If your vehicle has been involved in an accident, you may be wondering: can airbags be reset after a crash?
The short answer is that the airbag control module, also known as the SRS module or airbag ECU, can often be professionally reset after an accident if the module itself is undamaged. During a collision, the vehicle’s airbag control system may record crash or collision data. Depending on the vehicle and the type of accident, this stored data can result in an airbag or SRS warning light remaining illuminated.
A professional airbag module reset service may be able to clear the stored crash data and return a suitable module to its pre-accident state.
However, resetting an airbag control module is not the same as repairing an entire airbag system.
If airbags or seat belt pretensioners have deployed, or if other components have been damaged, those parts may need to be correctly replaced or repaired before the vehicle’s Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) can operate as intended.
In this UK guide, we explain what happens to an airbag module after an accident, when it may be possible to reset it and what you should know before attempting to clear an airbag warning light.
What Is an Airbag Module?
An airbag module, commonly referred to as an SRS module, airbag ECU or airbag control unit, is an electronic control unit within a vehicle’s Supplementary Restraint System.
Its role is to monitor information from components and sensors within the restraint system and, when the required conditions are detected, help control the deployment of safety components such as airbags and seat belt pretensioners.
Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, the SRS system may include:
- Driver and passenger airbags
- Side airbags
- Curtain airbags
- Seat belt pretensioners
- Impact or crash sensors
- Occupancy sensors
- Seat position sensors
- Wiring and electrical connections
- Clock springs
- The airbag or SRS control module
After an accident, one or more parts of this system may require inspection, repair or replacement.
What Happens to the Airbag Module After an Accident?
During a collision, the airbag control module may receive information from the vehicle’s crash sensors and other components within the SRS system.
Depending on the severity and type of impact, the system may activate airbags, seat belt pretensioners or other restraint components.
The airbag control module may also record crash data relating to the collision.
After the accident, this stored information can remain within the module’s memory. In some vehicles, the data cannot simply be removed using a standard diagnostic scanner.
This is where a specialist airbag module reset may be required.
The module is removed from the vehicle and professionally inspected. Where the unit is suitable for resetting, stored crash data can potentially be cleared before the module is returned for refitting to the original vehicle.
Can an Airbag Module Be Reset After an Accident?
Yes, many airbag control modules can be professionally reset after an accident, provided the module is suitable for the procedure and has not suffered physical or electronic damage that prevents a safe reset.
The exact process depends on factors including:
- Vehicle manufacturer
- Vehicle model
- Year of manufacture
- Type of SRS control module
- Nature of the stored crash data
- Condition of the module
Not every airbag module can or should be reset.
A specialist should assess the specific unit to determine whether resetting is appropriate.
It is also important to understand that resetting the airbag module does not repair deployed airbags, damaged seat belts, faulty sensors or other damaged SRS components.
Those faults must be addressed separately.
Can Deployed Airbags Be Reset?
A deployed airbag itself is generally not reset and reused.
Once an airbag has deployed, the relevant airbag assembly will normally need to be replaced with a suitable replacement component in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer’s repair requirements.
Other parts of the restraint system may also require attention after a collision, including seat belt pretensioners and associated SRS components.
The airbag control module, however, is a separate electronic component.
Depending on the module and its condition, it may be possible to reset the control unit by clearing stored crash data.
This distinction is important:
Deployed airbag: Normally requires replacement.
Airbag control module: May be suitable for professional crash data reset.
Seat belt pretensioner: May require repair or replacement if activated.
Other SRS components: Must be diagnosed individually.
What Is Airbag Crash Data?
Airbag crash data is information that may be stored within an SRS control module following a collision or deployment event.
The exact information stored depends on the vehicle and control unit.
Once crash information has been recorded, the airbag warning light may remain illuminated and diagnostic fault codes may be present.
In some cases, replacing damaged components alone will not resolve the issue because the airbag control module still contains stored collision data.
A specialist airbag crash data reset service is designed to clear relevant stored crash information from a compatible module.
Can You Clear Airbag Crash Data With a Diagnostic Scanner?
In many cases, crash data stored within an airbag control module cannot be permanently cleared using a standard OBD diagnostic scanner.
A diagnostic tool can be extremely useful for identifying fault codes and diagnosing problems within the SRS system. However, crash or deployment data stored within the control module may require specialist equipment and procedures.
This is why simply clearing an airbag fault code does not necessarily solve the underlying problem.
If the SRS warning light returns, further diagnosis is required.
Why Is My Airbag Warning Light Still On After an Accident?
There are several reasons an airbag or SRS warning light may remain illuminated after a collision.
