A Ford Fiesta airbag light means there’s a problem with the airbag system. To protect yourself and your passengers, you should address the issue ASAP.

Written by John Davis

Reviewed by Melanie Reiff

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

What does the airbag light mean on a Ford Fiesta?
How to reset the airbag warning light on a Ford Fiesta
Is it OK to drive with the Ford Fiesta airbag light on?

If the airbag light turns on in your Ford Fiesta, it could indicate a potentially dangerous issue with your car's supplemental restraint system—i.e., the airbag system. If you encounter this light on your dash, the smartest move is to take your vehicle to a professional mechanic as soon as possible.

As a Ford Fiesta owner, you should understand what it means if your airbag light turns on and how to handle it. Fortunately, this

car repair

article will break down all the details so you can cruise with a new level of confidence.

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What does the airbag light mean on a Ford Fiesta?

Every time you start your Fiesta, your car's computer scans for issues with the airbag and other vehicle systems. If the computer detects a fault in the system, the

airbag light

may appear on your dashboard instrument panel.

The airbag light will usually look like a person buckled into a seat with an inflated airbag near their face. Additionally, you might see the letters "SRS," which means "supplemental restraint system." The airbag light is sometimes referred to as the "supplemental airbag light" for this reason.

Many things can cause your Fiesta's airbag light to turn on, but these are the most common causes:

Bad crash/airbag control module sensors. Your Fiesta is equipped with crash sensors that tell your

airbag control module

when to deploy. If these

sensors fail or malfunction

, your airbag light may turn on.

Seat belt issues. If one of your seatbelts gets stuck in the locked position, it can indicate a problem with its sensors, which can also illuminate your airbag light.

Faulty seat sensors. Your car's front seat sensors detect when someone is sitting there. If these sensors malfunction, or if there's a problem with their wiring harnesses, your airbag light may appear on your dash.

Clock spring problems. Your Fiesta's clockspring is a device inside the steering wheel that provides electrical power to the driver's side airbag. the airbag light may appear if the clock spring is broken or malfunctioning.

However, these aren't the only reasons your Ford might display an airbag light. If you aren't sure what's causing the light or you're unable to reset it, the best move is to take your car to a professional mechanic as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can use an OBDII scan tool—provided it's capable of reading SRS codes—to

check for fault codes

associated with your Fiesta's supplemental restraint system.

What you need to know about the 2011-2013 Ford Fiesta airbag recall

In 2012, Ford recalled more than 154,000 Fiestas due to a faulty passenger-side airbag. This recall affects model years 2011-2013 produced between 2009 and 2012.

Ford designed these Fiestas so that the passenger side airbag will not deploy if no one is sitting in the front passenger seat. However, this is dangerous for anyone sitting on the right side of the back seat, as they could be seriously injured if the car rolls over and the airbag does not deploy.

Ford did not include this information in the

owner's manuals

, violating the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). As a result, Ford was compelled to notify Fiesta owners and reprogram the airbag system free of charge.

If you own a 2011-2013 model year Fiesta and have yet to have this issue fixed, you should contact your local Ford dealership as soon as possible.

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How to reset the airbag warning light on a Ford Fiesta

If your Ford Fiesta airbag light is on, the wisest move is to take your car to the dealership or an independent repair shop. However, you can try to reset the light yourself by following these steps:

Put your ignition in the "ON" position without starting the engine.

Watch your instrument panel and when you see the airbag light appear, turn the ignition to the "OFF" position.

Wait a few seconds, then turn the ignition back to the "ON" position.

Repeat these steps a minimum of three times.

If this process works, the next time you start your Fiesta, the light should be gone. You can try this procedure a few times if it doesn't work. However, if the light remains on or comes back on after disappearing, you should take your car to a professional for proper diagnosis and repair.

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Is it OK to drive with the Ford Fiesta airbag light on?

While you can drive your car with the airbag light on, it is not safe to do so for long periods.

Your Fiesta is equipped with an airbag light to warn you that the airbag system is not functioning correctly. This means that your airbags may not deploy if you're in an accident—or, if they do deploy, they might do so incorrectly or at the wrong time, endangering your life and the lives of your passengers.

Airbag system problems are serious and should not be ignored. If your Ford Fiesta airbag light appears on your dash, you should address the issue as soon as possible to protect yourself and your passengers.

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