2003 Ford Mustang GT Owner Complaints

TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP NOW DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT ACTING UP AND HARD TO RETRACT IN AND OUT AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11091470

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

165,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT GETS TWISTED AND WONT RETRACT AND GETS SHUT IN DOOR IF YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS STUCK AND WONT COME OUT OR WORK AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556086

Incident

Nov 28, 2013

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED IN A BACKWARD POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH CAUTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND ADJUST THE SEAT ONTO THE TRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME OPERATION. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BACK INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TRACK ASSEMBLY SEAT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,679. UPDATED 3/10/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIR SLID BACK WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 06/14/10 .*JB

NHTSA ID

10306414

Incident

Jan 25, 2010

Mileage

104,679 mi

MY 03' MUSTANG SPIT THE SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD,AGAIN, TAKING ALL THE THREADS WITH IT. NOW IT IS UNABLE TO RUN DO THE FACT IT HAS A MISSING PLUG. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS OUT OF THEIR HANDS DO TO NOT BEING UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. FORD MOTOR CO. SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE CAR,IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SORRY THE SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE HEAD. WE CAN NOT FIX IT UNLESS YOU PAY FOR PARTS/LABOR OUT OF YOUR POCKET. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE FOR FORD, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE ARE ACTING LIKE THERE IS NOT 1000'S OF PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. MY NEXT STEP IS TO HIRE A CLASS ACTION ATTORNEY AND SEE ABOUT GETTING MY CAR FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262189

Incident

Mar 13, 2009

Mileage

53,000 mi

SPARK PLUG WAS SPIT OUT OF HEAD. IT HAS THE FACTORY PLUGS IN IT NEVER BEEN CHANGED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR,THE DEALERSHIP, CHECKED SPARK PLUG IN QUESTION,THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. AT THIS POINT I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS OK OR NOT? BUT I AM DRIVING IT TILL IT BREAKS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244464

Incident

Oct 2, 2008

Mileage

48,825 mi

ON COLD START, THERE IS A "TICKING" SOUND. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE GAVE ME A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ARTICLE #03-25-6, DATED 12/22/03, REGARDING FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY ENGINES BUILT BEFORE 9/17/2003. EMAILED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AS IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE CAR ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS THERE IS NO RECALL AND TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED IF NEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211147

Incident

Nov 9, 2007

Mileage

34,000 mi

INTERIOR A/C BLOWER FAN(DASHBOARD VENTS) STOPS WORKING AFTER IN USE FOR 1 HOUR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193101

Incident

Aug 5, 2006

1) EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING FINE, NO PROBLEMS DETECTED. MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE WAS UP TO DATE. WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THERE WAS A POP AND AFTER THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO MIS-FIRE. 2) WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE 2 MILES TO THE FORD SERVICE CENTER. THERE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THAT THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION. I HAD TWO OPTIONS: THE FIRST WAS TO PAY $610 TO PUT A PATCH IN THAT WASN'T PROVIDED WITH A WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD ME IT COULD LAST 2 YEARS OR BLOW 2 MILES DOWN FROM THE SHOP AFTER I LEFT, OR PAY $2500 AND HAVE A NEW CYLINDER PUT IN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH FORD VEHICLES, THAT FORD IS AWARE OF BUT IS NOT TAKING CARE OF. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT EVEN IF THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS AND I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX FOR A WHILE AND A CAR MAKER WHO CAN'T ADMIT THAT THEY BUILT A FAULTY ENGINE AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM. 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS YET, AS I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN FIX IT RIGHT AT A LOWER COST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185145

Incident

Mar 15, 2007

Mileage

52,000 mi

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BLOW A HOLE AT THE CROSSOVER EXCHANGE, CAUSING COOLANT TO EXPLODE OUT LIKE A GUYSER AND GOT ON MY FACE WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM! IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IN 2005. CAN I BE REIMBERSED THE PRODUCT HAS BEEN KNOWINGLY AND WIDELY VIEWED BE EVRYBODY AS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

10177340

Incident

Dec 25, 2006

Mileage

52,000 mi

IN MY 2003 MUSTANG GT WITH TREMEC TRANNY...GRINDING TYPE FEELING GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. WENT TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID FEELING WAS NORMAL,AND IT WOULD GO AWAY,IT HAS NOT. I ONLY DRIVE IT ONCE AND A WHILE BUT IT IS WORSE ON COLDER DAYS!!!

