Mitsubishi Outlander Remove and Replace the Airbag DIY

Need to replace your steering wheel airbag on your Mitsubishi? By following the procedures below, learn how to replace the airbag on your steering wheel.

Servicing a vehicle’s airbags needs to be done following correct safety procedures. If you need to remove the airbag, do so at your own risk; follow the safety steps in the guide below.

Symptoms

Causes of the airbag light:

• Blown fuses
• Airbag deployed
• Water damage to the airbag
• Faulty airbag sensors
• Faulty clockspring
• Discharged airbag battery

What you will need

Tools

• Flathead screwdriver
• T30 Torx bit (only on certain models)

Parts

• New Mitsubishi Outlander airbag
  • Installing a used airbag is not recommended.

Procedure

1. Start by disconnecting the battery. Remove the negative terminal from the battery. This is super important; airbags can deploy while being tampered with. To prevent the discharge of the airbag while working on it, it is a must to disconnect the battery. Failing to do so can lead to injury and even be fatal.
2. After the battery has been disconnected, grab your flathead screwdriver and locate the holes on the back of the steering wheel. There should be three holes: one on the left, one on the right, and one on the bottom. Some models may have a hole with a Torx screw holding the airbag instead. If that is the case, use the Torx bit and unscrew them to remove the airbag.
3. While working on the airbag, keeping our body and face as far from the airbag as possible in case of accidental deployment is important. Insert the flathead screwdriver into each hole and use enough pressure to press the tabs that hold the airbag into place to pop the airbag out. Ensure the screwdriver makes good contact, and rotate the tip if needed.
4. If necessary, pull from the lip of the airbag to remove it while pressing down on the release tabs. Work your way around the airbag until it pops out of the center of the steering wheel.
5. Carefully pull the airbag away from the steering wheel; do not yank it out; three electrical connectors are attached. Point the airbag up and away from you while removing these connectors.
6. To remove the electrical connectors, start by inserting your screwdriver into the yellow tabs and prying them away from the connector to unlock it. Then, the connectors can be removed by pulling them out. Remove both the orange and black connectors.
7. The last wire is a single black wire for the horn. Remove it by prying it out with a screwdriver. A slot above should cover the metal blade it slides over on the airbag.
8. With the new airbag in hand, replace it by reversing this procedure. Don’t forget to reconnect the battery once you are done. Start the vehicle and test to ensure the horn works and there are no malfunctioning indicator lamps. You are done!

My airbag light is on after I replaced my airbag; what do I do?

If your airbag or the SRS light is on after working on it, you must clear the codes on the vehicle’s computer. Sometimes this can be done by leaving the battery unplugged for thirty or more minutes, but you will likely need a professional OBDII scan tool to reset the airbag module. The only alternative would be to take it to a dealership or shop and have them reset the module, which could cost $100 – $200.

One good example of a multi-system scanner is the YOUCANIC Full Systems Scanner. This scanner can read and clear fault codes from all the systems in your Mitsubishi. It can also perform bi-directional tests, maintenance and repair resets, etc.

Do I need to replace my airbag?

If there is no airbag light on or code for your airbag, or it has not been deployed, you do not need to replace it. Airbags will typically last the vehicle’s lifetime, and if there is a problem, a code will be triggered, and a light will appear on the dash of most modern cars, indicating it needs to be serviced.

Vehicle Applications

All Mitsubishi models include Galant, Lancer Evo, Outlander, Eclipse, Mirage, and more. All year models including current-gen: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

We hope you find the Mitsubishi Outlander Remove and Replace the Airbag DIY guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Mitsubishi.