2003 Ford Mustang Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 11%of 145 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 14,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2003 Ford Mustang, 11% of the 145 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 2003 Ford Mustang cobra that had the throttle get stuck in a wide open mode that could only be stopped by turning the key to the off position. This was extremely scary as I almost rear end another car.”
NHTSA complaint #10128708, filed 2005-07, 2,216 miles“I was heading west on coliseum blvd and went to accelerate to pass a slow moving vehicle when my accelerator pedal got stuck on the carpeting!!! The engine was bouncing off the rev limiter before I even realized what was going on. This car should have never been released to the public like this since there is obviously a defect with the carpeting since all of my friends with 03 cobra's have all had the same incident occur. Something needs to be done to address this problem because it's going to get people killed.”
NHTSA complaint #10134917, filed 2005-08, 19,600 miles“Gas pedal catches on vehicle carpet preventing deceleration. The hinge of the gas pedal lodges underneath the lip of the carpet keeping the vehicle accelerator depressed during driving conditions.”
NHTSA complaint #10558490, filed 2014-01, 14,000 miles“Accellerator pedal sticks down (at full throttle) because it gets entangled in factory carpeting that is incorrectly installed or attached at time of manufacture of vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10129048, filed 2005-07, 7,300 miles“Dt: the consumer stated that the accelerator stuck on 2003, Ford Mustang. Consumer was parked in a parking lot when he put the car into reverse and backed up. The motor started racing , and the accelerator stuck while the driver was backing, and he crashed into a moving car. The police came and wrote the consumer a ticket for improper backing, but did not write a police report on the accident. The owner had no prior problems with the vehicle, but the owner has only owned the car since april 10.. Consumer was still driving the car. The owner has not had the car checked for any malfunction. …”
NHTSA complaint #10128704, filed 2005-08, 17,000 milesRelated recalls
- 06V108000Apr 7, 2006On certain mustang cobra passenger vehicles, the rear surface of the accelerator pedal may come into contact with floor carpeting during heavy throttle…Covers: Ford Mustang 2003–2004
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 25% |
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 1 | 7% |
| 2022 | 3 | 6% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 4 | 3% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 3 | 1% |
| 2016 | 10 | 3% |
| 2015 | 15 | 3% |
| 2014 | 10 | 3% |
| 2013 | 19 | 7% |
| 2012 | 35 | 7% |
| 2011 | 39 | 8% |
| 2010 | 10 | 4% |
| 2009 | 22 | 12% |
| 2008 | 19 | 5% |
| 2007 | 43 | 7% |
| 2006 | 35 | 8% |
| 2005 | 54 | 8% |
| 2004 | 33 | 28% |
| 2003 | 16 | 11% |
| 2002 | 15 | 13% |
| 2001 | 13 | 8% |
| 2000 | 19 | 6% |
| 1999 | 25 | 12% |
| 1998 | 18 | 8% |
| 1997 | 5 | 3% |
| 1996 | 10 | 4% |
| 1995 | 13 | 2% |
| 1994 | 6 | 2% |
| 1993 | 4 | 4% |
| 1991 | 2 | 3% |
| 1990 | 8 | 9% |
| 1989 | 9 | 8% |
| 1988 | 5 | 5% |
| 1987 | 3 | 8% |
| 1985 | 1 | 6% |
| 1984 | 1 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2003 Ford Mustang
39 complaintsSeat belts
16 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
15 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEquipment
7 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Mustang
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology