2003 Ford Mustang GT Problems
- Complaints
- 51filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 6,000miles, 39 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Ford Mustang GT (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2003 Mustang GT most often describe grinding or hard shifts into second gear, which tends to be worse in cold weather. Engine stalling while slowing or braking is also common, sometimes with power steering and power brakes lost at the same time. Other reports include seat belts that twist or stick and spark plugs ejected from the cylinder head, and mileage in these complaints ranges from about 20 miles to about 165,000 miles.
- Transmission and drivetrain
Grinding or hard shifts into second, worse when cold
- 14 complaints (27%)
- median 975 mi at 1.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
- filed 2003–2006
Owners describe the manual transmission grinding or resisting when shifting from first into second, sometimes into third, and some report lock-out or chatter under hard acceleration. Many say the problem is worse in cold weather or on cold starts and eases after the transmission warms up. According to complaints, some dealers described the feeling as normal, and a transmission replacement or clutch and bearing work did not change the symptoms. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 22 miles to about 33,000 miles, and many describe the grinding as worse in cold weather.
What to check: Ask whether any recall or fix for the shifting problem was announced and completed, and request repair orders for clutch or transmission work. On a cold test drive, check whether the first-to-second and second-to-third shifts grind or resist.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“In my 2003 Mustang Gt with tremec tranny...grinding type feeling going into second gear. Went to dealer, and they said feeling was normal,and it would go away,it has not. I only drive it once and a while but it is worse on colder days!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10170307, filed 2006-10, 500 miles“I have a 2003 Ford Mustang Gt that during cold weather has problems shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, it's almost as if I am not even pushing the clutch in. I have 700 miles left on my warranty and it will be many months before it is cold again to reproduce the problem for the dealer so I suppose I will be eating it on this unless Ford owns up to ip. After research on the NHTSA site I see many others are having the same problem and getting no results from the dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #10119907, filed 2005-05, 33,000 miles - Engine cooling
Engine stalls, often while slowing or braking
- 9 complaints (18%)
- median 1,800 mi at 0.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- filed 2003–2004
Owners describe the engine stalling while slowing or braking, or when the clutch is pressed, and some say it has died at about 35 mph without clutch input. Some report losing power steering and power brakes at the same time, and describe close calls with other traffic. According to complaints, a dealer duplicated a stall but no repair was available, and in another case a dealer suggested the car was low on fuel. Where mileage is given, complaints range from about 20 to about 14,000 miles, and most fall under about 4,500 miles.
What to check: On a careful test drive, check that the engine keeps running and that power steering and brake assist stay on while slowing. Ask for records of any stalling repairs and whether the dealer was able to reproduce the stall.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driving down the road about 35 MPH and put on the brakes and the car shut off (shutting off the power steering and power brakes). This has happened to me twice. The second time was a couple of days ago I was getting off the interstate and when I applied the brakes the car shut off, I was lucky there was nobody in that intersection...”
NHTSA complaint #10038991, filed 2003-09, 13,980 miles“Car stalls under braking. Getting onto highway from access ramp, I accelerated to 70 MPH then touched brakes to slow to 65 and the car stalled. I lost power steering, power brakes, and acceleration. A car cut me off and I almost ran into the back of the vehicle due to the loss of braking power and tried to swerve onto the shoulder but the steering was tough due to the lack of power.”
NHTSA complaint #10010915, filed 2003-03, 1,000 miles - Engine cooling
Spark plug ejected from cylinder head
Mentioned in 4 of 44 sampled complaints
Owners describe a spark plug being forced out of the cylinder head, sometimes with a loud pop, leaving damaged threads, a misfire, or an engine that will not run. A complaint notes the plugs were original factory parts, and another says the ejection happened again after an earlier episode. According to complaints, dealers found nothing wrong or said the repair fell outside warranty, and a dealer offered a paid patch. All of these complaints give mileage, between about 30,500 and 53,000 miles.
What to check: Ask whether the spark plugs and cylinder head threads were inspected, and whether any repair was done under warranty. On a test drive, note whether the engine idles and accelerates smoothly, and request records of any spark plug or cylinder head repair.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Spark plug was spit out of head. It has the factory plugs in it never been changed. The dealership said that nothing was wrong with my car,the dealership, checked spark plug in question,then told me that there was nothing wrong with my car and sent me on my way. At this point I do not know if it is ok or not? But I am driving it till it breaks again.”
