Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Ford Fusion owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to stop upon the depression of the brake pedal without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the brakes were bled; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, she attempted to stop the vehicle but the brakes failed to operate. The contact rear-ended another vehicle and the airbags failed to deploy. There were no injuries as a result of the crash and no medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle away from the scene; however, there was severe front-end damage to the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond. The check brakes system message was displayed. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The dealer completed the air bag recall and diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the brake module and HECU module were corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 96,970. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after leaving the local dealer the brake pedal was spongy and inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to another local dealer. The failure mileage was 147,010. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the braking distance was extended. The failure was intermittent and occurred at various speeds. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
Extended brake travel that caused me to get into a car accident. Also my airbag did not deploy causing me to have a serious headache. I had two people in the vehicle with me. I pushed down on the brake pedal and it felt like it wasn't stopping or it was stopping very slowly. I was driving straight the person in the white pontiac was trying to turn left. I had the right away no yield or stop sign, but she pulled out in front of me. Driver was a 16 year old girl
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the front passenger's side air bag was starting to deploy underneath the dashboard, causing the dashboard to crack. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) which she associated with the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 162,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer and the manufacturer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but hesitated to respond, causing a 2-3 feet stopping distance delay. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
The contact owns a 2009 Ford Fusion. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was notified of the recalls and the contact was informed to bring the vehicle in for service. Despite being at the dealer for three weeks, the contact was repeatedly informed that the parts were not yet available. The contact made multiple attempts to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
I was driving and my abs light came on and is stuck open, my brake pad fell off on the driver side and the spindle is bent. I'm not sure what happened to my air bags on the passenger side. It looks like it tried to explode
My daughter rear ended another vehicle and pushed that vehicle into another vehicle because her brake pedal went all the way to the floor and failed to stop her vehicle. She repeatedly mashed the brake pedal with no response. The air bags should have deployed and did not. She was driving at about 45-50 MPH on the highway and traffic stopped in front of her. She was driving carefully because it was in the city and had been raining. She was not following too closely or going too fast for conditions. Her brakes failed. Even though Ford says this vehicle is still safe to drive until the parts come in for the recall, it is not. This is a dangerous vehicle to drive until Ford can do the issued recall for the hydraulic brake valve. They still don't have the parts as of the day I'm typing this complaint. Recall number 19v-904. I have made state farm aware and they are performing investigations. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
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.
Show 1 more recall
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
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.
Airbag complaints in other Fusion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Ford Fusion?
NHTSA has 359 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Ford Fusion, 35% of the model year's 1,023 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Ford Fusion airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-158 (inflator module, Mar 10, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-081 (frontal, Feb 16, 2021); NHTSA recall 18V-046 (inflator module, Jan 11, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Ford Fusion airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.