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 email at a later date. I unfortunately do not have it in electronic format at this time.
The worst 2009 Ford Mustang problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags135
- Acceleration22
- Brakes7
- Electrical7
- Transmission7
- Body6
- Suspension6
- Engine4
- Steering3
- Fuel system2
- Lights2
- Tires2
- Driver assistance1
- Seats1
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Ford Mustang
Airbag light 10No deployment 10Sudden acceleration 6Ball joint 5
Recalls 5
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Recall number 21V081000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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 Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Recall number 18V046000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Recall number 17V024000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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 Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Recall number 16V384000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- 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. Even if interim repairs were performed under safety recall 14V‑802, owners must bring their vehicles in for the final remedy. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S21. Note: This recall supersedes safety recall 14V‑802.
Recall number 15V319000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2009 Ford Mustang 27
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless...
- All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code
- Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011...
- For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to
- Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan,...
- This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected
- Inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings
- Corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust
- Various vehicles equipped with a 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L modular 3 valve engine built on or before 8-Jan-2016 may...
- Replacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or...
2009 Ford Mustang fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 16-17 | 24-26 | 19-20 |
| 4.6L 8‑cyl | RWD | 15 | 22-23 | 18 |
| 5.4L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14 | 20 | 16 |
What 2009 Ford Mustang owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V319000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
The contact owned a 2009 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V081000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list as he no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and the manufacturer were contacted. The VIN was unavailable.
Air bag light is on
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford mustang equipped with cooper zeon r53-61r20 tires, size: 255/40/zr19-xl (na). While driving 70 MPH on the highway, the contact heard a loud sound in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle swerved to the right and the contact was able pull over to the side of the road. The contact observed that the entire crown at the middle of rear driver's side tire was split and detached. The contact was assisted in changing the tire and was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact called marvis discount tire center and was informed that since he did not purchase the roadside assistance service, they could not assist him. The tire center suggested that the contact call the tire manufacturer (cooper tires). The manufacturer stated that if the contact took the tire to the dealer and they determined it was a manufacturer defect, the manufacturer would possibly refund the cost of the tire. The contact was concerned that he had three more cooper tires that could have the same failure. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was 57,944.
My son was driving his 2009 mustang and after stopping at a stop sign in a residential neighborhood, he slowly accelerated and the car suddenly accelerated quickly on its own. He said the gas pedal went to the floor, he tried pushing brake and it was not stopping the car. It sent him through another intersection, he engaged emergency brake to no avail. Luckily his car went through an area of soggy grass that helped slow the car down, and came to a stop by running into hedges and resting next to a brick church. He described hearing the RPM's revving up along with the sudden acceleration. He also described the steering wheel as "locking up".
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.
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.. Accelerator continued to increase on its own. (couldn't stop vehicle) hit a curb and flipped the vehicle.
Compare the 2009 Ford Mustang
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2009 Ford Mustang
Is the 2009 Ford Mustang reliable?
Owners have filed 181 complaints about the 2009 Ford Mustang, fewer than a typical Mustang model year.
What is the 2009 Ford Mustang year score?
The 2009 Ford Mustang scores 78 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Ford Mustang: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Ford Mustang?
Airbags, with 135 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles. Next is acceleration (22).
How many recalls does the 2009 Ford Mustang have?
5 recalls, covering air bags.
Was there a recall on the 2009 Ford Mustang airbags?
Yes, 5 recalls: 21V081000, 18V046000, 17V024000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ford Mustang have bad airbags?
The Ford Mustang model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (348 complaints), 2014 (245 complaints) and 2008 (240 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Ford Mustang get?
Official estimates for the 2009 Ford Mustang range from 16 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.0L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 16-17 city and 24-26 highway.
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