2003 Ford Mustang Owner Complaints

Breaks went out

NHTSA ID

11750915

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

Breaks went out

NHTSA ID

11750914

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

From all the research I have done on my vehicle, it has the Takata airbag inflators that uses phase‑stabilized ammonium nitrate without a desiccant which should have been in the Nationwide Ford vehicle recall. I am the original owner of my 2003 Mustang Mach 1 and it has never had the airbags replaced and I have never received a recall notice. I had Ford run an OASIS report on my VIN and they tell me there is no recall for my car. I told them the reports don't show data past 15 years. After all these years I thought I was safe because my car never showed it had the Takata recall, so I didn't think mine had them. Now after watching a YouTube documentary and doing research, I am now afraid to drive my car. What can be done about this?

NHTSA ID

11713803

Incident

Apr 9, 2003

Because of Mustangs heavy doors the latch mechanism malfunctioned and the door came open on the highway. I realize the car is old but I have read up on other complaints on mustangs. The door was fine and within the couple of hours of seeing the problem I was driving 70 on the highway. And I heard the door ding go off and something told me to grab the door. It was all I could do to get back home. Which has now led to other issues like the door sagging and the window is now messed up.

NHTSA ID

11689960

Incident

Sep 24, 2025

Burning of terminal on brake light switch wiring. Brake lights left on.

NHTSA ID

11647763

Incident

Mar 11, 2025

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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11645931

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

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 found a couple incidents of this happening to others with their 2003 MUSTANGS & am wondering why this had never been investigated. If I had known about a problem of electrical fires, this car would NOT have been purchased in 2017. I don't understand why this problem wasn't researched. It could've been so much worse as I had a FULL TANK OF GAS.

NHTSA ID

11576237

Incident

Jan 27, 2024

Flooded salvage title not listed

NHTSA ID

11511835

Incident

Dec 23, 2022

I WAS DRIVING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND REAR PASSANGER TIRE WITHOUT SOUND PRETTY MUCH JUST SHREDDED OF TRED .

NHTSA ID

11218339

Incident

Jun 3, 2019

Mileage

108,400 mi

THE EXHAUST PIPE BREAKS WHERE THE A/C WATER DRIPS. THIS IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF THE CAR. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES IT BETTER. HTTPS://FORD.OEMDTC.COM/100/EXHAUST-LEAK-CRACKED-OR-SEPARATED-RIGHT-SIDE-EXHAUST-PIPE-1999-2004-FORD-MUSTANG

NHTSA ID

11196623

Incident

Apr 5, 2019

Mileage

195,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11035889

Incident

May 20, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

SEAT BELTS BOTH SIDES NEVER WORKED TO THIS DAYY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM.THE BELT S WILL NOT RETRACT INTO THE HOLDER BELTS LAY DOWN GET STUCK IN DOOR AND DANGLE OUT SIDE CAR

NHTSA ID

11003461

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

26 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUG WAS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHILE TIGHTENING BOLTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE VEHICLE EJECTED ANOTHER SPARK PLUG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOLLINGSWORTH RICHARDS FORD WHERE THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THE ENGINE HEAD CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT, DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 167,000.

NHTSA ID

10994402

Incident

May 15, 2017

Mileage

167,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT, SPUN OUT, AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED CLAVICLE AND SUFFERED NUMEROUS CUTS AND ABRASIONS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ

NHTSA ID

10919915

Incident

Oct 23, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

BOTH THE FRONT SEATBELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. THIS RESULTS IN DRIVING WITH THE BELT VERY SLACK OVER THE CHEST AND LAP. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THIS SLACK WILL PERMIT INJURY. I HAVE LOOKED OVER YOUR DATABASE OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, AND THIS EXACT DEFECT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED TIME AFTER TIME, WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY BY FORD MOTOR CO.. I KNOW YOUR "STANDARD BOILER-PLATE RESPONSE" IS THAT FORD'S NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS SAFETY, BUT WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO IGNORE THIS OBVIOUS, CONTINUING DEFECT, YEAR AFTER YEAR? IS SAFETY IMPORTANT, OR NOT?

NHTSA ID

10762960

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

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. -STEREO INTERFERENCE (LOUD CONTINUOUS BUZZING SOUND.) -AC THUMP (HIGH PRESSURE COOLANT LINE HITS FIREWALL WHEN COMPRESSOR STARTS.) -DRIVER DOOR RATTLE (AFTER THE WINDOW WAS WORKED ON BUT WAS NOT FIXED.) -LIGHT BURNED OUT IN AC PANEL (OCCURRED AFTER STEREO WAS REPLACE TO TRY TO ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE, BUT WAS NOT RESOLVED.) WE HAVE MAINTAINED AND KEPT OUR LOW MILEAGE MUSTANG IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10760959

Incident

Mar 17, 2003

Mileage

100 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE NEXT DAY THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NEITHER RETRACT OR EXTEND TO A USABLE LENGTH . ONLINE I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. MY LOCAL DEALER WANTS $287.00 PLUS LABOR OF APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS TO REPAIR AND FROM WHAT I'M SEEING THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT WILL BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692684

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

143,000 mi

ALL 4 SEAT BELTS HAVE OPERATIONAL ISSUES. PASSENGER SEAT BELT FULLY EXTENDED AND WILL NOT RETRACT. DRIVER SIDE SEMI FUNCTIONAL WILL NOT RETRACT FULLY. BOTH REAR DIFFICULT TO RETRACT. CLEAR COAT ON FRONT BUMPER AND SPOILER COMING OFF IN SHEETS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680390

Incident

May 4, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THEN EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. I EXITED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN. MY VEHICLE FELT AS IF MY TORQUE CONVERTER WAS SLIPPING AND THAT POWER WAS REDUCED FROM THE MOTOR. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL SERVICE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE 3RD CYLINDER SPARK PLUG HAD SOMEHOW BACKED ITSELF OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WHICH WAS CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER TO THAT CYLINDER. IT ALSO WAS STILL RECEIVING POWER VIA THE COIL PACK WHICH IN TURN MELTED THE RUBBER BOOT AND FRIED THE COIL PACK FOR THAT CYLINDER. THE RUBBER FROM THE BOOT RAN DOWN INTO THE SPARK PLUG AND FILLED THE HOLE. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH THE PUG BOOT AND COIL PACK FOR THE 3RD CYLINDER ALONG WITH THE LABOR OF REMOVING MELTED RUBBER FROM THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND CYLINDER HEAD. *JS

NHTSA ID

10661948

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

PASSENGER SEAT BELT STARTED STICKING AND BEING HARD TO PULL OUT IN 2005, I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY STATED IT WAS OK, I HARDLY USED THAT PASSENGER SEATBELT BECAUSE I USUALLY DRIVE ALONE. IN 2009 IT GOT STUCK IN THE HOLDER AND I COULD NOT PULL IT OUT, AT THAT POINT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WANTED OVER $300.00 TO REPLACE THEIR ALREADY DEFECTED SEATBELT. I CHECKED JUNKYARDS IN THREE DIFFERENT STATES AND ALL THE 2003 FORD MUSTANG PASSENGER SEATBELTS WAS BROKEN. MY HEADLIGHT COVER IS MADE OF SOME SORT OF SUBSTANDARD PLASTIC THAT FOGGED UP AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE CLEARLY AND PLUS IT CAUSES MY CAR TO FAILS INSPECTION. FORD DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THAT I PAY THEM OVER $600.00 TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS WITH MORE DETECTED HEADLIGHT. I CALL FORD HEADQUARTER TO NO AVAIL. HEADLIGHTS AND SEATBELT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR SAFETY ON THE ROAD AND AS LONG AS THE CAR MANUFACTURER CAN GET AWAY WITH WEIGHTING THE ODDS* WITH PEOPLE LIVES WE ARE ALL IN DANGER!!!!! * ANALYZING IF IT IS CHEATER TO RECALL VEHICLES OR TO PAID THE LAWSUITS IN THE EVENT OF INJURIES OR DEATHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586103

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT WILL NOT RETRACT. WENT TO THE JUNK YARD AND EVERY CAR I FOUND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THEM. YOUR OLDEST SEAT BELTS ON OTHER CARS STILL WORK. SO WHY WOULDN'T THESE STILL WORK?? IT IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY NEW ONES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10572596

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

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

NHTSA ID

10558490

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

14,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED AND INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT (PART NUMBER YR3714B205DA, GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE) WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10554128

Incident

Oct 16, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE AND THEFT LIGHT WAS BLINKING. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT DURING THE TIME I WAS DRIVING. I ENDED UP GETTING PUSHED OFF THE FREEWAY BY THE CHP. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED TO ME, THAT A WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS MOUNTED ABOVE THE CAT CONVERTER, AND THE WIRE SHORTED OUT. WHATEVER WAS HOLDING THE WIRE IN PLACE MUST HAVE CAME OFF, AND THAT OVER TIME THE WIRE SHORTED OUT BECAUSE THE WIRE HARNESS WAS RESTING ON THE VERY HOT SURFACE OF THE CAT CONVERTER. THE DEALER TOOK PICTURES, AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY PUT SUCH A VITAL WIRE HARNESS DIRECTLY ABOVE SOMETHING THAT GETS EXTREMELY HOT. I WAS LUCKY, BUT SOMEONE ELSE MY NOT BE SO LUCKY. NO WARNING LIGHTS AND A CAR JUST SHUTS COMPLETELY DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I HOPE YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND NOT JUST THE YEAR AND MODEL OF MY CAR. THIS MUST BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491798

Incident

Dec 16, 2012

Mileage

73,650 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED. THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT AND WOULD BECOME STUCK AND/OR TWISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,066 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,703.

NHTSA ID

10489248

Incident

Aug 23, 2005

Mileage

9,066 mi