Just a little info for you that have the same problem. Evidently it only affects some of the Mustangs built before 5/10/2005 according to the TSB printout. Also I got a new drivers side doorhandle put on under warranty. It had a broken pin that was keeping it from fully retracting after opening door, and I ordered it a few weeks ago. Pretty nice that it comes pre-painted from the factory.....

 

it doesnt come prepainted haha. your dealer sent it out to get painted. i had mine repalced about 2 months ago and it came unpainted

 

Just going by what my friend in the service dept. told me.......and that was that it came painted from the factory (D-3 color code). We used to work together & are good friends, so I don't think he would BS me. And come to think of it, the body shop manager told me the same thing when I asked him about getting it painted to match my car. Surely there are more owners on this site besides you and I that have had their doorhandle(s) replaced, and I'm kinda curious as to what they were told about how it comes from the factory (painted or not).