Ford recalling 470,000 Mustangs to tweak airbag software
by Alex Nunez on Feb 27th 2008 at 9:34PM 
Click image for a high-res gallery
If you own an '05 - '08 Ford Mustang, watch your mailbox for a recall notice from the Oval in the coming days. It turns out that the NHTSA learned that the passenger-side frontal airbag could potentially deploy with greater-than-allowable force for a petite, unrestrained passenger. Over 470,000 of the ponycars qualify for the recall, with 435,000 of them located in the US. A dealer-performed software update will correct the problem. According to Ford, there are no reported injuries related to the issue, and the particular scenario in which the problem could manifest itself is rare.
Gallery: 2007 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
[Sources: CNNMoney]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MJL 9:49PM (2/27/2008)
The airbags have software??
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Light Speed 10:18PM (2/27/2008)
wow are you serious?
Corey W. 9:53AM (2/28/2008)
have software?!?!? ... hell there's a damn separate module that records the time before and after the deployment for manufacturer, statistical, research purposes.... but can also used by law enforcement.
paul34 9:53PM (2/27/2008)
Here's one case where the computerization of cars can be praised by the mass populace rather than condemned.
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John Johnson 9:54PM (2/27/2008)
Back when I was in driver's ed, we had a Plymouth Acclaim with first-generation airbags. We got tapped from behind, little scuff on the car... but the airbag deployed on the guy driving. It went off with greater-than-allowable force for a large, restrained passenger.
God, it was hilarious from the back seat.
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dac 10:59PM (2/27/2008)
Unfortunately, airbag failure is not always as humorous. A family friend was driving a older car down a residential street when a dog jumped into the roadway. He tried to honk, but and stop but the dog hit his front end dead on... and the airbags unnecessarily fired, completely shattering his wrist that was pressed against the steering wheel honking.
A recall on airbag software is a good deal in my book.
psarhjinian 10:32PM (2/27/2008)
There are people out there that don't use their seatbelts? Still? Haven't these people been Darwin'ed yet?
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Shadyman 10:37PM (2/27/2008)
But can it run Linux?
And, "That's what you get for not wearing seatbelts."
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JaysonAych 10:43PM (2/27/2008)
Aren't unrestrained passengers, airbag or otherwise, exposed to a pretty serious risk of injury anyway?
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BGJ 6:15AM (2/28/2008)
Unfortunately it is the law, so OEM's must meet the law in order to sell the car. And yes, NHTSA randomly tests cars to see if they are legal which is what happened to Ford here. You can download videos and read the report here:
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/database/aspx/vehdb/testtabledetails.aspx?LJC=6086&existreport=Y&r_tstno=6080&existvideo=Y&v_tstno=6080&database=v&tstno=6086
Pete 11:26PM (2/27/2008)
I don't think ford should have to change anything for un-restrained passengers.
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YouFaceTheTick 11:52PM (2/27/2008)
I didn't even know Ford had the technology to offer airbags. Kudos to them.
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Timsvtgen1 10:16AM (2/28/2008)
Thanks for your two cents.
Christian 10:34AM (2/28/2008)
Are you joking? Ford is the most advanced of the Big 3. In design they are way out front even among foreign manufacturers. They have advancing ignition and emissions systems. They sell more variable timing engines than anybody, with the possible exception of Honda.
YouFaceTheTick 10:53AM (2/28/2008)
Christian,
I'm so proud of ford and their major advancements. Golly, variable valve timing is so new and complex. It's not like we haven't seen cars with it for two decades. In another few decades maybe they'll get to the point of having ABS and stability control too. Proud to be an American when I see all the high tech equipment going into Ford cars. Airbags...who know?!
:rolls eyes:
Jason 11:18AM (2/28/2008)
Plenty of Ford cars sold today have ABS and traction control so you should be a very proud American. Maybe Ford can be a true contender in the automobile industry once their technological prowess matches your amazing sarcasm.
TwinTurbo3000GT 1:25PM (2/28/2008)
"Maybe Ford can be a true contender in the automobile industry once their technological prowess matches your amazing sarcasm."
...you de realize theyre the 3rd largest vehicle manufacterer WORLDWIDE, behind GM and toyota, right? I think they are way past the "true contendor" phase...
Robert 2:29AM (2/28/2008)
All I can say is: dumbest recall ever. If the passenger is unrestrained, I don't think we should protecting them through an airbag recall (or creating regulations that stipulate allowable force for such passengers... I mean, WTF? Why waste the time!).
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Norm Kowalski 3:03AM (2/28/2008)
Maybe the petite, unrestrained passenger undid her seat belt so she could put her head in your lap, (she is unrestrained after all). Let's protect that!
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Mr. Oak 10:54AM (2/28/2008)
Okay Norm, since you so eloquentely drew us that picture, I will have to agree with you on this one.