2003 Ford Mustang Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Ford Mustang, and owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1965
- 1966
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
1 safety recall for the 2003 Ford Mustang
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)
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.
145 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Ford Mustang have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA; 19 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 33,653 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 34 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 vehicl”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 27, 2026 · Air bags
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 26, 2025 · Structure
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Ford Mustang. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–17 / 21–27 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3.8/4.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Ford Mustang model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Mustang model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2003 Ford Mustang
How do I know if my 2003 Ford Mustang has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Ford Mustang; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 06V108000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.