What To Do If Your Car’s Airbag Indicator Light Is On

If your car’s airbag indicator light has come on, there might be a problem with your airbags or another part of the supplemental restraint system.
Written by Melanie Mergen
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
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If your car’s airbag indicator light has come on, there might be a problem with your airbags or another component of the supplemental restraint system, which helps you stay safe in the event of a crash.
Airbags have saved countless lives since they started being used in vehicles. Sometimes, it can be easy to take them for granted—until that airbag indicator light comes on. But how serious is the problem, and what should you do about it?
Understanding what all your car’s dashboard lights mean is essential to keeping your car in good working order—and in this case, they also have an impact on your safety. The
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What is the airbag indicator light on my dashboard?

Your airbag indicator light is part of your car’s supplemental restraint system (SRS), along with the airbags themselves. The system is designed to keep you safe in the event of a crash, and this indicator light’s purpose is to warn you of potential problems within the system.

What does the airbag indicator light look like? 

It can vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle, but when the airbag indicator light comes on, you’ll typically see a seated figure wearing a seatbelt with a sun-like circle hovering above their lap (aka the airbag). Other times, the word “AIRBAG” may simply light up on your dashboard.

What does the airbag indicator light mean?

When the airbag indicator light comes on, it can point to several potential problems. These are some of the most common reasons:
  • There is a problem within the SRS (which could mean your airbags are unable to deploy)
  • Faulty crash sensors
  • Faulty wiring
  • You were in a minor crash in which the airbags didn’t deploy—the SRS’s crash sensors are typically only designed to be used once, so they may need replacing
Since several issues can cause the airbag indicator light to come on, it’s best to have a professional take a look at the system and figure out what’s going on.

How to turn off your airbag indicator light

Sometimes, it’s possible to simply reset your airbag light, but this isn’t a good idea. If there truly is a problem with your airbags or another component of the SRS, there’s a chance the airbags might not deploy in a crash. This would be a huge safety hazard to you and your passengers. 
To turn off your airbag indicator light, it’s better to get the system properly inspected and serviced by a mechanic as soon as possible.

How to find affordable car insurance

Just like your car’s airbags protect your physical safety, a good car insurance policy can help protect your financial safety if you and your car encounter the unexpected—be it necessary repairs, accidents, or theft. 
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FAQ

If your car’s airbag indicator light has come on, there might be a problem with your airbags or another component of the supplemental restraint system, which helps you stay safe in the event of a crash. If there’s a problem with the system, it might mean your airbags wouldn’t deploy if you got into an accident.
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