2003 Ford Mustang: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 180 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (26% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 2 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2025
“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”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2019
“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”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
“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”Owner report · Seat Belts · Mar 2015
“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 report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2014
“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.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Oct 2013
“Making a right turn in a residential neighborhood with a speed of aprox. 10 mph the airbags suddenly deployed on the drivers side and the passengers side. There was no collision with any kind of objects (car,pets.varments,road debris etc;;... ) there was no damage whatsoever to the car. But my son was knock-out briefly and had injuries to his face, chin, and arms. Thankfully no other cars are people were in the path while he was turning. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2013
“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 report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Jul 2012
“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”Owner report · Seat Belts · May 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 19 of these complaints and injuries in 12 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.
Remedy: UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
ON CERTAIN MUSTANG COBRA PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR SURFACE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH FLOOR CARPETING DURING HEAVY THROTTLE APPLICATION. THE UNIQUE SURFACE PROFILE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY CATCH IN THE CUTOUT ON THE FLOOR CARPETING BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE CUTOUT IN THE CARPET BEHIND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
How other years compare
Check your exact Mustang by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Ford Mustang reliable?
NHTSA has 180 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Ford Mustang. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (26% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Mustang problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 24,000 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Ford Mustang have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.