Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Mustang, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling39
- Seat belts16
- Vehicle speed control16
- Power train15
- Air bags11
- Unknown or other10
- Electrical system10
- Suspension9
- Equipment7
- Engine6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 70 2003 Mustang vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 56 people died inside them, and 18 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Ford Mustang failed the safety check 1.26% of the time — 40% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 82,657 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
25 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 64% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde57
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen8
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld7
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan5
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot5
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af4
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk4
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
11 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 15 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
7 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 99,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
40 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 98% arrived as used imports, 3% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 7 variants: combined 11.4–14.0 L/100 km (about 17–21 mpg US), CO₂ 262–322 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 8.8 | 11.4 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 9.5 | 11.9 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 14.9 | 10.1 | 12.7 |
| Mustang · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 14.8 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
| Mustang # · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 15.4 | 10.3 | 13.1 |
| Mustang # · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 15.1 | 11.1 | 13.3 |
| Mustang # · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 11.4 | 14.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2003 Ford Mustang.
| 2006080 18 Apr 2006 | Other On certain Mustang SVT Cobra vehicles, the accelerator pedal may come into contact with floor carpeting during heavy throttle application. Interference from th… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2003 Ford Mustang: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636265 | SOME COBRAS MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK NOISE FROM THE DRIVELINE DURING A QUICK ACCLERATION JUST AFTER COAST (TIP-IN CLUNK). *TT |
| 636261 | SOME VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR CONDITION PARITCULARLY FROM A STOP INTO FIRST OR REVERSE GEAR. *TT |
| 621136 | CONDENSATION AND / OR WATER ACCUMULATION WITHIN THE FOG LAMP ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 10023943 | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE |
| 10019912 | ENGINE MISFIRE WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) PEWEE, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, P0308, AND P0316. *TT |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014100 | LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION, OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014080 | STEERING RACK NOISE. *TT SQUEAK/CREAK NOISE FROM STEERING RACK WHEN TURNING. *SC |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013368 | EXHAUST LEAK - CRACKED OR SEPARATED RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST PIPE - 3.8L AND 3.9L ENGINES. *TT |
| 10013116 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT |
| 10013081 | CONVERTIBLE TOP LIFTS UNEVENLY. *TT |
| 10013060 | CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH |
| 10012954 | SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH |
| 10011162 | ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04. |
| 10011159 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10011152 | TR3650 MANUAL TRANSMISSION - JUMPS OUT OF GEAR 2ND AND/OR 3RD - CLASH NOISE AND/OR RASPY FEEL ON GEAR ENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 10010738 | POP/CLUNK OR SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE STEERING GEAR WHEN TURNING, DRIVING OVER BUMPS, OR BRAKING. OASIS. *TT |
| 10010718 | MANUAL TRANSMISSION HARD TO SHIFT INTO FIRST/REVERSE FROM A STOP. *TT |
| 10009321 | INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS. *TT |
| 10009318 | TRANSMISSION RATTLE NOISE OR DIFFICULT TO SHIFT CONDITION ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TREMEC T56 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TT |
| 10008992 | EXHAUST LEAK. RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST PIPE ON 3.8L OR 3.9L ENGINE. *TT |
| 10008582 | NOISE-WINDNOISE FROM THE A PILLAR AREA. *MJ |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE
ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation