What a Flashing Airbag Light on a 2013 Nissan Rogue Means

If the airbag light is flashing in your 2013 Nissan Rogue, it means that the vehicle is detecting a problem somewhere in the supplemental restraint system.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
A flashing airbag light in a 2013 Nissan Rogue means that there’s a problem somewhere in the supplemental restraint system (SRS)—so get it checked out by a Nissan dealership or trusted mechanic right away!
The airbags in your 2013 Nissan Rogue are something that you hope you’ll never need. But if your Rogue’s airbags deploy, you want to be confident that they’ll work as they’re supposed to. 
Read on to learn what might cause a flashing airbag light in your 2013 Nissan Rogue—and why this is one
car repair
you shouldn’t sleep on. 

What does the airbag light mean on a 2013 Nissan Rogue?

Whenever you start your Rogue up, the vehicle’s main computer does a scan of various vehicle systems, including your airbag. If any kind of issue is detected during this check, the appropriate warning light will illuminate or blink. 
Your Rogue’s
airbag indicator light
most likely looks like a buckled-in passenger with a circle or round shape in front of them. If this light is blinking, then your car thinks there’s a problem with your SRS. It’s not only rude to ignore it, but it’s also dangerous.  
There are a lot of different issues that can cause this light to blink, but here are a few of the most common ones:
  • Faulty airbag sensors: Your airbags know when and where to deploy based on information provided by sensors throughout the vehicle. If any of these sensors begin to wear out, it causes the warning light to flash. 
  • Faulty seat sensors: There are also sensors in all of the seats to determine if they’re occupied or not so the airbags can deploy accordingly. The seat sensors can be affected by things like spilled liquids or excessive moisture.
  • Faulty airbag module: The airbag module is the control center of the system, and it doesn’t care for liquids either. It’s often found under the center console or on the floor between the driver and passenger seats, which also leaves it vulnerable to spilled coffee and wet shoes. 
  • Wiring or fuse issues: If any of the myriad fuses or wires involved in your airbag system begin to fail, it generates a flashing airbag light. 
  • Drained or failing airbag backup battery: Your airbag system has a backup battery that allows it to still operate if the main battery fails (or is destroyed in a crash). If this backup battery gets low or worn out, it shows up as a flashing airbag light.
  • Faulty airbag clock spring: The clock spring is located in your steering wheel, and it allows electrical components like the airbag and horn to maintain proper connections when the steering wheel is turned. Like any moving part, it’s particularly susceptible to wear and tear, and a clock spring that’s on its last legs will generate a flashing airbag light. 
These are some of the most common reasons why your 2013 Nissan Rogue’s airbag light may be flashing, but they’re not the only ones. If you have an
OBD-II scanning tool
, you can check for error codes to try and determine the cause of the problem. Ultimately, a flashing airbag light means a trip to the mechanic
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Was the 2013 Nissan Rogue included in the Takata airbag recall?

Thankfully, no. The 2013 Nissan Rogue was not one of the vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall
This recall affected some 19 automakers and millions of vehicles, as the airbag malfunction presented a very serious safety hazard. In some cases, the airbags made by this manufacturer did not deploy in an accident. In other scenarios, they did deploy but projected shrapnel into the passenger compartment. 
The good news is that the 2013 Nissan Rogue is not on the list of
Nissans affected by the Takata recall
. If you’d like to know if your Nissan is affected by any other recalls or safety issues, you can look it up by your VIN on the
NHTSA’s recall search tool

How to reset the airbag warning light on a 2013 Nissan Rogue 

It’s possible that the airbag light is simply a false alarm and all that’s required is a reset of your Nissan Rogue’s electrical system. There are some instructions and YouTube videos that describe a trick involving turning your ignition on and off in a set pattern, but reviews and results seem mixed at best. 
If you want to reset your Rogue’s electrical system, the best way to do it is to go straight to the source: disconnect your battery, let it sit for at least 30 minutes, and reconnect it. Heads up: this will cause you to lose your radio presets! 
If the airbag light is still blinking, then it’s not just a blip in the electrical system—you should get your Rogue checked out by a mechanic right away to diagnose the problem. 

Is it OK to drive with the airbag light on in a 2013 Nissan Rogue? 

It won’t cause any damage and your Rogue will run fine, but it’s extremely unsafe to drive with the airbag light on in a 2013 Nissan Rogue
A flashing light indicates that there’s a problem with your airbag system. It could be something very minor or even a false alarm—but it could also mean that in an accident, your airbags would fail to deploy. This could result in serious injury or even death for your and your passengers. 
When you look at it that way, it’s not worth the risk to ignore a flashing airbag light! 
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