The Fiesta in Ford’s view actually complies with the relevant NHTSA safety regulation, but an accident inquiry from Transport Canada prompted a review.
Ford is recalling all of its new subcompact Fiesta models built since 2011 because the passenger side-curtain airbag won’t blow up in some cases, and the owner’s manual incorrectly describes the logic of the airbag control module. More than 150,000 Fiesta models are affected and dealers have been instructed to stop the sale of cars in inventory.
In the latest example of how computerized cars present problems to owners when the programming is unclear. The software used in the Mexican-built Fiesta will not deploy the airbag if the right front seat is empty. This normally wouldn’t be problem, but 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, thereby increasing the risk of injury to a right rear occupant.
The Fiesta in Ford’s view actually complies with the relevant NHTSA safety regulation, but an inquiry from Transport Canada prompted a review. TC wanted more information concerning a field report of a 2012 model year Ford Fiesta involved in a side crash with no occupants other than the driver, in which the seat-mounted side airbag and side air curtain on the impacted side of the vehicle (passenger side) did not deploy.
TC said that the language in the 2012 Fiesta Owner’s Guide states that the passenger sensing system will deactivate the passenger seat-mounted side airbag if it detects an empty unbuckled passenger seat, but it does not state that the side air curtain can also be deactivated by the passenger sensing system.
Ford will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle’s software so that it no longer suppresses the passenger side-curtain airbag when the front passenger seat is empty. This will make operation consistent with the description in the Fiesta owner’s manual.
