If the front airbag light on your Ford Fusion is flashing or remains on when the engine is running, this indicates a malfunction with the vehicle’s restraint system. If this happens to you, have your car looked at by a mechanic as soon as possible.

The dashboard on your Ford Fusion is full of different lights that illuminate to notify the driver of various issues. If there’s one light you want to know about, it’s the airbag warning light. If this warning light comes on and you’re not sure what to do, don’t panic—we’re here to walk you through what it means, why it illuminates, and how to reset it when it comes on. And if you’re not a

car repair

expert, don’t sweat it—it’s simple!

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What does the airbag light mean on a Ford Fusion?

When you turn on the engine of your Ford Fusion, the vehicle’s computer system scans for faults in any of the vehicle systems, including the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Normally, the light will illuminate for a few seconds when the vehicle is turned on, but if a problem is detected with the SRS, the

airbag light

will stay illuminated on your Fusion’s instrument panel or begin to flash to notify the driver.

If you’ve never seen the SRS warning light before, it looks like the side view of a person buckled into a seat with a large circle (the airbag) in front of the person.

Although there’s no single cause for why the airbag warning light will click on, a handful of common reasons can trigger it in your Ford Fusion. A few of the most common reasons this warning light stays illuminated include the following:

Faulty sensors: All vehicles, including your Fusion, run thanks to several sensors connected to various components of your car, which link directly to your car’s computer system. If the vehicle finds a potential issue with one of these sensors, it notifies the driver via a light on your dashboard. The crash sensors tell your

airbag control module

when the front and side airbags need to be deployed, while seat sensors notify when the driver and passenger seat are occupied. If these

sensors

trip or fail, it can lead to the airbag warning sign coming on and deployment issues.

Malfunctioning airbag module: Water damage is a primary reason for the airbag control module malfunctioning and can cause it to be shorted or corrode, which will lead to a failure of the system and the airbag light to turn on. If you think this is the reason for your light turning on, check your

owner’s manual

to find out the location of your airbag control module.

Depleted airbag backup battery: If you left your interior lights on and came out to a dead Ford Fusion battery, there’s a chance it could have also drained the backup battery that powers the airbag system. Once the battery is fully charged, the light may turn off by itself. Otherwise, you may have to perform a sensory reset.

Damaged airbag clock spring: The airbag clock spring is part of a vehicle that most people aren’t familiar with. It’s located under your Fusion’s steering wheel column and is designed to maintain continuity between the vehicle's wiring and the driver-side airbags by coiling in and out as the steering wheel turns. These springs are subject to normal wear and tear, which can lead to a poor connection. The slightest fault in the airbag clock spring can lead to an error in the system that causes the airbag light to illuminate and issues with airbag deployment. They may deploy unnecessarily or not at all if involved in an accident.

Wiring or electrical fault: If your airbag light being on isn’t due to a faulty sensor or any of the above circumstances, it could be due to a fault in the wiring system or even an issue with the SRS computer itself. Because diagnosing issues with the SRS system requires specialized tools and know-how, it’s best to take your Fusion to a repair shop or Ford dealer to repair the problem.

These aren’t the only five reasons your Fusion’s airbag light turns on, but they are the most common. In any case, if you’re not sure why the airbag light is on and it continues to be illuminated after you’ve performed a reset, book an appointment with your local Ford dealership or licensed mechanic to have it checked out—the airbag system is designed for safety, and it’s not something you want to mess around with.

You can also use an OBD-II scan tool to

check for trouble codes

associated with the airbag system.

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What you need to know about the 2021 Ford Fusion airbag recall

In 2021, Ford Motor Company issued two safety recalls involving more than 2.6 million vehicles across North America, mainly due to airbag issues. The first recall was for vehicles equipped with Takata driver-side front airbags. Takata stated there was a defect with some airbag inflators that could result in parts flying during an accident.

This defect could lead to injury or death of vehicle occupants. They did note that the issue was with the airbag inflator, not the airbag itself, and was only applicable to vehicles with Takata airbags.

The airbag recall affected 2006 to 2012 Ford Fusions.

If you have a 2006 to 2012 Ford Fusion, you can visit the

Ford safety recalls

webpage to determine if your specific vehicle is affected. Just enter your vehicle’s 17-character VIN to see any open safety, compliance, or emissions recalls, including those related to the Takata airbag recall.

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How to reset the airbag warning light on a Ford Fusion

If the airbag light comes on in your Ford Fusion, the best course of action is to take your vehicle to a mechanic for diagnosis, but sometimes all you have to do is reset the system.

Here are the steps you’ll need to follow for a reset:

Turn your Fusion into the ON position without starting the engine.

Wait until the airbag warning light turns off.

As soon as the light turns off, turn your car’s ignition off for about three seconds.

Repeat steps one through three two more times for a total of three cycles.

Turn the ignition switch back on for the airbag light to reset completely.

Start the engine. The airbag light should illuminate for about seven seconds before turning off.

Once you’ve completed these steps, the light should remain off. If it’s still flashing, repeat the process. If the light stays on after multiple attempts to reset the system, bring your Fusion to the Ford dealership or mechanic for further testing.

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

While you can still operate your Fusion if the airbag warning light comes on, driving with the light on for long periods is not recommended. A vehicle’s airbag system is one of the most important systems in your Fusion that protects drivers and passengers from injury and death.

In some cases, resetting the airbag light could solve the problem, but in most instances, the light indicates a problem with the system, which requires diagnosis. If you ignore the light and continue to drive as normal, it could result in improper deployment of the airbags if you’re involved in an accident and injuries or death.

The vehicle airbag system is designed to save lives, and driving with the light on if there is a problem is a big risk. So, for the safety of you and your passengers, have the problem diagnosed by a mechanic as soon as you notice the light coming on.

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