Passenger side curtain air bag/fmvss 208
Defect Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
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.
Corrective Action
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.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Ford Motor Company or involving N/A.
FAQ: Recall 12V488000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 12V488000?
NHTSA recall 12V488000 was issued by Ford Motor Company on October 5, 2012. It addresses: Passenger side curtain air bag/fmvss 208. The recall affects approximately 154,471 vehicles, with the defect involving the N/A component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Ford Motor Company dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 12V488000 or the manufacturer campaign number 12C26. Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.