What the Airbag Light on a Toyota Means
If something is wrong with your Toyota's airbag system, the airbag light will come on. Make sure to get it checked out as soon as possible.
Written by Claire Beaney
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
When the airbag light comes on in a Toyota, it indicates a problem with the car's supplemental restraint system, which includes the airbags. In the event that you see this warning, it is important to get your vehicle checked out immediately.
If you own a Toyota, it’s important to understand what an airbag warning light signifies, what causes it, and how to reset it if it begins to flash. Don't worry if you're not an
auto repair
expert—we've got you covered. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds (Title in payload)
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhat does the airbag light mean on a Toyota?
When you turn on your Toyota, the computer searches for problems with the airbag system and other vehicle systems. If a fault is detected, the
airbag light
on your instrument panel will illuminate or begin to blink.Standard depictions of the light show a buckled-in passenger with a round airbag symbol in front of them. The supplemental restraint system light, symbolized by the letters "SRS," may also flash. The airbag indicator is also referred to as the "supplemental airbag light" for this reason.
There isn't one specific problem that can activate the Toyota airbag lights. The most common causes of this alert light remaining on are:
- Faulty airbag module: The airbag light will come on if the airbag control module has been exposed to water or has been damaged. To find the location of your airbag module, consult your owner’s manual.
- Malfunctioning sensors: Your car'sairbag control modulereceives information from crash and seat sensors to determine when the front and side airbags should deploy. The airbag warning light will activate if any of thesesensorsfail to function properly.
- Airbag backup battery is drained: The airbag backup battery may be providing power to your Toyota if the car battery fails. Because of this, the battery may eventually die, resulting in the light flashing.
- Wiring issues: Wires are used to transmit data from airbag sensors to the central computer in an airbag system. When these wires in a Toyota malfunction, the car will flash an SRS warning.
- Airbag clock spring failure: Theairbag clock springis in the steering wheel of your Toyota. As you turn the wheel, it expands and contracts, keeping the driver-side airbag's power on. It wears out over time, just like the other springs in your car, and when it does, your airbag light will blink on.
Other issues can also trigger your airbag warning light. Bring the car in for diagnosis if you are unsure of the cause of the blinking light and you are unable to reset it. Or, if you have access to an OBD-II scan tool, you can look for airbag-related error codes.
What you need to know about the 2013-2016 Toyota airbag recall
In 2020, Toyota recalled millions of cars because the airbags did not go off in some crashes. The problem was with the airbag control units, which might not understand or receive the right signals from the crash sensors. If this happens, the airbags might not go off and the seatbelts might not tighten in a crash.
Toyota said that this problem is more likely to happen in certain kinds of crashes, like underride crashes, in which the front of one car slides under the back of another car.
About 2.9 million Corolla sedans from 2011 to 2019 were recalled, along with 2011 to 2013 Matrix hatchbacks, 2012 to 2018 Avalon sedans, and 2013 to 2018 Avalon Hybrid sedans.
How to reset the airbag warning light on a Toyota
In some instances, all you have to do to fix the airbag light on your Toyota is reset the system. Follow the steps below to figure out how to do this:
- First, turn the key to "ON" but don't start the engine. The light should come on and start flashing.
- Turn off the ignition as soon as the light goes out before it comes back on.
- Wait five seconds, then turn the key back to the "ON" position.
- Steps one to three should be repeated twice more for a total of three times. The blinking pattern should begin to change.
- After you've completed the sequence three times, wait five seconds before starting the engine.
After following these instructions, the light should remain off. If it continues to flash, repeat the steps again. If the light persists despite your best efforts, take your Toyota to a reputable service center or dealership for further examination.
Is it OK to drive with the Toyota airbag light on?
While it is possible to drive your Toyota normally with the airbag light on, you should not drive with it on for extended periods of time.
If your vehicle's dashboard displays the airbag warning light, it means there is a problem with the airbag system that could prevent the airbags from deploying in an accident or cause them to deploy incorrectly—putting you and your passengers at risk of serious injury or death.
Given how important this is, you should get the car checked out as soon as you see the light come on.
"This app is all about savings!Jerryjust saved me $193/month on my car insurance. They literally found me the cheapest policies out there and with better coverage! Seriously, just sit back and watch Jerry work its magic.” —Rachel B.
Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Get ahead of my car maintenance
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.
4.7
