Ford is recalling more than 400,000 model year 2005 to 2008 Mustangs because the passenger-side airbags may pose the risk of neck injury to small women or large children riding in the seat with the safety belt unattached.
“During air bag deployment, if a small female in the front passenger seat is not wearing the safety belt and has the seat in the full forward position, there may be an increased potential for a neck injury,” according to the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Mustangs were made at the AutoAlliance International Inc. plant in Flat Rock, which has been producing Mustangs since 2004.
Described by Ford as a voluntary recall, dealer will reprogram the Mustang airbag restraint control module free of charge.
NHTSA notified Ford the air bag noncompliance on July 24, 2007.
Ford notified dealers of the recall last Friday and a recall was issued with a warning going out from Ford to Mustang owners Wednesday and today.
Ford also told dealers to stop demonstrating or delivering the Mustang “until they are updated with new software for the constraint control module.”
The automaker plans will notify affected Mustang owners to “take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer for the software update. Ford will also instruct them to have all occupants wear their safety belts and move the passenger seat rearward away from the passenger air bag.
Mustang owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.