Will your car’s airbags protect you when you need them?

We’ve all heard about people driving their cars for years while a red “Check Engine” light glows in the dashboard. They’re not sure what the light means but, well, the car is still running. They ignore it and nothing seems to happen or, at least, they don’t notice how some problem may be decreasing the engine’s performance and/or mileage. And, there is another indicator that may come on in the dashboard that they may ignore – the “SRS” warning light.

SRS stands for Supplemental Restraint System. That may sound unfamiliar. How about this – the Airbags. The warning light is often displayed as a stick person sitting in a seat with a circle, representing a deployed airbag, in front of them.

The airbags are parts of your car you hope never to use. But, if you do need them, the airbags could make the difference between life and death – between serious injury and the possibility that you would walk away from a crash.

Why would the SRS – Supplemental Restraint System – warning light come on (in some cars, the SRS light is on at all times and you only need to worry if the light isn’t lighted)? Most cars are designed so that, periodically, the car will automatically perform a diagnostic check of the airbags. When this happens, you may notice the light coming on for a moment. If it goes off again, your airbags should be fine – ready for an accident should you need them.

On the other hand, the Supplemental Restraint System warning light may stay on. If this occurs, you could ignore it and continue to drive. However, if you have an accident, you can’t count on the airbags for help protecting you or your passengers from injury.

In older models of cars equipped with airbags, it was possible that, overtime, you would need to replace the airbags. You might say that they expired after a while, as if they were eggs that went rotten inside the steering wheel and dashboard (they’re often in the doors today, as well). But, the question is, what should you do if the airbag warning light comes on, or doesn’t come on, whichever case indicates a problem with the Supplemental Restraint System?

Most airbags are covered by the car’s warranty. If the warning light gives an indication that there could be a problem with the Supplemental Restraint System, bring the car in to have it looked at.
With older cars, whether the indicator light suggests a possible problem with the airbags or not, you should probably take a look at the Owner’s Manual to see if there is a schedule for checking the airbags. While they may not be warrantied, you’ll want to have them checked if the scheduled service period has been met, or if the indicator light warns you of a possible problem.
Make sure that your car’s airbags aren’t included in a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned that, in 2009-and-newer car models, there is a chance they had ‘counterfeit airbags installed.
If you have an airbag replaced, you should only use an OEM – original equipment – airbag.
Don’t forget to check the airbag-warning light when you purchase a new vehicle.

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