WASHINGTON, D.C. -

Officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Ford is recalling certain model-year 2011–2013 Fiesta vehicles for an air-bag issue.

NHTSA indicated the passenger side curtain air bag on 154,604 units 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, officials said that information is not explained in the owner’s guide for these vehicles as required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208 titled, “Occupant Crash Protection.”

The agency cautioned that “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.”

Officials said Ford will notify owners and franchised 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 agency noted the recall units were manufactured from Nov. 3, 2009 through Sept. 21.

NHTSA said the safety recall is expected to begin shortly. In the meantime, owners may contact Ford at (866) 436-7332 and reference recall campaign No. 12C26.