The 2008 Ford Mustang has 5 recalls, all involving the frontal airbags — the most serious being a defect in both the driver and passenger airbag inflators that can cause them to rupture in a crash, sending metal fragments into the cabin and posing a risk of serious injury or death.
The inflator rupture risk appears across multiple recalls and affects both seating positions. On the passenger side, the inflators in certain vehicles are prone to rupture during deployment, particularly in vehicles that were sold or registered in high-humidity states and territories such as Florida, Hawaii, Texas, and others along the Gulf Coast and Pacific, where prolonged moisture exposure accelerates the failure. On the driver side, the same type of moisture intrusion over time can compromise the inflator in the dual-stage frontal airbag, with the same potential for metal fragments to be thrown toward the driver or other occupants when the bag deploys. Because the passenger and driver inflator issues were filed separately across several overlapping campaigns, the underlying hazard is the same regardless of which filing applies to a specific vehicle. The fifth recall is a compliance issue: in a crash where the front passenger airbag deploys, a small-framed, unbelted passenger sitting with the seat in the full-forward position may experience increased force on the neck beyond what federal safety standards allow, raising the risk of neck injury.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver or passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the air bag module and replace the module or inflator if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost. Ford will mail recall notices and notify owners when parts are available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost once parts become available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can enter the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator, causing it to rupture over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger seat airbag system may not provide adequate neck protection for a small adult in a crash when the seat is fully forward and the occupant is unbelted.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the restraint control module at no charge to improve airbag deployment protection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
