Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Ford Mustang problems

Owners filed 271 complaints about the 2003 Ford Mustang with NHTSA between Sep 2002 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (62).

Complaints
271
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling62
  2. Power train40
  3. Electrical system28
  4. Seat belts27
  5. Vehicle speed control21
  6. Suspension17
  7. Air bags16
  8. Structure12
  9. Equipment12
  10. Tires10
  11. Seats9
  12. Fuel system, gasoline8
  13. Engine7
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic7

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 Nov 10, 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
20024
200361
200438
200559
200619
200723
20088
20096
20109
20117
20127
20135
20146
20154
20161
20173
20181
20192
20200
20210
20220
20231
20241
20253
20263

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

Engine and engine cooling

62 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BLACK MICRO FIBERS WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTS THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10433862

Power train

40 reports2 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED BY USING THE KEYLESS REMOTE SENSOR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO ABRUPTLY FORCE THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND YANKED THE GEAR SHIFT HARDER AS THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,035.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 13, 2012Power train, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10465530

Electrical system

28 reports2 crashes5 fires
“Date of incident....sometime over night 1/27/24. Vehicle FIRE I believe started in electrical components. Happened overnight while PARKED in front of home in parking lot Melted left side of dash (all odometer area) and center console where AC controls and radio are. Shattered front windshield which was black with soot, as well as the plastic frame around front area of convertible top. Fire has somehow extinguished itself. Whole interior car full of soot. I had actually used my key FOB to enter my car at which time I noticed what had happened & all the damage. I immediately disconnected my battery. The engine did not look damaged. The fire seemed to have stayed behind firewall. My insurance company TOTALED my car out due to the fact of it being an ELECTRICAL CAUSE TO FIRE & even if it could've been repaired, was told parts (dash, odometer area which was COMPLETELY melted) were obsolete. Regardless, the car now has posed a serious DANGER. I have photos & totaled decision by insurance company information, but have been unable to upload on your site. I believe you should REALLY SEE THE PICTURES. After incident, I searched to see if there had been any recalls. I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2024Electrical system, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 11576237

Seat belts

27 reports
“The Belt Strap will get twists along the length. The Body Pillar clip refuses free movement. This is aggrevating for a Driver in the Seat. Driver in vain pushes Power Seat back to allow the Belt to clip into Latch at the Console. Reality. The car is 22-yrs old. Owner expects indifference by the local Ford shop. Both a neighbor & the Owner had a hard time about service. What does the Owner thinks a good solution? Late Model Restoration is this Model's best parts hope. A indy-body shop near the home of the car a repair alternative. Owner is [XXX] in a [XXX] & uses the Car as a Daily Driver. May be able to upload images of the car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2025Seat beltsODI 11645931

Vehicle speed control

21 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“GAS PEDAL CATCHES ON VEHICLE CARPET PREVENTING DECELERATION. THE HINGE OF THE GAS PEDAL LODGES UNDERNEATH THE LIP OF THE CARPET KEEPING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED DURING DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, Vehicle speed controlODI 10558490

Suspension

17 reports2 crashes1 fire
“WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. ALL ISSUES HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER DURING THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND STILL REMAIN UNRESOLVED. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO FORD HEADQUARTERS BUT THEY SENT A COMPLETE REJECTION LETTER. I WAS TOLD TODAY BY A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. I CAN SUPPLY DOCUMENTS AND THE ORIGINAL LETTER TO FORD IF NEEDED. THE MAIN ISSUES FROM PURCHASING NEW AND DRIVING OFF THE LOT ARE (IN ROUGH ORDER OF IMPORTANCE): -MAJOR PAINT AND CLEAR COAT ISSUES (BROUGHT TO DEALER TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE TO COMPLAIN. THEY HAVE NEVER RESOLVED PROBLEM AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE TO THIS DAY.) -DRIVER DOOR WINDOW STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. -CAR ENGINE SURGING MAKING CAR LURCH FORWARD (MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. IT WAS REPORTED TO INSURANCE.) -ENGINE ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IN REVERSE. -HEADLIGHT LENSES COMPLETELY CLOUDED EARLY ON (HAVE HAD TO HAVE RESTORATION DONE TO HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES.) -ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE DIESEL WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS HIGH. -BULGE IN SEAL ABOVE WINDSHIELD FRAME WHERE CONVERTIBLE TOP SEATS AGAINST IT.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2015Suspension, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, EngineCrash reportedODI 10760959
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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