When the airbag warning light illuminates on your car’s dashboard, it immediately makes you ask two questions:
1. Could the airbag go off at any point?
2. Will it still deploy if I’m involved in an accident?
You can’t be blamed for being concerned, your airbag is arguably your car’s most important safety feature, designed to protect you and your passengers in the event of an accident. The light coming on tells you that there’s a problem with your car’s airbag system.

What is an airbag light, and how does it work?
The airbag warning light or SRS light (Supplemental Restraint System) is a critical dashboard indicator that briefly illuminates during startup checks before switching off.
If it stays lit or appears whilst driving, it signals a fault in your vehicle’s airbag system.
This light works by responding to information from sensors monitoring airbag components.
The system’s computer runs self-diagnostics and activates the warning light when detecting irregularities such as damaged wiring, faulty sensors, or module problems.
The first and most important thing to remember if your airbag warning light flashes or comes on is that, should you be involved in an accident, your airbags will not deploy.
At the same time, this means that your airbag won’t suddenly go off in your face as you’re driving, but that’s secondary to your safety and that of your passengers.
What causes the airbag light to come on?
As is the case with other warning lights, there can be a myriad of reasons why the airbag light has become illuminated. Here are some of the most common reasons:
- Airbag Reset Required – After a collision without airbag deployment, the warning light will illuminate. Visit your local garage for reset.
- Corroded Sensors – Water damage can corrode sensors, causing system faults and triggering the warning light.
- Depleted Battery – A drained car battery can deplete the airbag backup battery, causing system faults.
- Dislodged Wiring – Side airbag wires, especially on the passenger side, can disconnect when seats are adjusted. Don’t reconnect yourself—have a professional check.
- Faulty Seat Belt Sensor – Connected to airbag systems, faulty seat belt sensors can trigger the airbag warning light.
- Worn Clock Spring – This component maintains wiring continuity to the driver’s airbag through the steering wheel. Common in older vehicles, failure activates the warning light.
The bottom line is that, when your airbag light comes on, it’s vital that you don’t drive any further and have your car checked by a mechanic as soon as possible. Until the problem is diagnosed and fixed, your airbags will not deploy. Your safety and that of your passengers is paramount, so don’t ignore your airbag light.
If you would like to find out what other warning lights mean and what you should do when they become illuminated, you should read Dashboard Warning Lights Explained, which gives you advice on a number of lights and their meanings.

What should you do if your airbag light comes on?
Never ignore an illuminated airbag light, as it indicates your airbags may not deploy correctly in an accident.
A qualified technician from your local garage should promptly examine the system using specialised diagnostic equipment to identify and resolve the issue.
It is vitally important that you have diagnostics run to find the cause of the airbag light and to have the problem fixed as soon as possible, so your airbags will work again.
Obviously, this is easy if the light illuminates at the start of your journey, as you can simply remain where you are and call your garage. What if it happens whilst you’re driving and miles from home?
Well, technically, you can still drive your car, but we wouldn’t advise anyone to drive anywhere without functioning airbags; it’s not safe and is just not worth the risk.
In that event, we would advise following these steps:
- Drive as carefully as you can.
- Be even more aware of potential hazards and other motorists.
- Stop as soon as you can in a safe place.
- Call your breakdown service or garage to recover your car and perform the necessary diagnostic checks and appropriate repairs.
- Only when your airbags are fully functioning should you continue your journey.
Is it safe to keep driving with the airbag light on?
The bottom line is that, when your airbag light comes on, it’s vital that you don’t drive any further and have your car checked by a mechanic as soon as possible. Until the problem is diagnosed and fixed, your airbags will not deploy – so don’t ignore your airbag light.

How do I turn an airbag warning light off?
For a quick resolution, try switching off your engine, pausing briefly, then restarting and taking a short drive.
This simple reset often works for temporary sensor glitches. If unsuccessful, examine your seatbelts next, as problematic buckles or sensors frequently trigger these alerts.
Should the warning persist, seek assistance from a professional mechanic with proper diagnostic tools to address the root cause.
Be aware that whilst disconnecting your battery might temporarily clear the warning, it merely masks rather than fixes the underlying problem.
Is the airbag light an MOT failure?
Yes, an illuminated airbag warning light will result in a failed MOT test. This is because the airbag system is considered a critical safety component of your vehicle. If the warning light remains on, it indicates a potential fault that could prevent proper airbag deployment in an accident. Therefore, sooner or later, an unresolved airbag warning light will render your car illegal to drive on public roads.
If you would like to find out what other warning lights mean and what you should do when they become illuminated, you should read Dashboard Warning Lights Explained, which gives you advice on a number of lights and their meanings.