NHTSA recall 12V-488 (12V488000)
air bags recall reported October 5, 2012 - about 154,471 vehicles affected.
- NHTSA campaign number
- 12V488000
- Also written as
- 12V-488
- Manufacturer number
- 12C26
- Reported
- October 5, 2012
- Vehicles affected
- ~154,471
- Component
- air bags
What is being recalled
Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles, manufactured from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 2012. The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The passenger side curtain air bag will not deploy in the event of a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty. Although the side curtain air bag system was designed to suppress the side curtain air bag under this scenario, that information is not explained in the owner's guide for these vehicles as required by FMVSS No. 208.
Why it is dangerous
An occupant in the right rear seating position will not have coverage from the side curtain air bag in a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty, increasing the risk of injury to the right rear occupant.
The fix (free at any franchised dealer)
Ford will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's software free of charge so that it no longer suppresses the passenger side curtain air bag when the front passenger seat is empty, and consistent with the description in the owner's guide. The safety recall began on October 26, 2012. Owner's may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Recall repairs are always free, regardless of vehicle age or where you bought the car. Quote the campaign number 12V-488 when calling a dealer.
Affected 1 model
Each year links to that car's full history: every recall, owner complaints and common problems.
Source: NHTSA recall campaign data (public domain), refreshed weekly. See also the latest recall campaigns.