2009 Ford Mustang Review: Reliable Year For An Affordable Long Lasting Sports Car

Alex Showalter

Aug 6, 2022

The 2009 Ford Mustang lasts around 200,000 miles with only some minor paint and door panel issues. At $6,663 to $34,551, it’s a good value for a powerful and dependable sports car.

The Good

The V8 engines offer excellent power, the infotainment system is easy to use and the suspension holds the corners well.

The Bad

There’s a lot of cheap plastic on the dash, the seats are not very comfortable and the fuel costs are high.

Is the 2009 Ford Mustang a Good Used Car?

Yes, 2009 is a good year for the Mustang. Owner reviews praise the powerful engines, responsive handling, and affordable ownership costs for a sports car.
Interior quality is average compared to other sports cars, but the high-end models have some nice materials, and the technology is very good for its age.
Reliability ratings are above average. Mustang models from 2008–2011 are good choices, with more issues showing up in 2012.
Performance is average from the standard V6 engine, but the larger V8 engines offer excellent power.
The 2009 Mustang is a safe sports car getting a perfect overall 5-star rating in government crash tests, and only getting 4 stars in rear passenger side crash tests.
Fuel economy is good for a sports car, averaging around 20 MPG, which will get owners about 320 miles of range out of the 16 gallon fuel tank.

Positive Owner Reviews

Nicole L

The Ford Mustang is a car that will never go out of style no matter what year it was made.

I love my car because it is almost 10 years old and I have never had any issues with it. It is well made and stood the test of time and still looks as new and is just as stylish and when I first got it. I get compliments all the time about my car. Well worth the money.

Brandy H

Fun, Fast, Zippy car!!! Not for the faint of heart.

I love my Ford Mustang. This is my 4th. Mustang and they are such a joy to drive. You can get them standard which still has a lot of get up and go or get one souped up. Depending on how much you wanna spend will determine the "luxury".

Dawn F

45th anniversary edition!

45th anniversary edition. I love it. Has programmable interior lights. Can change color of lights on dash too

Logan A

The vista blue color is the most beautiful color out there.

So far owning my mustang for 4 years and nearly 50, 000 miles, I've never experienced a major issue. My biggest complaint with the vehicle would be the interior pieces. Everything on the inside seems to be a really cheap plastic. Other than that this car has treated me great and never left me stranded. Always gets me from point A to point B and looks good while doing it.

Cathy S

I would like others to know that the car is fast.

I love everything about my car! I love the leather seats, the fast smooth ride, the way it handles in curves in the road and in turns, the electric heated seats. I really have no complaints about my car.

Chelsea H

This is a rear wheel car.

I don't like that it only has rear wheel drive. I do like the model, style, and how smooth it drives. The Bluetooth compatibility is really nice and it's easy to upkeep and maintain.

Lynn J

I cannot speak for all Mustangs, but this car is more comfortable than it looks.

I have not had any problems with my 2009 Ford Mustang, aside from the airbag being replaced at the dealer for a call back, and the light now will not stop flashing. Other than that I find it a reliable, beautiful car. It. When I got it I thought the sound package was bad, but have changed my mind. I tis really pretty good. One issue is that when I open the trunk, any water on the trunk seems to roll down into the trunk, getting stuff wet that is in there. Other than that I have nothing bad to say. It is a great car and I enjoy driving it.

Kristin J

It's reliable and fun to drive

Like design Like reliability Dislike high pitched turn signal Dislike several recall requirements

Negative Owner Reviews

Diana G

Impractical and uncomfortable car.

There is hardly any room in it. Not practical for large family use. Small trunk and hard to get in and out of when you are someone with back and leg pain.

Jordan V

They more than likely do not know how to drive it.

I enjoy the style my vehicle has. I love the color it is. I do not like the gas mileage. I do not enjoy driving it in the city because it has a manual transmission.

Evelyn E

Good Ford Mustang to restore.

I hit a deer and the front end damage has not been repaired. I have replaced the radiator twice in the last year. It is the 40th anniversary edition of the Mustang. It would be a good car to restore. It has been a very reliable vehicle. The car color is black and the tires are mismatched.

Evelyn M

The price is right. Both on cost & gas efficiency!.

The body needs a lot of repair. I do not drive it very often. I have a hard time seeing out the windows.

What Do Critics Say About the Ford Mustang?

Consumer Reports says the Mustang is an excellent sports car, with above-average owner satisfaction scores.
Edmunds gives the Mustang a 4.7/5 praising the powerful V8 engines, but doesn’t like the lack of stability control.
Kelley Blue Book users rate the Mustang 4.7/5 and enjoy the relatively affordable performance, but owners don’t like the cramped rear seats.

