Troubleshooting Honda Airbag Light Problems | SRS

The SRS light, also known as the airbag light, on a Honda vehicle indicates a problem with the vehicle’s supplemental restraint system. This system includes airbags, seat belts, and related hardware and sensors. The first step is to diagnose the problem and fix the SRS light. This can be done by using a diagnostic scanner tool to read and clear diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) stored in the vehicle’s onboard computer. The DTCs will indicate the specific issue causing the SRS light to come on.

When your Honda SRS system functions properly, the airbag light comes on when you turn on the ignition but should turn off once you start the engine. If the airbag system detects a problem, the airbag light stays on. In newer models, a warning message will display on the dashboard stating the “check airbag system.” Driving a Honda with an airbag light increases the chances of serious injury if you get into an accident.

What does the Honda airbag light on mean?

When the airbag light, also known as the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) light, is on in a Honda vehicle, it indicates a problem with its airbag system. The SRS system is a critical safety feature in a vehicle, and the light is designed to alert the driver to the problem so that it can be addressed as soon as possible. There are several potential causes for the airbag light to come on, some of which include:

• A problem with one of the sensors or wiring in the system
• A problem with the SRS control module
• A problem with one of the airbags itself
• A problem with the seatbelt pre-tensioners
• A problem with the clock spring
• It’s important to note that the SRS warning light could come on for various reasons, such as a loose or damaged wire, a malfunctioning sensor, a blown fuse, or a problem with the SRS module itself.

If the SRS light on your Honda vehicle is on, it’s recommended that you take your vehicle to a Honda dealership or a professional mechanic with expertise in Honda cars as soon as possible. They can use specialized tools and equipment to diagnose and repair the problem, ensuring that the airbag system is operating properly and your vehicle is safe to drive.

Possible Causes

List of possible problems that can trigger Honda airbag lights to come on.

• Passenger occupancy sensor.
• Disconnected or damaged wire harness.
• Faulty connectors.
• Blown airbag.
• Blow pre-tensioner.
• Dead battery.
• Clock Spring.
• The fault was stored in the SRS module after an accident.
• Defective clock spring.
• Low battery voltage.
• Unplugged connector.
• Damaged Wire harness.
• Damaged SRS/crash sensor.
• Defective airbag.

The SRS system comprises a control unit, multiple sensors, seat-belt buckles, tensioners, and airbags. Any of these components can fail. To find out why your Honda SRS light is on, read the SRS / Airbag module’s fault codes.

How to Read Codes and Reset Honda Airbag Light

You will need a Honda OBD-II scanner, such as the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro for Honda, to diagnose and reset SRS faults. Basic code readers cannot diagnose or reset the Honda SRS light.

1. Locate the OBD-II port under the dashboard and connect your scanner.
2. Turn on the ignition but do not start the engine.
3. Allow the scanner to power on. Go to the Control Unit and select the Airbag menu.
4. Scroll down to Read Codes. Review all the codes.
5. If codes are in STORED status, you can then proceed to clear the codes. If codes are PRESENT or PERMANENT, you must fix the issue before resetting the Honda SRS light with a scanner.

If faulty or broken SRS components are faulty, the faulty component(s) will need to be replaced. Do not install an airbag removed from a Honda due to a recall.

It is important to note that working on a vehicle’s SRS system should only be done by a trained and certified technician. Attempting to repair the system yourself can be dangerous and may cause further issues.

Honda Airbag Recalls

Honda has some of the largest airbag recall histories of any brand, mainly from Takata inflators. These examples come from NHTSA’s recall records; each recall covers more models and years than shown, so check your VIN at the NHTSA recall lookup or Honda’s owner site.

NHTSA recall	Example vehicle	Problem	Remedy
14V353, 14V700, 15V320, 15V370, 19V182, 19V499, 19V501	2003 Accord	Takata driver and passenger inflators can rupture and spray metal fragments	Replace inflators
16V346, 17V030, 19V502	2008 Civic	Takata passenger inflator can rupture	Replace inflator
17V220, 17V545, 18V268, 19V378	2003 Accord, 2008 Civic	Replacement airbag module or inflator installed incorrectly or itself a Takata part	Inspect and replace
26V332	2017 CR-V, 2018 Odyssey	Cracked front passenger seat weight sensor may cause airbags to deploy unintentionally in a crash	Replace seat weight sensors
26V227	2018 Odyssey	SRS control module software may deploy side and curtain airbags unexpectedly	Reprogram or replace SRS module

Source: NHTSA recall records for the 2003 Accord, 2008 Civic, 2017 CR-V and 2018 Odyssey. Takata inflator recalls are urgent: an affected inflator can rupture in a crash. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Honda airbag light is on, but I get no codes.

You are most likely using a scanner that cannot read fault codes from the airbag module. Most generic OBD2 scanners can’t read Honda airbag codes. Here is a list of scanners that can read and clear Honda airbag fault codes

On which models can you reset the Honda airbag light with a scanner?

Any 1996 and newer Honda with an OBD2 port under the dashboard. Including models such as
Accord
Acty Vamos
CAPA
Civic
CR-V
CR-Z
Edix FR-V
Element
Elyson
Freed
HR-V
Insight
Inspire
Integra
Fit
Legend
Life
Logo
Mobilio
Odyssey
Pilot
Prelude
Ridgeline
S-MX
S2000
Stephen
Stream
HR-V Vezel

Can I reset my Honda airbag light by disconnecting the battery?

No.

Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Honda.

What an illuminated airbag light actually means

This is the warning people most often choose to live with, and the one where that is least advisable. When the airbag or SRS light stays on, the restraint system has disabled itself. In a collision the airbags and the seat belt pretensioners will not fire. The car drives, steers and brakes exactly as it did before, so nothing reminds you, but the protection is not there. It matters most for whoever else rides in the car, who has no way of knowing.

It is also not a fault a basic code reader will find, because it is stored in the restraint module rather than the engine module. That is why a car with an airbag light so often scans as having no faults at all. A tool that addresses the SRS module directly, such as YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro, returns the specific circuit at fault, which is usually a connector under a seat rather than anything expensive.

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