There are 8 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2003 Ford Mustangin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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 and something told me to grab the door. It was all I could do to get back home. Which has now led to other issues like the door sagging and the window is now messed up.
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.
CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING CAUSING WATER DAMAGE ON INSIDE OF CAR. *NM
WINDOWS LEAK WHEN WASHING OR DRIVING IN THE RAIN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING FLOORBOARDS VIBRATE VIOLENTLY, CAUSING IMPAIRED VISION OF REAR VIEW MIRROR. DEALER STATES, THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
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 THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT, IN DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE TOP DOWN AND THE COVER NOT PROPERLY FITTING PLACE, WHAT WOULD THE OUTCOME BE IF IT FLEW OFF THE CAR AND HIT ANOTHER CAR OR A MOTORCYCLIST. I FEAR IT MAY BE DEADLY. I AM ASKING THAT THIS ORGANIZATION LOOK INTO THIS MATTER OF HIGHWAY SAFTEY. AS I AM AWARE AND SURE THERE ARE OTHER CONSUMERS THAT SHARE MY CONCERN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. KRISTEN . *AK
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 THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT, IN DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE TOP DOWN AND THE COVER NOT PROPERLY FITTING PLACE, WHAT WOULD THE OUTCOME BE IF IT FLEW OFF THE CAR AND HIT ANOTHER CAR OR A MOTORCYCLIST. I FEAR IT MAY BE DEADLY. I AM ASKING THAT THIS ORGANIZATION LOOK INTO THIS MATTER OF HIGHWAY SAFTEY. AS I AM AWARE AND SURE THERE ARE OTHER CONSUMERS THAT SHARE MY CONCERN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. KRISTEN . *AK
RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT SEEM TO GET THE TOP TO STOP LEAKING. I RECENTLY FILED A REPORT WITH THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD TO GET FORD TO REPLACE THE CAR. HOWEVER, IT RECENTLY RAINED AND I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTINUE THE WARRANTY WORK ON THE CONVERTABLE TO INCLUDE REPLACING THE FRONT SEATS DUE TO WATER SPOTS. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THEY CANT SERVICE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD, FORD TELLS ME IT IS STILL MY CAR TO GET IT SERVICED. I AM AT A TOTAL LOSS, IF FORD WANTS TO DROP NEW SEATS IN THE CAR EVERY TIME IT RAINS THAT IS FINE THEY CAN WASTE THE MONEY. I LOVE THE CAR BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. DISPUTE SETTELEMENT BOARD STATES THEY CAN'T HEAR MY CASE UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST. WELL BY THEN THE CAR WILL BE FULL OF MOLD SMELL FROM THE RAIN AND THE SEATS WILL LOOK WORSE THEN THEY DO NOW......*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026