What Common Problems Does the 2009 Ford Mustang Have?

The most common complaints from owners on the 2009 Ford Mustang include bubbling paint, broken door panels, and a cracked thermostat housing. Overall, these problems are very minor compared to other sports cars from 2009.

Bubbling paint is the most common issue reported by owners at around 45,000 miles. The paint on the hood starts to fail and bubble up as the car ages and is exposed to a lot of sunlight. Repainting the hood fixes the problem, and costs about $800.

Broken door panels are another issue on the 2009 Mustang at around 40,000 miles. The glue that holds the door panels together is weak and wears out as the door is opened and closed. Re-gluing the panel is easy and costs about $20 for materials, or new panels are roughly $300 per door.

A cracked thermostat housing on the engine shows up on some Mustang models at around 80,000 miles. The housing is made of plastic and cracks as it heats and cools. Replacing the housing is an affordable job, costing about $250.

There are 7 recalls, average compared to other sports cars from 2009. All of the recalls are for air bag inflators, and are not a concern once they have been replaced for free.

How Long Will the 2009 Ford Mustang Last?

A well-maintained 2009 Ford Mustang should be able to last around 200,000 miles, which is about 50,000 miles more than rivals like the Dodge Challenger. Regular annual maintenance costs are similar to other sports cars according to Repair Pal at $658 per year.

Since most 2009 Mustang models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace items including the alternator for $450, fuel sending unit costing $900, and the power steering hoses which cost $300.

Jim H

I wouldn't recommend buying this car. I believe that there are way too many other cars that are better

How Much Is the 2009 Ford Mustang Worth?

Blue book values range from $6,663 to $34,551, making it thousands of dollars cheaper than a Nissan 370z or Dodge Challenger. The pricing varies since the Shelby GT500 is a low-production model. When new, the price range was $20,430 to $33,985. Depreciation is better than average, only losing about 7% of its current value per year.

What are the Different Models of the Ford Mustang?

There are five models of the mustang available for the 2009 model year. The fifth generation of the Mustang was introduced in 2005, with the sixth generation launching in 2015.

Deluxe is the entry-level model and has:

16-Inch Alloy Wheels
Cloth Seating
Keyless Entry
Cruise Control
AM/FM/CD Stereo System With 3.5mm AUX

Premium is a step up, adding:

Unique 16-Inch Wheels
Power Driver’s Seat
Shaker 500 Stereo With 6-CD Stereo System

GT Deluxe has a V8 engine and adds:

17-Inch Alloy Wheels
Performance Seats
Upgraded Cloth Sating
Fog Lights
Rear Spoiler

GT Premium offers more features including:

Leather Seating
New 17-Inch Alloy Wheels
Suspension Improvements
Shaker 1000 Stereo

Shelby GT500 is the performance model with:

18-Inch Alloy Wheels
Shelby Leather & Suede Interior
MacPherson Suspension
Limited Slip Rear Differential
Xenon Headlights

Base

210 HP 19-20 MPG

View Details

Premium

210 HP 19-20 MPG

View Details

300 HP 18 MPG

View Details

GT Premium

300 HP 18 MPG

View Details

Shelby GT500

500 HP 16 MPG

View Details

What Engines Come In the Ford Mustang?

The base engine is an average 4.0L V6 which makes 210 horsepower and gets up to 20 MPG combined.
A step up is the stronger 4.6L V8 which produces 315 horsepower while getting up to 18 MPG combined.
The flagship engine is the powerful 5.4L supercharged V8 which makes 500 horsepower and gets up to 16 MPG combined. Performance is excellent, taking 4.6 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.

What Colors Does the Ford Mustang Come In?

How Big Is the Ford Mustang?

The 2009 Ford Mustang is an average sized 2-door sports car offered as coupe and convertible and is bigger than other sports cars like the Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata. Passenger room is good in the front seats, but the backseats are very cramped and not good for long drives.

Cargo space is above average in the coupe with 13.1 cubic feet of room, but the convertible is small with only 9.7 cubic feet of space. That’s enough room for 3-4 suitcases in the coupe and 2-3 in the convertible.

How Does the Ford Mustang Compare to the Competition?

The 2009 Ford Mustang is a very good sports car offering fewer mechanical problems than other high-horsepower rivals.

The Nissan 370z is a rival that costs about $5,000 more. Steering feel and interior materials are nicer in the Nissan 370z, but the Ford Mustang has more powerful V8 engines available. We recommend the Ford Mustang since they’re more fun to drive, and more affordable to own.