NHTSA ID

10170307

Incident

Dec 10, 2004

Mileage

500 mi

I OWN A 2003 MACH1 MUSTANG. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT WEAR TO THE CARPET NEXT TO THE GAS PEDAL AND JUST ABOVE THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 36,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CARPET HAS FALLEN DOWN ABOVE THE GAS/BREAK/CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN USING THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER "REGLUED" THE CARPET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160261

Incident

Jun 6, 2006

Mileage

28,000 mi

WE HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF MUSTANGS (2003, 1998, 1996 TO BE EXACT). FOR REASONS UNKNOWN, THE SEAT BELTS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS BECOME TWISTED AND DO NOT SECURE A PERSON PROPERLY IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN ALL THREE OF THESE VEHICLES. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SPECIFIC INCIDENT RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF FORD DOES NOT RESEARCH THIS ONGOING CONCERN, THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THESE CARS. NOTE: THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES A DATE TO BE ENTERED SO I USED TODAY'S DATE EVEN THOUGH THIS DOES NOT REFERENCE A SPECIFIC EVENT. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150526

Incident

Feb 17, 2006

TIE RODS (STEERING) WENT BAD ON MY 2003 MUSTANG (IT HAS 37,000 MILES), AND CONVERTIBLE BEZEL CAME LOOSE. VIN#[XXX]. PARTS WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $236.00, HOWEVER I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT CONSUMER. ALSO, MY 1988 FORD F350 HAD A STEERING PROBLEM THAT WAS CORRECTED UNDER RECALL IN 1988, HOWEVER, RECALL DIDN'T HOLD, AND LAST YEAR I HAD TO SPEND $800 CORRECTING PROBLEM A SECOND TIME. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURE. MY 2004 EXPEDITION HAD IT'S RECALL DONE (FOR CRUISE CONTROL). YEARS AGO A NEW FORD OF MINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHY DO FORDS SEEM TO HAVE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND/OR FUEL? *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10147835

Incident

Jan 4, 2005

Mileage

37,800 mi

GAS PEDAL STUCK UNDER CARPET. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142447

Incident

Oct 26, 2005

Mileage

25,400 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE SHE OWNS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR BRAKES, THE SEAT BELTS, AND THE COMPUTER CHIP THAT MADE THE VEHICLE START. NOW, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. THE REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10142432

Incident

Nov 7, 2005

I PULLED OUT OF THE BANK PARKING LOT AND WHILE ACCELERATING GENTLY I HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO RUN VERY BADLY AND THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE TO FIND THAT ONE OF MY SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN FORCEFULLY EJECTED. I CONTINUED HOME WHERE I REMOVED THE PLUG TO FIND THAT THE PLUG THREADS INSIDE THE CYLINDER HEAD HAD ALL BE DAMAGED AND WOULD NEED FIXED. I FIXED THE PROBLEM MYSELF AS I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST NEARLY $1,000 TO REPLACE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CERTAIN CYLINDER HEADS DATING BACK TO 1997 AND YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138131

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

Mileage

30,500 mi

DT: WHEN THE CONSUMER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK OUT OF CONSUMERS HAND. THE STEERING WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS BECAUSE ONCE HE LET OFF THE BRAKE IT WAS FINE. THE FIRST TIME HE TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOTHING TO THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME THEY GREASED A BUSHING. THE THIRD TIME THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ,AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR A PART. ALSO, THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING BROKEN IN THE STEERING AREA, BUT THEY WILL NOT TELL HIM WHAT IT WAS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF YET, IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AS OF YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131612

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

2,392 mi

ACCELERATER PETAL STUCK DUE TO CARPET FOLDING OVER AND NO WAY TO SECURE IT.

NHTSA ID

10129229

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN PINE TWIST ROAD LOST CONTROL OF 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT ON DOWN HILL CURVE WHEN LEFT TIRES SKIDDED ON GRAVEL - WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH BUT THERE WAS AN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES. THOUGHT ALL OF THIS WAS MY FAULT UNTIL I SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL PAPER ABOUT NHTSA LOOKING AT 2003 MUSTANG GT'S FOR ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE FRONM THE CARPET SO I DECIDED TO REPORT THIS - CAR WAS TOTALED OUT AND WAS REMOVED TO THE SCRAP YARD IN MAY SO THERE IS NO CAR TO LOOK EXAMINE ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10128590

Incident

May 14, 2005

Mileage

25,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON HILL FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. WHILE LOOKING AT CAR THROUGH LIVING ROOM WINDOW WE SAW THE CAR JUST START ROLLING AWAY. CHECKED CAR AFTER AND EMERGENCY BRAKE STILL ENGAGED ! !

NHTSA ID

10126752

Incident

Jun 27, 2005

I BOUGHT A 2003 GT MUSTANG CONV ON FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2005. THE CAR HAD 14432 MILES ON IT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIRES. ON FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2005 I LEFT FROM WORK. I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-575 TOWARD CANTON WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THEN I HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND I REALIZED THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I TAPPED ON MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND GET OVER. I WAS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65. THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. AT THAT TIME MY CAR FISHTAILED AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I RAN INTO THE GUARDRAIL CAUSING ME TO SPIN AROUND LANDING WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE AGAINST THE GUARDRAIL. THAT WAS THE TIRE THAT BLEW. I BLACKED OUT DURING THE ACCIDENT. I CAME TOO AND SLAMMED THE DOOR OPEN NOT REALLY REALIZING WHAT HAD HAPPENED. A DAY LATER MY NECK STARTED KILLING ME. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ON SUNDAY APRIL 24. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD LOST SOME OF THE NATURAL CURVATURE IN MY NECK AND THAT I WAS HAVING MUSCLE SPASMS. THEY PUT ME ON PAIN MEDICINE AND MUSCLE RELAXERS. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SPLIT APART AT THE SIDEWALL. THE SIZE OF THE TIRES WAS P245-45R17. THEY WERE GOODYEAR EAGLE ZR TIRES

NHTSA ID

10120707

Incident

Apr 22, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 FORD MUSTANG GT THAT DURING COLD WEATHER HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT'S ALMOST AS IF I AM NOT EVEN PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN. I HAVE 700 MILES LEFT ON MY WARRANTY AND IT WILL BE MANY MONTHS BEFORE IT IS COLD AGAIN TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM FOR THE DEALER SO I SUPPOSE I WILL BE EATING IT ON THIS UNLESS FORD OWNS UP TO IP. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA SITE I SEE MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND GETTING NO RESULTS FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10119907

Incident

Mar 15, 2005

Mileage

33,000 mi

2003 MUSTANG GT CP, PURCHASED FROM PLANET FORD DEALERSHIP 20403 I-45 NORTH, SPRING, TX 77388 (281) 719-3891 ON JUNE 28,2003. I WAS ONE HAPPY CUSTOMER UNTIL I DROVE MY VEHICLE INTO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT APRIL 10,2004 WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE ABOUT MY MUSTANG; STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, REAR END VIBRATION AND DELAYED SHIFT IN TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD TO ROTATE MY TIRES, BALANCE TIRES, UPGRADE THE WHEEL BALANCING AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. ALONG WITH THE PROBLEMS I RECEIVE THREE EMBARRASSMENT; POLICE ESCORTED ME OFF THE PROPERTY BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO PROVE TO BOTH DEALERSHIPS THAT MY PROBLEM WAS NOT MY TIRES. BUT, THEIR WORDS WERE THAT FORD HAS THE BEST MECHANICS. I THEN HAD TO DRIVE MY CAR TO LEADERSHIP FORD IN DALLAS, TX IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO PROVIDED WITH THE PROPER CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT I WAS DENIED BY PLANET, TEAM AND RUSSELL & SMITH FORD IN HOUSTON. LEADSHIIP FORD TOOK THE TIME TO LESSON TO THE ISSUES AND TEST DRIVE THE CAR TO VERIFIED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM. THEY DETERMINED THAT VIBRATION THAT I EXPERIENCE WAS CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAR END, NOT THE TIRES NOR THE FRONT END. AS A RESULT THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE REAREND. I MEET WITH PLANET FORD GENERAL MANAGER - RON EUREN, WHOM APOLOGIZED FOR THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE CAR. BUT, HE FOLLOWED HIS APOLOGY WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS - "SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FOR THIS DEALERSHIP FOR ANY ADDITION ISSUE YOU MAY HAVE WITH YOUR MUSTANG TAKE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. DO NOT RETURN TO PLANET FORD OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE ARRESTED ON THE SPOT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10104033

Incident

Apr 10, 2004

Mileage

12,448 mi

THE LAP PORTION OF THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM *JB

NHTSA ID

10048643

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

CAR MISFIRES AND JERKS AT SPEED OF 30 TO 50 MPH ALSO SPOTS UNDER CLEAR COAT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088753

Incident

Dec 10, 2003