2003 Ford Mustang Electrical Problems

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

NHTSA ID

11647763

Incident

Mar 11, 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

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 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

BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH HARNESS CONNECTOR DEFORMED RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS. WIRES NO LONGER FIT WITHIN PLASTIC CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373955

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

2003 FORD MUSTANG CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER STEPDAUGHTER'S MUSTANG CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE MOTOR WALL. *KB

NHTSA ID

10210584

Incident

Oct 28, 2007

CAR OCCASIONALLY AND RANDOMLY STALLS WHEN SLOWING TO STOP OR MAKE A TURN AFTER CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167917

Incident

Sep 11, 2006

Mileage

34,349 mi

2003 SVT COBRA HAS A STALLING ISSUE. THE CAR WILL STALL WHILE DECELERATING. WHILE THIS HAS CAUSED ME NO HARM, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHEN THE CAR STALLS OF COURSE THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING CUT OUT DRASTICALLY CHANGING WHAT YOU EXPECT TO FEEL FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHY DOESNT FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK

NHTSA ID

10048812

Incident

Nov 27, 2003

Mileage

1,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. THEN, REAR SEATS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY POORLY DESIGNED SPEAKER WIRES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042037

Mileage

10,000 mi