When the airbag warning light (usually shaped like a person in a seat and labeled with “SRS” for the Supplemental Restraint System, including airbags and seatbelts) lights up on your dashboard, it is more than a minor inconvenience. This light is a safety issue that should never be ignored.

It’s a Self-Check Mechanism

If your airbag warning light illuminates, your car’s computer system has detected a problem with the sensors or other components. The system can’t fix itself or determine the cause, so it turns on the airbag light as a cautionary reminder to address the problem.

Many factors can lead to your airbag light turning on, and it is important to remember that it will only go away once the problem is fixed. The airbags and other safety systems rely on sensors that link directly to your car’s computer system to detect problems. These sensors can become corroded, damaged, or fail to operate properly, which triggers the airbag warning light.

Another issue that can trigger your airbag warning light is a low or completely depleted backup battery. This battery is separate from your vehicle’s main battery and is designed to keep your airbags and other safety features operational even if the power fails.

The best solution is to take your vehicle to a certified mechanic as soon as possible to have the problem diagnosed and repaired. If your airbags fail to deploy in an accident, you can be seriously hurt or killed. If your airbag light is on, it could also affect your ability to pass a state inspection or other automotive tests. These issues are not only dangerous but can cost you a lot of money as well.

It’s a Warning

The Airbag Warning Light, which normally looks like a person sitting in a car and is orange or red (depending on the model) in your instrument cluster, indicates when something has gone wrong with your airbag system. In other words, if it stays on or flashes, your airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident.

As a result, it’s one of the most important dashboard lights to monitor and address immediately. Airbags work with your seat belt to protect the upper body and head in a crash. Between 1987 and 2017, frontal airbags were responsible for saving 50,457 lives, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

That being said, airbags are incredibly sensitive and can be prone to issues occasionally. As a result, the airbag warning light might turn on for several reasons.

Often, the problem will involve specific kinks that need to be ironed out through proper maintenance. For instance, a faulty steering wheel clockspring might temporarily open the circuit between your electrical system and the airbag sensors.

Alternatively, your airbag backup battery might have depleted recently. Whether the issue is minor or major, resolving it before returning to the road is essential. This way, your airbags will be able to deploy successfully in the event of an accident.

It’s a Sign of a Problem

Airbags are a vital safety feature designed to inflate within a fraction of a second and provide a cushion between occupants and hard surfaces during accidents. They’re a part of the Supplemental Restraint System and are used alongside seat belts to protect drivers and passengers in front and rear crashes.

Airbags rely on a complex network of sensors, wires, and other components to function properly. Sometimes, these parts can develop issues that trigger the airbag warning light to turn on.

The exact meaning of the dash light will vary by vehicle, but the general sense is that there’s a problem with the SRS or airbag system that needs to be addressed. Ignoring the problem may result in the airbags or seatbelts not deploying as they’re supposed to during an accident, potentially endangering the driver and passengers.

A common reason for the airbag light to come on is a faulty sensor not receiving proper signals from the control module. In this case, the sensor must be replaced. Another common reason is a corroded or loose connection between the airbag sensor and the control module.

It could be caused by water damage to the sensor or electrical wiring. Sometimes, a damaged clock spring on the steering wheel can temporarily interrupt the signal to the airbag sensor, triggering the airbag light.

It’s a Safety Feature

The airbag system is one of your car’s most important safety features, and it is designed to protect you in the event of a crash. However, it is not a foolproof system, and issues can arise that prevent the airbags from deploying in an accident. The airbag warning light is designed to let you know when this happens, so paying attention to this indicator and addressing the issue as quickly as possible is important.

If your airbag warning light stays on, it indicates an issue with the sensors or wiring within the system. Many different sensors in the airbag system communicate, and any one of these may experience a fault. It ranges from minor to severe defects, including those that prevent airbags from deploying.

The airbag warning light is often shaped like the outline of a person in a sitting position. However, it can also be the simple word “AIRBAG” or the symbol for SRS (supplemental restraint system) on late-model vehicles. In some cars, the airbag and seatbelt light are the same and turn on when a driver’s seatbelt is not fastened. The airbag light may also be activated by pressing the seatbelt on/off button on the dashboard’s passenger side.

Jane