'05-'14 Ford Mustang Seat & Console Upgrade Guide (S197)

Step 1: ID What You Have

To get you the right set of seats, we have to know what we're trying to match. Identifying the exact interior you have helps us make sure we get you the right thing the first time!

Continue reading below to begin your DIY swap, or give us a call for a full-service experience!

Step 2: Learn What's Out There

Learn what seats you can install in your 5th Gen S197 Mustang. The front bucket seats, center console, and rear seats can all be handled separately!

We want to make sure you get the best bang for your buck by giving you all your options, allowing you to make an informed decision.

Step 3: Get New Seats

Check out our full selection of New & Used Mustang Seats For Sale. All of our seats ship fully assembled, ready for a quick and easy installation in your vehicle.

If we don't have what you need, simply fill out our contact form and we will be in touch!

5th Gen SN197 Mustang OEM Interior Options

2005-2009 Models (Pre-Refresh)

Trim Levels

Standard / Deluxe Trim (V6 & GT)
Standard cloth bucket seats. The S197 introduced a much taller, squarer seat design compared to the SN95. The standard cloth seats feature a unique "brick" pattern in the center inserts.

Airbag Note: Early models (2005-2006) often did not have side-impact airbags built into the seats. In later years (2007+), seat-mounted airbags became much more common. Always check for the "AIRBAG" tag on the upper outer bolster before purchasing replacements, as the connectors and safety systems differ.

Premium Trim (V6 & GT)
Leather upholstery. These seats share the same foam shape as the Deluxe models but feature perforated or pleated leather inserts.

Heated Seats: 2007 marked the introduction of factory heated seats as an option for the Mustang, usually found on Premium trims.

California Special (GT/CS - 2007-2009)
Unique two-tone leather treatment, power driver and passenger seats, with heating. The "Cal Special" seats feature Dove (Light Grey) or Parchment inserts against Black leather bolsters. They are structurally the same as the GT Premium seats but are highly sought after for their contrasting look.

Shelby GT500 (2007-2009)
High-performance "Sport" seats. These seats utilize significantly distinct foam with much larger, protruding side bolsters for track driving. They feature leather upholstery with the famous "Cobra" logo embossed into the upper seatback.

Color Accents: Many GT500 interiors featured color-keyed center inserts (Red or Blue) to match the exterior stripes.

Bullitt (2008-2009)
GT500-style seating without the Cobra branding. The 2008 Bullitt utilized the aggressive foam structure of the GT500 seat but was finished in specific Charcoal Black leather with a perforated pattern. These are often considered the best "stealth" upgrade for this generation—offering Shelby comfort without the snake logo.

Available Interior Colors

Core Colors

Dark Charcoal (Black): The standard black interior. Unlike the "Midnight Black" of the previous generation, this is a true, deep black.
Light Graphite (Gray): A cool, medium-light gray.
Medium Parchment (Tan): A warm beige/tan.

Specialty & Accent Colors

Crimson Red (Red Leather): A deep, rich red leather option available on certain premium models. This was often a full-seat color rather than just an insert.
Chamois: A rare, darker brownish-tan (almost saddle-colored) introduced later in the run, distinguishing it from the lighter Parchment.
Dove (Grey Inserts): Specific to the California Special, a very light, almost white-grey insert.
Grabber Orange / Performance White: Some special editions featured seat inserts that matched these bright exterior colors, though they are less common than the Red/Blue GT500 inserts.

2010-2014 Models (Post-Refresh)

Trim Levels

Standard & Premium Trims (V6 & GT)
While the chassis remained the same, the 2010 refresh brought a massive overhaul to interior material quality. The hard plastics of the 2005-2009 era were replaced with soft-touch materials, and the seats were redesigned for better support and a more upscale look.

Headrest Changes:
2010: Featured a large, prominent headrest similar to the 2005-2009 style but with a refined shape.
2011-2014: To comply with new rear-visibility safety standards, Ford switched to smaller, ratcheting headrests that can fold down forward 90 degrees.
401A "Premier Trim": A popular option package that added a "Cashmere" colored vertical stripe down the center of the leather seats and unique stitching.

Boss 302 (2012-2013)

Standard Seats: Based on the GT seat frame but upholstered in a high-grip black cloth with a specific "Boss 302" logo embroidered on the seatback.
Recaro Option: The Boss 302 offered a factory Recaro option for the Mustang. These are manually adjustable cloth seats with massive bolsters and pass-throughs for racing harnesses.

Shelby GT500

Standard Seats: Similar to the 2007-2009 GT500 seats but updated with the new 2010+ aesthetic and materials. They feature the Cobra logo and often include vertical stripes matching the exterior (White, Red, Blue, or Black).
Recaro Option: Available in Leather/Alcantara combinations. These are widely considered the most desirable seats for this generation due to their blend of track capability and premium materials.

Available Interior Colors

Core Colors

Charcoal Black: The standard dark interior.
Stone (Grey): A light grey that replaced the older "Light Graphite."
Saddle (Tan): A rich tan color, slightly more orange-hued than the previous "Parchment."

Specialty & Accent Colors

Brick Red: A deep, brownish-red leather available on Premium models. Unlike the bright "Torch Red" of the past, this was a more sophisticated, darker tone.
Grabber Blue Accents: Specific to certain trims (like the GT500 or Club of America editions), featuring blue stripes or inserts.
Lava Red (2012 Only): An extremely rare, almost black/purple leather color available only on cars painted in "Lava Red" metallic.
Tobacco (Brown): A dark chocolate brown leather, typically found on specific premium packages.

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S197 Mustang OEM Interior Upgrades

S197 Mustang OEM Recaro Seat Swaps

Starting around 2012/2013, the Recaro sport seats (originally specific to the Shelby/Boss) became an available standalone option on standard Mustang GTs and V6s. Finding a set of these in the wild is rare, but they are a direct bolt-in upgrade for any S197 (2005-2014) and are worth a premium.

Depending on your specific vehicle, you may need to move over your original occupancy sensor and side impact airbags, but otherwise the installation is extremely straightforward.

Shop Mustang Recaro Seats

Power Driver Seat Conversion

If you're adding a power driver seat to a Mustang that didn't have one from factory, you should expect to do some light wiring work. A new power and ground wire will need to be run - thankfully the wiring on these seats is self explanatory. There are two thick wires for power and ground, and two thin wires for the seatbelt sensor.

Installing Newer Mustang Seats In a S197

The floor pan of the S197 is fairly similar to that of the S550 and S650. Physically getting these seats to bolt in isn't the problem - your rear bolts for the front seats even have the same spacing. Once you get the front mounting figured out (L-bracket) you'll have to tackle swapping over airbags and occupancy sensors. We recommend a professional fabricator for installation.