTO GLASS- JOE MYERS FORD 16634 NORTHWEST FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77040 WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2020SuspensionODI 11307643

Structure

6 reports2 crashes1 fire
“"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING MY 2009 FORD MUSTANG ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET 30 MPH, WHEN I TURNED A CORNER (10 MPH) I ATTEMPTED TO HONK MY HORN AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, MY CAR ACCELERATED WITH A HARD RIGHT STRAIGHT INTO A DUMPSTER DAMAGING THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR 6 MONTHS BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT AND THE HORN HAD NOT WORKED, WE DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG AT THIS TIME. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE BECAUSE THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE, THE IMPACT WAS SO FORCEFUL IT BENT THE FRAME OF THE CAR THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS ESTIMATED AT $7000.00.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2017Air bags, Structure, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10950118
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.