2003 Ford MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
17,363 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 35 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 8 | 22.9% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 11.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 3 |
| Suspension:Rear | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Equipment | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 3; Suspension:Rear: 3; Air Bags: 2; Equipment: 2; Seats: 2; Steering: 2; Structure: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
2003: 10; 2004: 1; 2005: 8; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000934 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
SVT COBRA IS INTERMITTENTLY STALLING WHILE THE CLUTCH IS FULLY DEPRESSED AND DECELERATING TO A STOP. THIS INTERMITTENT STALLING OCCURS MOST FREQUENTLY AT IDLE. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT LEAST TEN TIMES IN THE FIRST 1174 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. OCCURS WITH GREATER FREQUENCY IN WARM WEATHER WHILE THE ENGINE IS HOT. TWO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CHECKED THE ENGINE AND ONE RESET THE IDLE CONTROLLER. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE CONDITION, HOWEVER, THE STALLING PERSISTS WITH NO CHANGE IN SYMPTOMS. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY, THE CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014135 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
THE MOST RECENT BEING JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, MY VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES HAVE A PROBLEM IN WHICH IT STALLS WHILE MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED WHILE A GEAR IS NOT ENGAGED. THE CAR IS A 2003 SVT FORD MUSTANG COBRA CONVERTIBLE. A CALL TO FORD'S SVT DIVISION HAD NO SOLUTIONS. MANY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WITH THE SAME CAR ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS OCCURRED TO ME 4 TIMES. THANK YOU SO MUCH! *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016849 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
2003, COBRA SVT CONVERTIBLE, THE CAR STALL WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP WHEN THE TAKEN FROM A GEAR TO NEUTRAL WITH THE CLUTCH IN/OUT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO HAVE THIS OCCUR ON A TEST RIDE, THEY HAD NO ANSWER TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. THEY ADDED A DEVICE THAT I HAVE TO PUSH WHEN THIS OCCURS SO I CAN CAPTURE A PICTURE OF THE CARS COMPUTER IS DOING WHILE THIS OCCURS. I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF OTHER 03 COBRA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO HAVE A TSB ON THIS SOON THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION OVER A YEAR. THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018688 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA CONVERTIBLE STALL WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH ON OCCASION. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THEY INSIST THAT THEIR IS NOT MUCH THAN CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY HAVE TRIED TO RE-FLASH MY COMPUTER, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025378 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
2003 SVT FORD MUSTANG COBRA CONVERTIBLE KEEPS STALLING AT STOP WITH CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED, DOES IT MOST WHILE RUNNING AIR CONDITIONING DURING HOT WEATHER, THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT AND HAS STALLED 7 TIMES, ONCE NEARLY REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME DUE TO NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. OUR LOCAL DEALER HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS (SAME) AND HAS ME SCHEDULED TO GO IN LATE JULY TO "REFLASH THE COMPUTOR" THOUGH IT HASN'T MADE MUCH DIFFERENCE ON OTHER FRIENDS COBRAS. PLEASE HELP !!!!!!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028475 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
1998 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE UNDER WARRANTY, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT (LAP PORTION) BECAME SEVERELY FRAYED. BELT (AND MAYBE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY) WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. DON'T HAVE AN EXACT DATE - BUT WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. *AK NOW, AT 5 YRS 4 MO OF AGE, THIS BELT IS AGAIN FRAYING.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028998 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 MUSTANG COVERTIBLE (WITHIN THE LAST MONTH). I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CONVERTIBLE COVER THAT COVERS THE TOP WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE COVER DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY. I HAVE CALLED AS WELL AS VISITED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD IN MICHIGAN(WHERE THE CAR WAS BUILT). BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE TELLING ME THEY ARE AWARE THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THE ITEM YET AND HAVE NO PLANS TO DO SO AT THIS TIME. ONE OF MY CONCERNS AND THE REASON FOR TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028999 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 MUSTANG COVERTIBLE (WITHIN THE LAST MONTH). I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CONVERTIBLE COVER THAT COVERS THE TOP WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE COVER DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY. I HAVE CALLED AS WELL AS VISITED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD IN MICHIGAN(WHERE THE CAR WAS BUILT). BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE TELLING ME THEY ARE AWARE THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THE ITEM YET AND HAVE NO PLANS TO DO SO AT THIS TIME. ONE OF MY CONCERNS AND THE REASON FOR TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028999 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.