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Ford Mustang 2003

The 2003 Ford Mustang has a 3.8 L engine. It gets 20 MPG combined (17 city, 25 highway), per the EPA. 6 recall campaigns and 40 owner complaints are on record.

Subcompact Cars Rear-wheel (RWD)
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Ford Mustang
Representative photo of the Mustang. It may show a different year or version. Photo: IFCAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
3,800 cc
6
Cylinders6
TransmissionAutomatic · 4 speeds
DrivetrainRear-wheel (RWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,650 × 1,860 × 1,350 mm (183.1 × 73.2 × 53.1 in)
Wheelbase2,570 mm (101.2 in)
Curb weight1,590 kg (3,505 lb)
Body styleSubcompact Cars

Dimensions and weight: median of the 6 versions in Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC). Each version differs slightly.

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Mustang Convertible
🇺🇸 Local data
NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Mustang 2-DR.
🇺🇸 Local data

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
17 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Emissions
276 g/km
COâ‚‚

Recalls

6 campaigns🇺🇸 Local dataNHTSA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 09E025000 · 2009-05-11 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09E012000 · 2009-04-07 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS 08E050000 · 2008-08-11 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 06E056000 · 2006-06-13 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

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.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E049000 · 2006-05-24 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL 06V108000 · 2006-04-07 · NHTSA
Consequence · Remedy

THIS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE PEDAL'S ABILITY TO RETURN TO AN IDLE POSITION. UNEXPECTED, CONTINUED THROTTLE APPLICATION AND/OR INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

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.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 2026-07-16 · NHTSA

Breaks went out

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 2026-07-16 · NHTSA

Breaks went out

AIR BAGS 2026-01-27 · NHTSA

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 vehicle recall. I am the original owner of my 2003 Mustang Mach 1 and it has never had the airbags replaced and I have never…

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2025-09-26 · NHTSA

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 …

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING Fire 2025-03-11 · NHTSA

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

SEAT BELTS 2025-03-03 · NHTSA

The Belt Strap will get twists along the length. The Body Pillar clip refuses free movement. This is aggrevating for a Driver in the Seat. Driver in vain pushes Power Seat back to allow the Belt to clip into Latch at the Console. Reality. The car is 22-yrs old. Owner expects indifference by the local Ford shop. Both a…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER Fire 2024-03-08 · NHTSA

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 s…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2023-03-14 · NHTSA

Flooded salvage title not listed

TIRES 2019-06-06 · NHTSA

I WAS DRIVING 40 MILES AN HOUR AND REAR PASSANGER TIRE WITHOUT SOUND PRETTY MUCH JUST SHREDDED OF TRED .

ENGINE 2019-04-16 · NHTSA

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

SEAT BELTS 2018-05-02 · NHTSA

TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP NOW DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT ACTING UP AND HARD TO RETRACT IN AND OUT AS WELL.

AIR BAGS Crash 1 injured 2017-10-23 · NHTSA

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.…

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Ford Mustang have?
The 2003 Ford Mustang has a 3.8 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Ford Mustang?
It gets 20 MPG combined (17 city, 25 highway), per the EPA.
Does the 2003 Ford Mustang have recalls?
6 recall campaigns are on record. The latest concerns Exterior Lighting (2009-05-11).
What are the common problems of the 2003 Ford Mustang?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Seat Belts.

Other years

Other models by Ford

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