FaultScore

2003 Ford Mustang airbag problems

11 of the 181 complaints about the 2003 Ford Mustang are about the airbag system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 48,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

8

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 6 54.5%
AIR Bags 5 45.5%

Airbags across every Ford Mustang year

1993 16 0.7%
1994 40 1.7%
1995 28 1.2%
1996 21 0.9%
1998 15 0.6%
1999 32 1.4%
2000 42 1.8%
2001 26 1.1%
2002 20 0.9%
2003 11 0.5%
2005 236 10.1%
2006 228 9.7%
2007 348 14.8%
2008 242 10.3%
2009 136 5.8%
2010 180 7.7%
2011 125 5.3%
2012 158 6.7%
2013 145 6.2%
2014 247 10.5%
2015 23 1.0%
2016 15 0.6%
2017 10 0.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Petaluma, CA

AIR BAGS

From all the research I have done on my vehicle, it has the Takata airbag inflators that uses phase‑stabilized ammonium nitrate without a desiccant which should have been in the Nationwide Ford vehicle recall. I am the original owner of my 2003 Mustang Mach 1 and it has never had the airbags replaced and I have never received a recall notice. I had Ford run an OASIS report on my VIN and they tell me there is no recall for my car. I told them the reports don't show data past 15 years. After all these years I thought I was safe because my car never showed it had the Takata recall, so I didn't think mine had them. Now after watching a YouTube documentary and doing research, I am now afraid to drive my car. What can be done about this?

NHTSA complaint #11713803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles SAN Diego, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #11035889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Pismo Beach, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT, SPUN OUT, AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED CLAVICLE AND SUFFERED NUMEROUS CUTS AND ABRASIONS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 01/27/17

NHTSA complaint #10919915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tulsa, OK Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET AND WAS HIT WITH SPEED OVER 40MPH. COMPLETELY TOTALED THE FRONT END OF CAR AND BUCKLED THE HOOD SEVERELY. FRONT BUMPER COMPLETELY REMOVED. IMPACT WAS INITIALLY ON DRIVER SIDE, BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED.

NHTSA complaint #10365006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Provo, UT

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS TURNING RIGHT IN A PARKING LOT AT 15+MPH WHEN I HIT A PARKING STALL CURB IN THE SNOW. THE WHEELS STOPPED BY HITTING THE CURB WITH AROUND A 3 INCH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE CEMENT BLOCK. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON STOPPING ON THE CURB. NO BODY OR MECHANICAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10182205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,404 miles Garden Grove, CA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND MY RIGHT ARM WAS INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS UNEXPECTED MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10175191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,000 miles Hermitage, TN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING A 30 MPH REAR END COLLISION, THE CONSUMESR AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10083389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pahrump, NV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10051950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Largo, FL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN ONCOMING VEHICLE TRAVELING TO FAST TO STOP HIT THE CONSUMER. NO INJURIES AND NO ONE WAS CHARGED WITH THE ACCIDENT. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE DIDN'T COVER THE DAMAGES SO HE REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES NOT COVERED.

NHTSA complaint #10043970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Catlettsburg, KY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HIT AT 35MPH IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10024790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD NO WHERE TO GO ON THE FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER HEAD ON. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SMASHED AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10009628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Ford Mustang problems

← Full 2003 Ford Mustang report