2003 Ford Mustang Engine Problems

Breaks went out

NHTSA ID

11750915

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

Breaks went out

NHTSA ID

11750914

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

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 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

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

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

ENGINE STALLS WHEN PARKING OR COASTING AT 5 TO 10 MPH OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448003

Incident

May 17, 2011

Mileage

73,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10433862

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

ALL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THAT VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 12/19/04 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. A ENGINE CYLINDER WITH NO COMPRESSION. FORD IS AWARE BUT DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF FACT THEY WANT THE DAMAGED PART RETURN AND IT'S NOT FOR A CORE EXCHANGE SINCE THE NEW PART HAS TO BE BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT. MUST BE FOR EVIDENCE OF FAULTY PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263634

Incident

Mar 27, 2009

Mileage

104,965 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE NUMBER 8 SPARK PLUG HAD BECOME DETACHED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10224623

Incident

Apr 7, 2008

Mileage

92,000 mi

5 OF MY SPARK PLUGS ON MY 2003 MUSTANG GT 4.6 POPPED OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE IN THE CYLINDER HEAD.ALL THESE SPARK PLUGS POPPED OUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES,2 SPARK PLUGS HOLES WERE STRIPED OUT AND HAD TO BE TAPPED OUT. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTOR TOO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197179

Incident

Jul 4, 2007

Mileage

74,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUES TO SHRED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES FAIL, THE VEHICLE OVER HEATS AND STALLS. THE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND HAS MADE SEVERAL DETERMINATIONS OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE SALEEN PACKAGE WHERE IT HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO BE A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID

10159173

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA HAS A STALLING PROBLEM, THIS HAPPENS WHEN DECELERATING, OR SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPING. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, SUCH AS REAR-ENDING SOMEONE, SINCE YOU LOOSE POWER BRAKING AND STEERING. THERE IS A SUPPOSED FIX FOR IT, (A COMPUTER REFLASH) WHICH I HAVE HAD TWICE, BUT IT JUST PLAIN DOESN'T WORK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157879

Incident

May 17, 2006

Mileage

1 mi

WHILE SITTING AT THE TRAFFIC INTERSECTION AWAITING THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER HOOD AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN LIKE CRAP. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE CAR TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN OFF, BUT I FOUND NOTHING. I THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO FIND OUT MY SPARK BLEW OUT MY PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, BUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DO NOT COVER SPARK PLUG DAMAGES. THIS LEFT WITH A $4,463 REPAIR COST TO FIX MY CAR THAT I ONLY OWNED FOR THREE MONTHS. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND ASKING QUESTIONS IN MECHANIC SHOPS, IT HAS BEEN APPARENT THAT FORD ENGINES HAVE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS AND RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUES IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER. THERE ARE MANY VICTIMS AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DRIVE A 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED MY CAR YET BECAUSE I'M STILL HOPING FOR $4000 TO FALL FROM THE SKY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10156464

Incident

Mar 23, 2006

Mileage

41,330 mi

WHILE SLOWING DOWN, DOWNSHIFTING OR SWITCHING GEARS, THE CAR ENGINE WILL JUST FAIL AND SHUT OFF/STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR WILL NOT "BUCK" OR SHAKE, IT WILL JUST TURN OFF, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO STOP OPERATING. I HAVE HAD TWO CLOSE INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND ALMOST HIT A CAR BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF WHEN THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. I AM AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE MOST OF THE TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THEY DID A FULL INSPECTION BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN MY ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR NOTICE WHILE I AM OPERATING IT. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MY FATHER HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SO I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT THE WAY I AM DRIVING IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144415

Incident

Dec 4, 2005

Mileage

28,450 mi

PURCHASED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG WITH 22,000 MILES ON IT IN FEB 2005. HAD A TICKING/TAPPING SOUND COMING OUT OF ENGINE BAY AREA AT 30,720 MILES. TOOK IT TO GERVAIS FORD IN MA, TECH LOOKED AT IT QUICKLY OUT IN THE LOT AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF I WOULD LIKE TO. MADE AN APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HAD 2 TECH'S LOOK AT AND THEY BOTH SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WELL TO MY SURPRISE AT 37,000 MILES 1,000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THE ENGINE FAILS. TOOK IT BACK TO GERVAIS FORD AND WAS TOLD BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND IT WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $2,000 TO REPAIR. POSSIBLY MORE IF ANY INTERNAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NEW AND THE ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY RESOLVED EARLIER IF THAT FORD DEALER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134403

Incident

Aug 25, 2005

Mileage

37,456 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FIRST TIME MY MACHANIC CLEARED P0460 CODE. 2ND TIME FORD CLEARED P0460 CODE 3 RD TIME I UNHOOKED NEGETIVE BATTERY POST AND CLEARED

NHTSA ID

10134179

Incident

Jan 5, 2005

Mileage

10,500 mi

GAS PEDAL STUCK UNDER CARPET

NHTSA ID

10128584

Incident

Dec 10, 2003

Mileage

2,335 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY ROTATED THE TIRES. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THEN, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE FOLLOWING HAD BEEN DONE; THE FRONT END, REAR END REALIGNED, AND WHEEL BALANCED. THEN, VEHICLE BROKE DOWN, AND WAS TOWED. REAR END WAS REPLACED SINCE IT WAS CRACKED. VIOLENT STEERING WHEEL SHAKING STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10119133

