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An airbag warning light means the restraint system has a fault and in a crash the airbags may not deploy. The car can be driven, but passive safety is not guaranteed: it must be diagnosed right away.

What it means

The airbag control unit has stored a fault on an airbag, a pretensioner or a crash sensor and has disabled deployment. It is also a reason for failing the MOT inspection.

Most common causes

• Yellow connector under the seat corroded or unplugged (after moving the seat or cleaning the car)
• Worn steering wheel clock spring (rotary contact)
• Faulty seat belt pretensioner
• Faulty crash sensor or damaged wiring
• Flat battery or fault stored after even a minor impact
• Seat or steering wheel replaced without coding

What to do right away

• Do not “switch off” the light with a blind reset: the fault must be read and fixed first
• Check the connectors under the seats: it is often the trivial cause
• Have the airbag control unit diagnosed and the fault cleared only after the repair

How MasterTuning helps

We read the ECU with professional tools, interpret the real fault codes and tell you what really needs repairing, without unnecessary replacements. Diagnosis, repair and software recalibration at our centres throughout Italy.

Read more: vehicle database · find an installer · what is ECU remapping

Is a warning light on? Contact us for a diagnosis or find your nearest MasterTuning centre.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drive with the airbag light on?

The car can be driven, but the airbags may not deploy in a crash. It is a condition to fix as soon as possible.

Does an airbag light fail the MOT?

Yes, an airbag warning light on is a reason for a negative inspection result.

Is clearing the fault enough to switch the light off?

No: if the fault is still present the light comes straight back on. First repair, then clear the fault with the diagnostic tool.