The Chevrolet Corvette is another American sports car which costs $10,000 more. Performance and handling are both better in the Chevy Corvette, but the Ford Mustang has more space in the cabin. We recommend the Chevy Corvette for a weekend car, but the Ford Mustang is easier to live with as a daily driver.

Ranks #4 Sports Cars by Owners

Tie

2009 Mazda RX-8

Tie

2009 Honda S2000

2009 Ford Mustang

4.46

Do Owners Recommend the Ford Mustang?

Ash V

Sure but it is rather tiny inside drives like a champion so smooth on the road gas mileage is pretty good for a sport car

Owner Reviews

Write a Review

Ron k on March 24, 2021

It is reliable and easy to drive.

I like the acceleration. I like the cruise control. I like the sporty look.

Josh B on March 22, 2021

The performance behind it.

So far I have not had any problems with my mustang. Even though it is a v6, the performance of a classic American muscle car is second to none. Sounds great and still packs a punch under the hood.

Kathy P on March 16, 2021

Timeless classic muscle car!

Great car with awesome original features, fast, stylish and timeless! It drives amazingly well, and can make sharp turns on a dime and fit into smaller parking scenarios. The convertible top is a lot of fun in those days when I want to feel young and carefree with the wind in my hair oh my!

Kristin J on February 20, 2021

It's reliable and fun to drive

Like design Like reliability Dislike high pitched turn signal Dislike several recall requirements

Matthew P on February 15, 2021

2009 Ford Mustang, Water leak in cabin.

The only real problems that I have had with my 2009 Ford Mustang is the drain plug in the front of the car got clogged from the previous owner not clearing debris from the underneath of the hood. That cause water to overflow into my cabin. So when it rained hard water would flow into my passenger side. I had to drain water and clean the floors until I got it fixed by having the mechanic blast open the drains.

Cathy S on February 8, 2021

I would like others to know that the car is fast.

Lynn J on February 2, 2021

I cannot speak for all Mustangs, but this car is more comfortable than it looks.

donald W on January 28, 2021

It's fast and it's old but i like it.

I like the horsepower and the look of the car. I hate that everything breaks on the car.

Shannon P on January 21, 2021

It's not a lemon, mustangs get a bad rap for being a ford.

Silver mustang, runs great, never have problems with it.

Kathryn M on January 15, 2021

Beautiful Car with Stunning Interior Lights

I love our Ford Mustang. It has a beautiful design and comfortable, leather seats. My favorite feature is the lights inside that change color. The biggest problem that I've had is that it slides quite a bit in rain/water and snow/ice. That makes it feel less safe and makes us choose the other car that we own in those conditions. Gerally, it's very reliable and safe, though.

Vicki W on January 8, 2021

It has small interior and can not seat many people and small cargo space.

I like the way it looks. I like that it accelerates fast. I dislike trying to get in and out of it.

Shannon W on December 19, 2020

Best car I have ever had.

I have had this car for years and have had no major problems come up, I love the style, the feel, gets pretty good gas mileage, has a sporty look. Handles really good, drives smooth, first car I have had in a long time that I am not afraid to drive out of town,

Dawn F on November 12, 2020

45th anniversary edition!

45th anniversary edition. I love it. Has programmable interior lights. Can change color of lights on dash too

Evelyn M on October 24, 2020

The price is right. Both on cost & gas efficiency!.

The body needs a lot of repair. I do not drive it very often. I have a hard time seeing out the windows.

Dee K on August 23, 2020

My car is a usa car. But detroit's spickets are still running brown water.

Its sporty, fast and comfortable to drive. It is the 45th anniversary of this model. It is high performance and handles the windy roads with no problem.

David Y on August 12, 2020

That I value it highly and any actions that endanger it makes me very upset.

I like the body style. And I like the interior. But it just doesn't have the power that I like to have in my vehicles. It's a nice car but it's just not fast enough.

Diana G on August 7, 2020

Impractical and uncomfortable car.

There is hardly any room in it. Not practical for large family use. Small trunk and hard to get in and out of when you are someone with back and leg pain.

Alexis B on March 20, 2020

Has big fog lights, and mustang lights that shine from the door onto the ground.

The car was bought used, and seems to have wires that were tampered with, and we recently had to replace the battery. It runs perfectly now, some of the seats and pieces are worn and need to be reapplied. It is very clean, with four seats. It gets 16 mpg. It is black with two white (sticker) stripes on it.

Hayden S on March 1, 2020

This vehicle is a reliable and long-lasting choice.

