Ford Motor Co. is recalling 435,000 Mustangs built for the 2005-08 model years so dealers can adjust the airbag module software.

In a compliance test, federal safety officials found that a passenger’s frontal-impact airbag deployed with more force than is allowed when using an unbelted small female test dummy with the seat in the full-forward position, according documents on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Recall notices are to be sent this week to vehicle owners, the automaker told NHTSA.

Dealers are not to demonstrate or sell any of the affected vehicles until the software change is made.

Ford noted that the noncompliance in one airbag test configuration does not affect the car’s five-star front-crash safety rating under the federal government’s consumer information program.

Vehicles are given one to five stars for the amount of protection provided in frontal and side-impact tests.
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