4 Reasons the Airbag/SRS Light in Your Subaru Is Illuminated

The airbag light, or SRS light, is an important indicator that should be taken seriously. It means that there’s a problem with the supplemental restraint system, or SRS. If this light is illuminated, the best thing to do is to stop driving as soon as possible and call for a tow truck to take your Subaru to an authorized service center. The airbags and seatbelts in your car can save your life during an accident, so driving without them could be disastrous.

But before you call, it’s a good idea to make sure that it’s actually the SRS light that you’re seeing. This light can look similar to the passenger-side airbag indicator light. It means that weight is detected in the front passenger seat of your Subaru, but it’s not enough weight to trigger the passenger airbag in case of an accident.

4. Water Damage

While this is a relatively uncommon cause, it’s possible that water damage may be behind the SRS light. Water damage may come from expected causes, like driving through water that’s too deep or leaving your windows or moonroof open during heavy rain. But it could even be caused by something like spilling a water bottle inside the cabin. Water could cause the sensors to short out, or could even lead to corrosion.

3. Crash Sensors Triggered

If you’ve been in a minor fender bender, the crash sensors may have activated–even if the accident wasn’t severe enough to deploy the airbags. Corrosion and electrical issues could also have caused the sensors to stop working. If the sensors have been activated, the airbags might not deploy correctly when they need to. The sensors and airbags will need to be reset and inspected.

2. Damaged Clock Spring

The clock spring is a spring that’s located between the steering column and the steering wheel. When you turn the wheel, the clock spring makes sure that you don’t lose the electrical connection to the horn and airbags. A damaged clock spring could cause that connection to fail when the wheel is turned, keeping the driver’s airbag from deploying in an accident.

1. Seat Belt Switch Trouble

The Supplemental Restraint System includes more than just the airbags: the seat belts are part of the system, as well. In modern vehicles, seat belt buckles are equipped with a switch that detects when the belt is buckled to ensure that the driver and passengers are secured. If the seat detects enough weight, but the seat belt isn’t buckled, the SRS light will stay illuminated. If everyone is buckled in, but the light remains on, it could be due to a switch malfunction. Sometimes, a foreign object like a coin may get jammed into the buckle, causing the switch to malfunction. Even if you hear the telltale “click” that indicates that the seat belt has been properly buckled, the switch may think otherwise. Alternately, there could be electrical problems preventing the switch from activating.