I've had this car for around 8 years, and it still runs just fine. It hasn't had any major issues and gets you were you need to go.

Victoria K on December 2, 2019

Excellent vehicle. Would highly recommend.

Drives smooth and easy. Reliable vehicle. Rear wheel drive, automatic. Handles nicely on turns. Accelerates quickly. Downside is that the car is low to the ground which makes going over speed bumps and rough terrain unpleasant. Would buy again 10/10.

Niko D on September 27, 2019

Drives great, lots of power, not enough room in back seat, but big trunk.

Convertible, drives well, never had any problems with the engine or other essential parts.

Chelsea H on September 20, 2019

This is a rear wheel car.

I don't like that it only has rear wheel drive. I do like the model, style, and how smooth it drives. The Bluetooth compatibility is really nice and it's easy to upkeep and maintain.

Peggy Z on August 4, 2019

Buying a classic car keeps our past memories alive.

I like the sportiness and styling. It is roomier than a lot of short cars. I am not a fan of the noise with dual exhaust.

Rhonda G on July 18, 2019

Very nice car the interior detail is very nice.

I really love my car it is red and it really makes the car pop even more it is a great reliable car that you can take on road trips and not have a problem. The seats are very comfortable. In the summer I do have to constantly check the water but it is no big deal. A great car for a short person it is a big body car but it feels just right.

Tammy J on July 15, 2019

Mustangs . Best style car for any era!

I have always been in love with mustangs. I love the look. Has always been very dependable. I find it very comfortable, however I have never taken a long road trip. My car handles quite well, never had a problem with maneuvering through traffic. Plenty of leg and head room. Not a family car though, no room in backseat for older children. Totally my dream car.

Adrian L on April 24, 2019

The mustang is a great car to drive.

I have a 2009 v6 mustang and it's a great car. They are not the fastest but you still get a quick car if you like the speed. Performance is good on the mustangs. It's a smooth ride on the highway and interstate. They handle well on curves and sharp turns. I can rely on my car getting me from point A to point B. I have not had any problems with the car. The comfort is also good in the car. The seats are well cushioned and enough leg space up front. The back does not have much space. It can seat two people but leg room is terrible for tall people.

Nicole L on February 18, 2019

The Ford Mustang is a car that will never go out of style no matter what year it was made.

Evelyn E on January 29, 2019

Good Ford Mustang to restore.

Logan A on January 18, 2019

The vista blue color is the most beautiful color out there.

Jenna M on January 2, 2019

My car has cool led lights. The radio is both AUX and Bluetooth.

Since it is a 2 door getting in and out is not the easiest thing. Honestly, this car is amazing and I love every aspect of it but getting in and out really sucks. Also, only having 4 seats instead of 5 is hard. A slight blind spot in the front mirror that is an issue mostly when turning left for looking at the cross walk but just requires extra caution.

Brandy H on December 20, 2018

Fun, Fast, Zippy car!!! Not for the faint of heart.

Jeremy B on November 13, 2018

Why Ford great for people like me.

My car is very good for long trips, as it gets good mileage on highways. At other times, the car has rather mediocre fuel mileage. The car is a breeze to drive, and my friends usually comment on how cool my car is.

Bea B on November 4, 2018

Characteristics of a mustang.

This vehicle is nice in the summer but it is bad to drive in rain or snow. You hydroplane at takeoff, skidding and lose control. But it is perfect for dry weather. Mine is a 2009 and it still has original paint. Great on the inside. Perfect size trunk. I fit everything.

Tonoa W on October 30, 2018

Good car, fast powerful

Drives good , light weight... Need something heavy in trunk to help the overall of your drive, goods

Jordan V on October 26, 2018

They more than likely do not know how to drive it.

I enjoy the style my vehicle has. I love the color it is. I do not like the gas mileage. I do not enjoy driving it in the city because it has a manual transmission.

Alex Showalter

Alex is an automotive enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in the used car market. He brings a wealth of knowledge to Vehicle History as our Staff Writer and has written hundreds of used car reviews helping buyers make informed purchasing decisions. He is a member of the Automotive Press Association, and keeps up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry. Over the years, he has driven hundreds of cars, working on many of them. His mechanical experience evolved from modifying off-road trucks as a teen to focusing on automotive electrical systems as he got older. He now specializes in reviewing used cars as an automotive journalist. Some of his favorite brands are Toyota and BMW. The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of his favorite vehicles of all time since they’re built to last forever and can go anywhere. One of his current cars is a Lexus LX570, built on the same platform as the 200-series Land Cruiser, but it’s a better value in the used market.