Service Tips

SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR

SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR COMES ON AND GOES OFF Customer’s concern: “The light for the side airbag seems to come on and go off a lot.” What’s happening and why: To help reduce upper torso injuries during moderate to severe side impacts, side airbags are located in the outer bolsters of the front seats in some models. The front passenger’s seat contains sensors that determine the height and position of the person in the seat. If deployment of the side airbag isn’t appropriate based upon input from the sensors, the SIDE AIRBAG or SIDE AIRBAG OFF indicator comes on [the yellow light, not to be confused with the red supplemental restraint system (SRS) indicator]. This is how the SIDE AIRBAG or SIDE AIRBAG OFF indicator operates: • When the indicator on the instrument panel is on, the front seat passenger’s side airbag will not deploy (inflate). • If the passenger’s seat is occupied by a small adult or child (or a larger adult who is slouching) and the person occupying the passenger’s seat is leaning over and obstructing the deployment path of the side airbag, the indicator comes on • To minimize the distraction to the driver, the SIDE AIRBAG or SIDE AIRBAG OFF indicator reacts to data from the passenger’s seat sensors with a 3-to-4 second delay. What can be done: Follow these guidelines: • Instruct the front passenger seat occupant to sit up properly so that side airbag can protect them if needed and so the side airbag indicator will not come on. • Do not place any object, such as a grocery bag, briefcase, or laptop computer, on the front passenger’s seat to prevent the SRS from turning on the side airbag indicator. • Do not operate or place any electrical accessory items on the front passenger’s seat. Some accessories interfere with functions of the passenger seat’s internal sensors. The interference may cause the SRS to falsely detect a problem and turn on the SRS indicator (the red light), which requires a trip to the dealership service department. • Never use seat covers on the front seats. Seat covers (plastic, beaded, sheepskin), cushions, or backrests may interfere with proper passenger’s seat sensor operation and could obstruct either side airbag’s deployment path, leading to injury.