The airbag light on a Nissan Altima means that there’s a malfunction with the vehicle’s supplemental restraint system—that is, the airbags. If you notice this light, bring the car to a mechanic as soon as possible.

Nissan Altima owners should know how to deal with an airbag warning light: what it means, what could cause it, and how to reset it when it starts flashing. If you’re not a

car repair

expert, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

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What does the airbag light mean on a Nissan Altima?

Every time you turn your Altima on, the car’s computer scans for faults in the airbag system along with other vehicle systems. If it detects a problem, the

airbag light

on your instrument panel will turn on or begin to blink.

The light typically looks like a passenger buckled in with the airbag represented as a round shape in front of them. The letters “SRS,” which stand for “supplemental restraint system,” may also light up. The airbag light is sometimes called the “supplemental airbag light” for this reason.

There’s no single cause for the Nissan Altima airbag light to turn on. Common reasons that this warning light stays on include:

Faulty sensors: Crash sensors tell your

airbag control module

when to deploy the front and side airbags, and seat sensors tell the system when the driver’s seat and front passenger seat are occupied. If these

sensors

burn out or malfunction, the airbag light will turn on.

Malfunctioning airbag module: If your airbag control module gets wet or damaged, it can short out, causing the system to fail and the airbag light to turn on. Check your

owner’s manual

to find out where your airbag module is located.

Wiring problems: The airbag system relies on wires to connect airbag sensors to the control module. When those wires fail, the Nissan Altima communicates the problem via a flashing SRS light.

Drained airbag backup battery: If your

Nissan’s car battery

is failing, the airbag backup battery may be supplying power to the car. When this happens, the battery’s power can be depleted, causing the light to flash.

Damaged airbag clock spring: The airbag clock spring, located in your Altima’s steering wheel, expands and retracts as you turn the steering wheel and maintains electrical continuity for the driver-side airbag. Like other springs in your car, it’s subject to wear and tear over time—and when it fails, your airbag light will flash.

These aren’t the only reasons your airbag light could turn on. If you’re not sure why your light is flashing and you’re not able to reset it on your own, it’s a good idea to bring the car to the mechanic for diagnosis. Or, if you own an OBD-II scan tool, you can

check for trouble codes

associated with the airbag system.

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What you need to know about the 2013-2016 Nissan Altima airbag recall

In 2016, Nissan issued a recall for a large number of vehicles, including all 2013-2016 Nissan Altima models and certain Nissan Maxima and Nissan Sentra models, due to a failed occupant classification sensor. This type of seat sensor measures the weight of the front passenger and shuts off the passenger-side airbag if it detects a passenger who is light enough that they could be injured by the airbag (e.g. a child). The malfunctioning Nissan sensor was failing to identify adult passengers, thus turning off the front airbag when it should have been engaged.

If you own a Nissan Altima from those model years and haven’t had the occupant classification sensor replaced, you may notice that your passenger airbag light is illuminated. If that’s the case, you should bring the vehicle to a Nissan dealer for a replacement.

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How to reset the airbag warning light on a Nissan Altima

In some cases, all you need to do to resolve the problem with your Nissan Altima airbag light is reset the system. In order to do this, follow the instructions below:

First, turn the ignition to the “ON” position without starting the engine. The light should turn on and then begin to flash.

As soon as the light turns off, turn off the ignition before it turns on again.

Wait five seconds and turn the ignition back to “ON.”

Repeat steps 1-3 two times for a total of 3x. You should see the blinking pattern start to change.

Once you’ve gone through the cycle at least three times, wait five seconds before cranking the engine.

The light should stay off after you’ve gone through these steps. If it’s still blinking, repeat the process. If the light stays on after multiple attempts, bring your Altima to a trusted mechanic or dealership for further diagnostics.

MORE: Nissan reset indicator lights

Is it OK to drive with the Nissan Altima airbag light on?

You should be able to operate your Nissan Altima normally when the airbag light is on—but it’s not safe to drive for long periods of time with the light on.

The airbag light always indicates a fault with the airbag system, which could mean that your airbags won’t deploy in the case of an accident, or if they do, they could deploy improperly, injuring or even killing you or your passengers. With the stakes so high, it’s best to bring the car to a mechanic as soon as you notice that the light’s on.

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