NHTSA complaint #10244464, filed 2008-10, 48,825 miles“My 03' mustang spit the spark plug out of the head,again, taking all the threads with it. Now it is unable to run do the fact it has a missing plug. The dealership says it is out of their hands do to not being under warranty any longer. Ford motor co. Said they will not fix the car,it is out of warranty. Sorry the spark plug was ejected out of the head. We can not fix it unless you pay for parts/labor out of your pocket. …”
NHTSA complaint #10262189, filed 2009-03, 53,000 miles - Seat belts
Seat belts twisted, sticking, or detached
- 5 complaints (10%)
- median 98,000 mi at 11.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- filed 2003–2018
Owners describe front seat belts that become twisted, are hard to retract, or stay stuck, so they may not secure the occupant properly. A complaint reports a lap belt that detached from the frame, leaving the driver improperly restrained, and another links a locked passenger belt to a Takata-related recall. An owner reports the same belt problem across several Mustang model years, with no specific incident. Where mileage is given, these complaints range from about 98,000 to 165,000 miles.
What to check: Check that both front seat belts latch, retract, and extend smoothly, and that the lap belt is anchored to the frame. Ask for repair records for any seat belt work and whether any belt-related recall was confirmed as completed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driver side seat belt gets twisted and wont retract and gets shut in door if you don't pay attention, passenger side seat belt is stuck and wont come out or work at all.”
NHTSA complaint #10556086, filed 2013-12, 98,000 miles“We have owned several different model years of mustangs (2003, 1998, 1996 to be exact). For reasons unknown, the seat belts for the front bucket seats become twisted and do not secure a person properly in the seat. This has been a problem in all three of these vehicles. There has not been a specific incident related to this problem. However, if Ford does not research this ongoing concern, the seat belts will not properly restrain front seat occupants in these cars. …”
NHTSA complaint #10150526, filed 2006-02
Buying note. Prospective buyers may want to ask about shift quality on a cold start and whether the engine keeps running and power assist stays on while slowing. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a cold test drive, seat belt operation, and a check of the spark plugs can help clarify the car's condition.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 44 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 51 consumer complaints for the 2003 Ford Mustang GT. 39 of the complaints include a mileage, and 85% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 6,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling11 22%
- Seat belts6 12%
- Electrical system5 9.8%
- Other or unknown3 5.9%
- Seats3 5.9%
- Brakes2 3.9%
- Fuel system2 3.9%
- Steering2 3.9%
- Air bags1 2.0%
Also reported: Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “There was a transmission problem. It was very difficult to shift gears, especially when the vehicle was cold. The consumer contacted the dealer, who stated that it was a cosmetic problem, and they were aware of it. However, the recall will not take place until the fourth quarter.”
NHTSA complaint #10075732, filed 2004-07, 6,000 milesEngine cooling: “After driving to work one morning, once I parked I noticed that coolant was leaking from bottom radator hose. Dealer replaced cooling hoses and clamps. Also the paint were the hood scoop meets the hood started to chip, water gets caught under the hood scoop making it difficult the keep it clean.”
NHTSA complaint #10088206, filed 2004-08, 2,100 milesSeat belts: “Dt: contact states the vehicle she owns has been to the dealership numerous times for brakes, the seat belts, and the computer chip that made the vehicle start. Now, the catalytic converter malfunctioned. The repairs were being made at no charge because the vehicle was still under warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #10142432, filed 2005-11Electrical system: “1) everything was running fine, no problems detected. Maintenance on vehicle was up to date. Was turning a corner and there was a pop and after that the engine started to mis-fire. 2) was able to limp the 2 miles to the Ford service center. There, they told me that the spark plug had blown out of the engine block and that this happens on occasion. I had two options: the first was to pay $610 to put a patch in that wasn't provided with a warranty and they told me it could last 2 years or blow 2 miles down from the shop after I left, or pay $2500 and have a new cylinder put in. …”
NHTSA complaint #10185145, filed 2007-03, 52,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
85% of the 39 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,000 and 30,500 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Ford Mustang GT in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 2003 Ford Mustang GT.
Other model years of the Ford Mustang GT
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 151 | 33,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 163 | 43,250 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2004 | 14 | 50,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 51 | 6,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 48 | 46,383 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 59 | 55,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 64 | 70,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 36 | 53,564 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 53 | 82,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 23 | 85,101 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 32 | 89,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Ford Mustang GT model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Mustang GT?
Owners of the 2003 Mustang GT most often describe grinding or hard shifts into second gear, which tends to be worse in cold weather. The issues reported most often: Grinding or hard shifts into second, worse when cold; Engine stalls, often while slowing or braking; Spark plug ejected from cylinder head.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Ford Mustang GT have?
NHTSA recorded 51 consumer complaints for the 2003 Ford Mustang GT as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Ford Mustang GT is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 15 complaints (29% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 11.
Has the 2003 Ford Mustang GT been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Ford Mustang GT reported?
Among the 39 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 6,000 miles and the middle half falls between 1,000 and 30,500 miles; 85% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.