What does 'Check Airbag' mean?

[ConnorMarie]

The dashboard displaying 'Check Airbag' indicates a fault in the airbag system. In such cases, you should immediately visit a 4S shop or a professional repair facility to inspect and repair the airbag. The function and working principle of automotive airbags are as follows: The function of automotive airbags: In the event of a traffic accident, automotive airbags help reduce the severity of injuries to the chest, head, and face during a collision. Before a collision occurs, the car first comes to a stop, while the occupants inside continue to move forward at their original speed due to inertia. The working principle of automotive airbags: While the car is in motion, the sensor system continuously sends speed change information to the control unit. If the measured acceleration, rate of speed change, or other indicators exceed predetermined values, the control unit sends an ignition command to the gas generator, or the sensor directly controls the ignition.

[VanTyler]

Last time when my car dashboard displayed 'Check Airbag', I was really panicked and immediately checked the manual. This warning light indicates that the airbag system has detected an abnormality, which could be due to a failed crash sensor, loose wiring connections, or poor contact in the airbag module inside the steering wheel. The mechanic said common causes include the wiring harness under the seat getting kicked loose or water exposure causing sensor short circuits. This issue absolutely cannot be delayed—if the airbag fails to deploy in a critical moment, it could be dangerous. In my case, after troubleshooting, it turned out to be an oxidized connector on the passenger seat sensor. After cleaning it, the warning light went off. Now, every time I wash the car, I make sure not to let water splash onto the circuits under the seats.

[ArianaFitz]

The airbag warning light coming on is a serious matter, essentially the safety system giving you a heads-up. I've encountered it twice: the first time was when I accidentally loosened the side impact sensor connector while changing seat covers; the second time was after wading through floodwater during a typhoon, which caused moisture damage to the airbag control module. A professional technician friend explained that the airbag system has a self-check routine that scans all components during startup. If this warning appears, it means a certain link failed the test—it could be an issue with the airbag itself, the sensor network, or the control unit. Some older vehicles might even trigger false alarms due to unstable battery voltage. His advice? Don’t tinker with the wiring yourself; the safest move is to promptly visit a professional shop to read the fault codes.

[AnnaDella]

The airbag light indicates a fault in the passive safety system. I've repaired many similar cases, with the top three causes being: broken clock spring in the steering wheel interrupting signals, loose connectors for side impact sensors under seats, or corrosion in the airbag control module due to moisture. One vehicle triggered this alarm when a pet chewed through wiring harnesses under the driver's seat. If this happens, don't panic - you can keep driving with seatbelts fastened, but get it inspected ASAP. Never attempt DIY airbag removal as the inflators contain small explosive charges that may accidentally deploy if mishandled.