What Does Pedestrian Protection System Malfunction Mean?
3 Answers
Pedestrian protection system is designed to automatically pop up the hood when the vehicle collides with a pedestrian. A pedestrian protection system malfunction indicates that the hood fails to issue a warning when the vehicle hits a pedestrian. Method to reset the pedestrian protection device warning light: First, start the engine; Press and hold the "TRIP" button without releasing until the mileage and "OIL-LIFE" start flashing, then release the button; Sometimes it may require pressing and releasing the button several times to clear the pedestrian protection device warning light. For the most basic pedestrian protection technology, it mainly involves the application of energy-absorbing materials on the vehicle body, such as energy-absorbing bumpers, soft hood materials, and headlights and accessories without sharp edges. Among these, adopting a buffering structure design on the engine hood section is a relatively common practice among domestic automobile manufacturers.
A pedestrian protection system failure means there's an issue with this vehicle safety feature, preventing it from properly detecting or protecting pedestrians. Possible causes include sensor blockage, wiring breakage, electronic control unit malfunction, or software errors. Common scenarios include cameras or radars being covered by mud or ice/snow, resulting in inaccurate pedestrian recognition, or internal short circuits in the control module causing misjudgment. I recommend immediately stopping to inspect and clean the sensor area when the pedestrian protection warning light appears on the dashboard. Such failures can render the system ineffective during sharp turns or emergency braking, increasing injury risks to pedestrians. Regular vehicle cleaning is essential, especially after driving in rainy seasons or sandy/dusty areas. It's best to visit a professional repair shop early for diagnostic scanner checks to identify error codes, then replace components or reprogram for repairs after determining the cause.
The pedestrian protection system malfunction has made me particularly vigilant about safety issues, as it may fail to automatically brake or deploy protective devices before a collision, significantly increasing the risk of severe injuries to pedestrians. The causes of the malfunction can vary, including hardware aging such as sensor damage, untimely software updates, or water-induced short circuits in the wiring. Once the warning light appears, never ignore it, as the risk doubles when driving in busy areas or at night. From my personal experience, try a soft reboot of the vehicle to see if the light turns off. If it doesn't, take the car for repair as soon as possible and have a technician inspect the electrical system. For prevention, include this system in regular maintenance checks, keep it clean, and avoid obstacles to prevent blockages. Safety always comes first—don't delay in addressing malfunctions to ensure a reliable driving environment.
