I've just bought a 2020 Fiesta Titanium X. I've not had a Ford for years. When the ignition is on the passenger airbag on light displays and stays on. Is this normal or should it go off after say 20 seconds or so? It stays on when I drive the car. The dealer says it should be on but it seems odd to me.

Yes it's normal. There are now 2 lights, one says Passenger Airbag 'ON' and the other surprisingly says Passenger Airbag 'OFF'

I found it very distracting when driving at night so covered the 'on' light with some matt black electricians tape.

I think it is the same on all new cars now, yet another bit of European legislation lunacy. 

Thanks. Seems crazy to me but if that's the way it is! Maybe I need some tape 😀

I've put tape on my Focus, the daughters Ecosport, and her boyfriends Fiesta. I only charge 50p per car 🤣

Don't notice mine on the Mondeo. 

I think it’s there to warn you that it’s on due to the danger of putting a child seat on front passenger seat with the air bag light on. 

2 minutes ago, isetta said:

I think it’s there to warn you that it’s on due to the danger of putting a child seat on front passenger seat with the air bag light on. 

Not having a child sat next to me in my car, that's what the boots for?? 

3 hours ago, isetta said:

I think it’s there to warn you that it’s on due to the danger of putting a child seat on front passenger seat with the air bag light on. 

Well the idea has failed miserably. Lets be honest who notices that one says 'Passenger Airbag On' and the other 'Passenger Airbag Off' ?

At least when there was just a warning that it was off you used to notice the light. Whats next a big flashing sign to remind you that someones sitting in the back ? This namby pamby, nanny state and the woke brigade are driving me crackers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You’ve noticed the one saying “ON” enough to cover it over, the OP noticed it enough to make this post, when it switches to “OFF” you should also notice that, it’s then doing its job.

years ago it used to be just the “OFF” lamp but you wouldn’t know if that lamp had blown, this way one of them should be on, if not there’s something wrong.

new cars do have a rear seatbelt warning

If I remember correctly on my MX5 the light would come on when you turned the ignition on but went off after about 20 seconds.

I took the Fiesta back to the dealer and the receptionist said I needed to book it in, which I did. Then a sales rep looked at it and said it is supposed to be on, cancelled booking.

50 minutes ago, Dave Northwich said:

If I remember correctly on my MX5 the light would come on when you turned the ignition on but went off after about 20 seconds.

I took the Fiesta back to the dealer and the receptionist said I needed to book it in, which I did. Then a sales rep looked at it and said it is supposed to be on, cancelled booking.

How old was the mx5? Was it a passenger airbag light or just the airbag system light? On your fiesta one of the lights has to be on, to show the passenger airbag is on or off, it’s normal.

from the manual 

 

1 hour ago, MarksST said:

How old was the mx5? Was it a passenger airbag light or just the airbag system light? On your fiesta one of the lights has to be on, to show the passenger airbag is on or off, it’s normal.

from the manual 

 

Thanks,  saw that but it isn't specific as to whether it should come on and then go off again after a set period or whether it should stay on all the time. Hence my asking. I actually find it a bit annoying but hopefully I will learn how to ignore it.

One of them is meant to be on all the time, just like every Ford fitted with the same panel.

Your just got the car, bit more use you won’t even notice it.

After reading this thread I noticed that mine was on too.   Never noticed it before as it's fairly low down and not on the usual display area.