Incident

Aug 5, 2003

Mileage

2,949 mi

2003 FORD MUSTANG STALLED 5 TIMES BETWEEN 3RD AND 5TH GEAR. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10128025

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2002. AROUND 2000 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE CAR WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVABILITY. I THOUGHT THAT IT MAY BE A LITTLE QUIRK THAT WOULD WORK ITSELF OUT DURING THE BREAK-IN PERIOD. *AK NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT HASN'T. THE FIRST PROBLEM BEGAN WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGHLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD IT INSPECTED AT 6,000 MILES. THE ENGINE BEGAN STALLING DURING DECELERATION AND ALSO HAD POWER CUTTING OFF DURING TAKE OFF. THIS HAS BEEN A DAILY OCCURRANCE SINCE THAT TIME. THE CAR NOW HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS RECURRING PROBLEM HAS HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP SIX DIFFERENT TIMES WITH SIX FAILURES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 12,000 MILES. THE AIR CONDITIONING IS NOW CYCLING WHERE IT BLOWS NO COLD AIR FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. THE ADHESIVE SEAL FOR THE SPOILER IS COMING LOOSE AND THE REAR BUMPER COVER IS WARPING AS HAVE PREVIOUS MUSTANGS I HAVE OWNED. THE DRIVABILITY CONCERN IS A HAZARD TO SAY THE LEAST. I HAVE HAD NO FEWER THAN A DOZEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE I NARROWLY ESCAPED A MAJOR COLLISION DUE TO THE ENGINE BOGGING DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FORD'S REPAIR FACILITY FOR MORE THAN 4 CUMMULATIVE WEEKS FOR REPAIRS. IT IS GOING BACK IN AGAIN VERY SOON. I WENT THROUGH FORD'S ARBITRATION BOARD WHICH WAS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE AND WASTE OF MY TIME. THE BOARD CITED THAT "DRIVABILITY CONCERNS STILL EXIST, HOWEVER FORD HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED SUFFICIENT TIME TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM". EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN IN, I HAVE SAID, I DON'T WANT THE CAR BACK UNTIL IT IS CORRECTED. FORD ALSO TRIES TO CLAIM THAT VEHICLE WAS ONLY IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIME ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE SEVERAL WORK ORDERS THAT SAY OTHERWISE. I WOULD LIKE ANYONE WHO HAS HAD OR STILL DOES HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE TO CONTACT ME. THIS CAR IS A LEMON, THAT FORD DOES NOT WANT TO CORRECT.

NHTSA ID

10086412

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

Mileage

6,000 mi

2003 MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING IN A HARD DOWN POUR I WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE CAUSING THE BREATHER TO SUCK UP SOME WATER AND BLOWING MY ENGINE. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME FORD WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO OTHERS. IT HAS STALLED ON ME BEFORE WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10074761

Incident

May 30, 2004

VEHICLE HAD NO HEAT, COOLANT LEAKAGE, VEHICLE RAN ROUGH, ETC. (NAR) *PH *CB

NHTSA ID

10071626

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

MY 2003 FORD MUSTANG SVT COBRA COUPE HAS AN ENGINE STALLING ISSUE. THE ENGINE CAN STALL AFTER FOLLOWING THESE SEQUENCES IN ORDER WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. FIRST I RELEASE MY RIGHT FOOT FULLY FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THEN PRESS IT ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND WHILE HOLDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL I ALSO THEN WITH MY LEFT FOOT DEPRESS CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN FULLY, THE CAR MAY THEN STALL, BUT IT DOES NOT ALWAYS DO SO. STALLING CAN OCCUR WHEN THESE SEQUENCES IN ORDER ARE FOLLOWED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. IF DRIVING INTO AN INTERSECTION, THIS CAN POSE RISK DUE TO LOST VEHICLE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS IF THE ENGINE HAS STALLED. THE POWER BRAKES ON MY 2003 FORD MUSTANG SVT COBRA ARE BOOSTED BY THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM'S PUMP WHICH IS DRIVEN BY THE ROTATING ENGINE, THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 FORD MUSTANG SVT COBRA ARE NOT POWER ASSISTED BY THE ENGINE'S INTAKE VACUUM WHICH IS VERY COMMON WITH DOMESTIC VEHICLES. WITH A VACUUM POWER ASSIST DESIGN, POWER ASSIST CAN STILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE HAS JUST STALLED. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN THE ENGINE DRIVEN POWER STEERING PUMP STOPS TURNING WHEN THE ENGINE STOPS TURNING (IE HAS STALLED) ON MY 2003 FORD MUSTANG SVT COBRA, POWER ASSIST TO THE DRIVER TO PUSH ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LOST AND THEREFORE THE FORCE NEEDED TO PUSH DOWN ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SLOW THE CAR IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE. THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXERT ENOUGH FORCE ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR IN A TIMELY MANNER FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES NEEDED IN AN INTERSECTION, SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL. ALSO, OF COURSE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO THE DRIVER IN ORDER TO EASILY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOST. FORD SHOULD FIGURE OUT WHY THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE THE CAR'S IN MOTION DURING THESE CONDITIONS AND PUT FORWARD AN EFFORT TO FIX IT. THANK YOU. JOE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056526

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

11,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053344

Incident

Oct 15, 2003