Ford Mustang Convertible Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 139 consumer complaints across the 9 model years of the Ford Mustang Convertible (1994–2003) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 35. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (38 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Mustang Convertible model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 35 | 17,363 | 0 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 17 | 52,147 | 0 | 1 | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 20 | 89,000 | 0 | 1 | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 9 | 100,000 | 0 | 1 | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 11 | 90,025 | 0 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 9 | 81,000 | 0 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 8 | 95,530 | 0 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 14 | 94,000 | 0 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 16 | 78,822 | 0 | 0 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling38 34%
- Body and structure13 12%
- Fuel system11 9.8%
- Electrical system11 9.8%
- Air bags11 9.8%
- Suspension10 8.9%
- Transmission and drivetrain9 8.0%
- Seat belts9 8.0%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2000: “The car in front of me came to the stop and so did I but as I hit my brake something blew up in my face and made me put my arms up and I lost visibility. The weird part is they went off at a rolling stop under 3 MPH .also last week my car brake switch almost started an electrical fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10876562, filed 2016-06, 89,000 miles1995: “Suffered complete brake failure, pedal went to the floor approaching traffic at a red light. I had to jump the curbs and drive off the road to avoid a collision with the stopped cars. I was able to down shift and use the parking brake to stop the car and limp to a repair shop (at slow speed using the parking brake). They found a spit in the steel brake line just below the radiator that LED to the catastrophic loss of brakes.”
NHTSA complaint #10811747, filed 2015-12, 96,000 miles2003: “Puddle of water is formed in the well behind the back seat where the convertible top sits when lowered. I also notice moisture in the other areas such as rear floor mats and trunk. This happens after rain or after car wash. I've noticed hundreds of same issues all over the internet and forums and I have absolutely no idea why nothing is being done about this. This distracts the driver and causes safety issues.”
NHTSA complaint #10414361, filed 2011-07, 57,000 milesOther Ford models
38,931 complaintsFord Explorer
34,642 complaintsFord Escape
27,557 complaintsFord Fusion
22,451 complaintsFord Focus
22,108 complaintsFord Taurus
18,165 complaintsFord Windstar
14,152 complaintsFord Edge
14,112 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology