- Which light?
- Red or amber airbag symbol, or a yellow PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF? Tell them apart
- Stays on?
- Book an airbag check soon, even though the car drives the same. Is it safe
- At the shop?
- Ask for a scan of the airbag module, not only the engine codes. How it's fixed
- Before you pay
- Check the VIN for a recall or a warranty extension. Free fixes
The airbag light means the airbag system found a fault in itself, so the airbags and seat belt tensioners may not work in a crash. The car still drives the same, so book an airbag scan soon and seat children in the back until it's fixed.
A yellow PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light is a different light. With an empty seat or a small child there, it means the system is working.
Can I still drive with the airbag light on?
The light alone isn't a reason to stop driving, because the car steers, brakes and runs as before, unless your VIN shows an NHTSA do-not-drive warning for a recalled Takata airbag. The risk is in a crash, where the airbags and seat belt tensioners may not work when they're needed.
No carmaker document we read tells you to stop driving for this light alone. Honda's advice is to have a dealer check the system as soon as possible.
Until it's fixed, put children 12 and under in the back seat, which is where Honda wants them anyway. Everyone should wear a seat belt, because the belt is the part that still holds you.
Will my airbags still work with the light on?
They might, and they might not, and nothing on the dash tells you which. Several recalls cover faults that could stop the front and side airbags and the belt tensioners from firing at all.
On the other hand, one Genesis bulletin covers a fault that lights the warning while the airbags still work. A scan of the airbag module is where finding out starts.
What does the airbag light mean?
The airbag light, or SRS light (supplemental restraint system), is the warning for the system that fires the airbags and tightens the seat belts. Federal rules require that system to check itself.
Each time you switch on, the light comes on for a few seconds and goes out. That short glow is the check passing, the sign the system is working properly.
These other cases are faults: the light stays on, comes on while you drive, or never comes on at all. A light that never comes on at start-up can hide a fault, because the warning itself may not work. One GM recall in the panel below covered exactly that.
Airbag warning light
Red or amber. A fault in the system, so get it checked soon.
Passenger airbag off light
Yellow. Normal with an empty seat or a small child.
A yellow PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light is a different light with a different job. Here's how to tell the airbag warning from the passenger airbag off light:
| Light | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag symbol or SRS, red or amber | The airbag system found a fault | Have it checked soon |
| PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF, yellow | The front passenger airbag is switched off for this seat | Normal for an empty seat or a small child |
Federal rules make the passenger airbag off light yellow and keep it separate from the airbag warning. Your owner's manual shows both, and our dashboard warning lights guide shows the other symbols.
Why is my airbag light blinking or coming on and off?
It blinks or comes and goes because the system found a fault, so a flashing airbag light means the same as a steady one. Any glow outside the start-up check is a reason to have the system checked.
West Virginia's inspection manual rejects a car whose airbag warning flashes, so inspectors read it as a fault too. A light that comes on and off can point to a connection that makes and breaks.
One warranty extension, from Hyundai, covers the passenger seat sensor of several models for exactly that intermittent light. The causes below show where else a loose connection hides.
What causes the airbag light to come on?
The light comes on when the airbag module (the airbag computer) loses a signal it expects, from a belt buckle to a crash sensor. Here's what makes the light come on, with where each cause sits:
| Cause and clue | Ask the shop to check | Don’t replace yet |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belt buckle or tensioner In the belt buckle or the belt reel. | The buckle switch and its wiring. | The airbag module. |
| Clock spring Behind the steering wheel. | The clock spring circuit, and a recall. | The driver airbag. |
| Passenger seat sensor In the passenger seat, and the passenger light may act up. | The seat sensor codes, and a recall or extension. | The airbag module. |
| Seat connectors After seat work, cleaning or storing things under a seat. | The connectors under the front seats. | Any sensor. |
| Airbag module or crash sensor After water got in, or a front-end hit. | The module codes, and a recall or extension. | Both, before the codes are read. |
| Low battery voltage Right after a dead battery or a jump start. | The battery and charging, then the codes. | Any airbag part. |
| A recent crash Even one that didn't fire the airbags. | The crash sensors and their wiring. | Parts the codes don't name. |
The sections below take each cause in turn, with what to tell the shop. None of them is a DIY job, so the checks are for the shop.
1. A seat belt buckle or tensioner
The seat belts belong to the same system as the airbags, because tensioners pull the belts tight in a crash. That's why a belt fault can light the airbag warning.
Several shops name the buckle switch and the tensioner among the causes. A broken switch or a loose wire there can set the light.
2. The clock spring in the steering wheel
The clock spring is a coiled flat cable that keeps the driver's airbag connected while the wheel turns. When it tears, the driver airbag loses its connection and the light comes on.
Two recalls, from Volkswagen and Jeep (on the 2007–2010 Wrangler), covered clock springs damaged by debris or dust. On some cars the clock spring also carries the steering angle sensor, which our traction control light guide covers.
3. The passenger seat occupant sensor
A sensor in the front passenger seat tells the module who is sitting there. When it fails, the airbag warning can come on, or the passenger airbag can switch off with an adult in the seat.
Recalls and warranty extensions from Nissan, Subaru and Hyundai have fixed these sensors. So ask about a recall before anyone quotes a seat sensor.
4. Connectors under the front seats
Wiring for the belts and the seat sensor runs under the front seats, and things stored there can get in the way. Subaru recalled one model because a connector in the passenger seat could loosen.
Yellow connectors under the seats are probably part of the airbag system, so avoid them. No carmaker step has owners unplug or reseat them, because an airbag can fire by accident or stop working, so leave every airbag part to a shop.
5. The airbag module or a crash sensor
The airbag module can fail on its own, and water can damage it or a crash sensor's wiring. Some Hyundai Tucson and Accent models got a longer module warranty for codes that light the warning, and the panel below lists the years.
Two more recalls, from Hyundai and Chrysler, covered modules that could short and stop the airbags from firing. Water is a separate case, so mention any flood or leak when you book the check.
6. Low battery voltage or a jump start
Shops report the airbag warning coming on after a dead battery or a jump start. If it stays on after a charge, have the codes read, since a stored code can keep it lit.
A weak battery is quick to rule out, before anyone takes apart a seat or the steering wheel. Our car battery life guide covers how long a battery lasts and when one is due.
7. After a crash
Shops name a recent accident among the causes, and some place crash sensors near the front bumper. So mention any crash when you book the check, even one that didn't fire the airbags.
A fired airbag is a bigger matter, since its system parts then need replacing. Several states reject a car at inspection if an airbag has deployed or is missing.
Why is the passenger airbag off light on?
It's on because the front passenger airbag is switched off for whoever sits in that seat. On many cars it comes on when the seat is empty, or when the weight sensors find a small child or infant.
So with an empty seat or a small child, the passenger airbag off light is the system working, unless the red or amber airbag warning is on too, as in one Subaru seat-sensor recall that lights both. That doesn't make the front seat safe for a child, and a rear-facing child seat never goes in front, even with the airbag off.
Cars built before September 2012 with no usable back seat, such as two-seaters and regular-cab pickups, could have a passenger airbag switch, and federal rules require the yellow light then too. Turn the switch back on once the child seat comes out.
If the light stays on with an adult in the seat, the system may not see them as an adult. Go through these 4 checks from Honda's manual, in order, to clear a passenger airbag off light with an adult seated:
- Sit the passenger properly. Upright and belted, seat-back not far reclined, feet on the floor, not leaning on the door or console.
- Clear around the seat. Nothing hanging from it, nothing under or beside it, only light things in the seat-back pocket, and nothing pressing on its back.
- Restart in Park. Turn the car off and back on. If the light goes off with the adult seated, the sensor now sees them.
- Still on? Move the adult to the back. Don't carry an adult in front while the light is on, and have a dealer check it soon.
A small adult can read as a child, depending on build and posture, and seat covers, cushions or seat heaters can throw the sensor off too. A sensor that misreads adults is the fault two recalls, from Nissan and Subaru, fixed.
The passenger airbag off light
How do you fix the airbag light?
The light is fixed by reading the airbag module's codes and repairing what they point to. Work through the 4 steps below to fix it, in order:
- Check your VIN. Run it on NHTSA's recall lookup, and ask a dealer about warranty extensions for the airbag module or seat sensor. If one covers your car, the fix may cost nothing.
- Charge the battery if it was flat. If the light goes out after a charge and a restart, still ask for the airbag codes at your next visit. If it stays on, go to the next step.
- Ask for a scan of the airbag module. Airbag faults set their own codes, such as body codes (B codes), stored apart from the engine codes. If the shop reads only engine codes, it hasn't looked yet.
- Ask what the quote covers. Ask which code is stored, which part it names, and whether the price includes clearing the code afterward. A quote for a new module should come after the wiring and connectors were checked.
If no shop near you reads airbag codes, a dealer for your make can. Our free VIN decoder lists your model year's recalls, and the NHTSA recall lookup shows the open safety recalls on file for your VIN.
Can a parts store scan read airbag codes?
Not with a basic code reader, which reads only the emission codes behind a check engine light. Airbag codes sit in the airbag module, so the reader shows nothing with the warning on.
That's why a free check engine scan at a parts store can come back clean. Ask whether the scan tool reads the airbag module before anyone tells you there's no code.
How much does it cost to fix the airbag light?
The box below prices eight complete repairs on cars whose carmaker bulletins give the labor hours. Its headline range covers seven of them, without the 2014 Wrangler's clock spring, and not every car. Each of them may be free under those same programs, so check your VIN first, and read the prices as what you pay once a program no longer covers your car:
Priced on the 6 cars below, not every model and year. Yours may cost more or less.
Airbag light repair cost
Covered $0 at the dealer recall or warranty
Not covered $130–$716 clock spring, module or sensor, fitted
Check your VIN first, since a recall or a warranty extension can make the repair free.
Clock spring replaced Parts and labor $130–$576
Three cars with carmaker hours
| Car | Parts | Labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai bulletin 21-BE-003H-1 · Clock spring 93490-B2110 · may be free, Hyundai extension TXXJ | $341–$479 | 0.7 h | $411–$576 |
| 2014 Kia Forte · Kia bulletin ELE218 · Clock spring 93490-A7255 / 93490-A7150 · may be free, Kia extension WTY017 | $80–$122 | 0.5 h | $130–$192 |
| 2014 Jeep Wrangler · Hours from Stellantis bulletin 08-005-17 · Clock spring · may be free, Jeep warranty extension 08-005-17 · not in the headline range | $276–$769 | 0.6 h | $336–$852 |
Airbag control module replaced Parts and labor $494–$716
Two cars with carmaker hours
| Car | Parts | Labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai bulletin 24-BE-014H · Airbag control module 95910-D3250 · may be free, Hyundai extension TXXQ | $410–$582 | 0.9 h | $500–$707 |
| 2017 Kia Sportage · Kia bulletin ELE254 · Airbag control module 95910-D9050 · may be free, Kia extension WTY027 | $404–$591 | 0.9 h | $494–$716 |
Seat occupant sensor replaced Parts and labor $232–$361
Two cars, three versions, with carmaker hours
| Car | Parts | Labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai bulletin 26-BE-011H · Passenger occupant sensor unit 88952-2V600 · may be free, Hyundai extension Z01 | $183–$258 | 0.5 h | $233–$328 |
| 2020 Subaru Outback, power passenger seat · Subaru bulletin WRA-24R · Passenger seat sensor kit 98329AN00A · may be free, Subaru recall 24V-227 | $142–$208 | 0.9 h | $232–$333 |
| 2020 Subaru Outback, manual passenger seat · Subaru bulletin WRA-24R · Passenger seat sensor kit 98329AN00A · may be free, Subaru recall 24V-227 | $142–$208 | 1.1 h | $252–$361 |
Diagnosis fee Not in the range
Set by each shop, may be waived if you approve the repair or it's covered. Ask for it in writing first.
Labor is the carmaker's own time at $100–$139 an hour at an independent shop. The part is the carmaker's own, from its dealer parts store: the sale price to the list price, with no markup added. No dealer publishes an installed price for these repairs, so no dealer total is shown and the top end is the highest-priced part plus the same labor at the independent rate. Before tax, shop fees and diagnosis. Prices read October 28, 2026. How we price repairs
Can you reset the airbag light?
No carmaker document we read gives owners a reset for this light. The shop clears the code after the repair, and the next start-up check decides whether the light stays off.
Clearing a code without a repair only hides the warning until the next check. So ask what the quote covers before you pay for a reset alone.
What to say to the shop
When a quote names an airbag module or a sensor, ask:
- Which airbag code is stored, and which part does it name?
- Is there a recall or a warranty extension for my VIN?
- Were the seat connectors, the buckle and the clock spring checked first?
“My airbag warning is on. Before you replace a module, can you read the airbag codes, check my VIN for recalls and extensions, and check the wiring first?”
Will a car pass inspection with the airbag light on?
It depends on the state, and some states fail a car for a lit airbag warning while others only note it. Here's what the six state rules we read say about passenger cars:
| State | With the light on | Also fails if |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Fails if it's on all the time | An airbag is missing or deployed |
| Massachusetts | Fails if it shows a fault, on cars ten model years old or newer | An airbag is deployed or missing |
| West Virginia | Fails if it stays on, flashes, or never lights | An airbag is missing or doesn't work |
| Hawaii | Passes if the seat belts pass, with an airbag warning printed on the certificate | The seat belts fail |
| Virginia | Passes, and the inspector advises you | An airbag is deployed and not replaced, or any part is removed |
| Delaware | Passes, and the inspector advises you | An airbag is removed or deployed |
From each state's inspection regulation or manual. Other states weren't checked here, so ask your inspection station.
Texas ended safety inspections for non-commercial cars on January 1, 2025, and New Jersey tests passenger cars for emissions only. Our ABS light guide covers what those states check on the anti-lock warning.
Use this image
Free to republish under CC BY 4.0: credit Oil & Miles and link to this page. The snippet does both.
<a href="https://oilandmiles.com/articles/airbag-light"><img src="https://oilandmiles.com/assets/img/diagrams/airbag-light-checklist.jpg" alt="Airbag light checklist: a red or amber airbag light is a system fault, the yellow passenger airbag off light can be normal, and a light that never comes on or blinks is a fault too; until it's fixed, seat children 12 and under in back, wear belts and leave the connectors alone; check the VIN, charge a flat battery and ask for an airbag module scan; ask which code and part, whether a recall or extension applies and whether the wiring was checked first." width="1200" height="1562"></a> <p>Infographic: <a href="https://oilandmiles.com/articles/airbag-light">Oil & Miles</a>, CC BY 4.0</p>From the carmakers
What do carmakers say about the airbag light and free fixes?
These recalls and warranty extensions cover the parts behind the warning, and each one pays for the repair on the cars it lists. An extension pays until its own time limit, so check the dates on yours.
Match your VIN to the listed cars before you count on one. A dealer for your make can check recalls and extensions in one visit.
Safety recall 24V-227
A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit …
Safety recall 21V-421
The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety recall 19V-701
If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied …
Safety recall 16V-244
… may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied.
Safety recall 15V-483
If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring.
Warranty extension Z01
… may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be set.
Warranty extension TXXQ
Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for the ACU under this condition to 15 years with unlimited mileage …
Warranty extension WTY036
This warranty extension is to address the Airbag Warning Light ON condition free of charge at no cost to you.
Conclusion
What to do next about an airbag light
If the red or amber light stays on, comes and goes, or never lights, book an airbag scan soon and seat children in back. If only the yellow passenger airbag off light is on, check who is in that seat before you book anything.
Oil & Miles checks each step here against the carmakers' manuals, NHTSA's recall records and the states' inspection rules.
Common questions
Asked most often
Can a low battery cause the airbag light?
Shops report the light after a dead battery or a jump start. Charge the battery and restart, and have the airbag codes read if the light stays on.
How long can you drive with the airbag light on?
The manuals we read set no time or mileage limit for this light alone. Honda's advice is a dealer check as soon as possible, so book it rather than wait for your next service.
Is it illegal to drive with the airbag light on?
We found no state law that bans driving with the airbag light on, though some states fail the car at inspection. California makes it a crime to fit a device that stops the airbag warning from showing.
How do I turn the passenger airbag back on?
On cars with a seat sensor, it switches back on when the sensor finds an adult in the seat. On a car with a key switch, turn the switch back on after you remove a child seat.
What people ask next
Sources
- 49 CFR 571.208 (FMVSS 208), on the airbag readiness indicator, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light and the passenger airbag switch. Code of Federal Regulations via LII, read October 26, 2026
- Honda owner’s manuals: 2024 CR-V and 2023 Civic Sedan, Airbag System Indicators, on the start-up check, when to see a dealer, the passenger airbag off light, the checks for an adult passenger and children in the back seat. Honda, read October 26, 2026
- Mazda owner’s manual: 2025 CX-50 (US), Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light, on why owners shouldn’t tamper with airbag parts. Mazda, read October 27, 2026
- Chevrolet owner’s manual: 2020 Silverado, Seats and Restraints, on rear-facing child seats in front, seat covers and the passenger sensing system, yellow airbag connectors and replacing airbag parts after a crash. General Motors, read October 29, 2026
- Recalls 24V-227, 21V-421, 19V-701, 18V-137, 16V-668, 16V-290, 16V-244 and 15V-483, each defect, consequence and remedy as filed. NHTSA recall records, read October 26, 2026
- 40 CFR 85.2207, on what an emissions (OBD) inspection test reads. Code of Federal Regulations via LII, read September 28, 2026
- Warranty extensions and bulletins in NHTSA’s database: Hyundai Z01 and TXXQ, Kia WTY036 and Genesis Z01G. Hyundai, Kia and Genesis via NHTSA, read October 26, 2026
- State inspection rules: Rhode Island 280-RICR-30-15-3, Massachusetts 540 CMR 4.04, the West Virginia inspection manual, Hawaii HAR 19-133.2, Virginia 19VAC30-70-290 and the Delaware lane manual, plus TxDMV and NJ MVC. State agencies, read October 26, 2026
- Takata Air Bag Recall Spotlight, on do-not-drive warnings. NHTSA, read October 26, 2026
- California Vehicle Code 27317, on devices that stop the airbag warning from showing. California Legislature, read October 28, 2026
- Independent shops: Pearl City Auto and Central Automotive on the buckle, tensioner, clock spring and sensor causes and the light after a jump start. Read October 26, 2026
- Carmaker labor bulletins in NHTSA’s database: Hyundai 21-BE-003H-1 (TXXJ), 26-BE-011H (Z01) and 24-BE-014H (TXXQ), Kia ELE218 (WTY017) and ELE254 (WTY027), Subaru WRA-24R (recall 24V-227) and Stellantis 08-005-17 (X68), for each repair’s labor hours and part. Hyundai, Kia, Subaru and Stellantis via NHTSA, read October 28, 2026
- Carmaker-brand dealer parts stores: Hyundai Parts Deal, Kia Parts Now, Subaru Parts Deal and Mopar Parts Giant, for OEM part prices, sale price to MSRP. Read October 27 and 28, 2026
- PartsTech's survey of US repair shops, taken September 2025 among about 700 independent shops and reported by Ratchet+Wrench, for the $100 to $139 an hour that nearly half of them charge. Ratchet+Wrench, read October 17, 2026
How this was compiled
We read the airbag warning pages of the owner’s manuals listed above, the federal rule for the airbag lights, and the recall and warranty records NHTSA holds. The inspection table comes from six states’ own rules. The prices are complete repairs on cars whose carmaker bulletins give the labor hours: the carmaker’s part from its dealer parts stores, plus those hours at independent shop rates.
What we didn't do
We didn't scan a car or take an airbag system apart, and we don't give a reset, because no carmaker document we read gives owners one.
We priced only cars whose carmaker bulletins give the labor hours, so your car may not be in the box. We didn't price the diagnosis, which each shop sets. Our inspection rules cover the six states in the table only.
This article is general information, not advice about your specific vehicle. Where anything here differs from your owner's manual or your carmaker's bulletins, follow the carmaker. See the disclaimer.