Possible causes include stored crash data in the airbag control module, deployed airbags, activated seat belt pretensioners, damaged crash sensors, wiring problems, disconnected components or faults elsewhere in the SRS system.
The correct approach is to diagnose the complete system rather than assuming the control module is the only problem.
A professional diagnostic scan can help identify active fault codes and determine which components require further investigation.
Will Resetting the Airbag Module Turn Off the Airbag Warning Light?
Resetting crash data from an airbag control module may resolve an SRS warning light when stored crash data is the cause and there are no remaining faults elsewhere in the system.
However, an airbag module reset is not a universal solution for every airbag warning light.
If another fault remains — such as a damaged sensor, deployed component, wiring issue or faulty connection — the warning light may remain illuminated or return.
The complete SRS system should therefore be properly diagnosed and repaired.
The objective should never be simply to make a dashboard warning light disappear. The goal is to ensure that faults within the vehicle’s safety system have been correctly identified and addressed.
Is an Airbag Warning Light an MOT Failure in the UK?
Under the current MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles, an SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicating a system malfunction is categorised as a Major defect.
A passenger airbag warning lamp showing that the passenger airbag has been intentionally disabled is treated differently and is not, by itself, considered an SRS system defect.
This makes it important to correctly diagnose an illuminated SRS warning light rather than simply attempting to hide or bypass it.
Drivers should ensure faults within the airbag and restraint system are properly investigated before presenting a vehicle for its MOT.
Can You Drive With the Airbag Warning Light On?
An illuminated airbag or SRS warning light indicates that the vehicle has detected a potential problem within its Supplementary Restraint System.
Because the SRS is a safety-critical system, the fault should be investigated promptly by a suitably qualified professional.
Depending on the fault, one or more restraint system components may not operate as intended in another collision.
You should not assume that airbags and other SRS components will function normally while a system fault is present.
Is It Better to Reset or Replace an Airbag Module?
Whether an airbag control module should be reset or replaced depends on the specific module and its condition.
A professional reset may be an option when the original module is compatible with the reset process, contains stored crash data and is otherwise functioning correctly.
Replacement may be necessary if the module is physically damaged, has suffered an internal electronic failure, cannot be safely reset or the vehicle manufacturer specifies replacement.
One potential advantage of resetting a suitable original module is that the vehicle retains its existing control unit rather than introducing a replacement unit that may require additional coding or configuration.
The correct solution should always be determined on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis.
How Does an Airbag Module Reset Service Work?
The exact process varies depending on the module, but a specialist airbag module reset service will typically involve several stages.
1. The Airbag Module Is Removed
The SRS control module is safely removed from the vehicle.
Because airbags and seat belt pretensioners are safety-critical components, removal and installation should be carried out by someone with the appropriate technical knowledge and equipment.
2. The Module Is Identified
The part number and module type are checked to determine whether the unit is supported and suitable for a reset.
3. The Module Is Inspected
The control unit is assessed for obvious physical damage or other issues that could prevent successful servicing.
4. Crash Data Is Reset
Where appropriate, specialist equipment is used to clear relevant stored crash data from the module.
5. The Module Is Returned
The reset module can then be returned for installation in the vehicle.
6. The Complete SRS System Is Checked
Once refitted, the vehicle should be professionally diagnosed to confirm whether any additional SRS faults remain.
A module reset should always form part of a complete and correct repair process following an accident.
Do I Need to Replace Other Parts After an Accident?
Possibly.
An accident can affect multiple components within the Supplementary Restraint System.
Depending on the collision, you may need to inspect or replace:
- Deployed driver or passenger airbags
- Side or curtain airbags
- Seat belt pretensioners
- Seat belt assemblies
- Crash or impact sensors
- SRS wiring and connectors
- Clock springs
- Seats or occupancy sensors
- Dashboard components
- The airbag control module
Every accident is different, which is why a full diagnostic assessment is important.
Resetting an airbag module should not be treated as a substitute for repairing damaged safety components.
Can I Reset an Airbag Module Myself?
Airbag and SRS systems contain safety-critical components, and working on them without appropriate knowledge can create a risk of injury or incorrect system operation.
Professional servicing is recommended.
Specialist equipment may also be required to access and correctly reset crash data stored within the control module.
For most vehicle owners and repairers without the necessary specialist equipment, using a professional airbag module reset service is the more appropriate option.
How Much Does an Airbag Module Reset Cost in the UK?
The cost of an airbag module reset in the UK can vary depending on the vehicle, module type and service required.
Before ordering a reset, it is worth confirming:
- Your vehicle make and model
- Year of manufacture
- Airbag module part number
- Whether airbags deployed
- Whether seat belt pretensioners activated
- Any diagnostic fault codes currently stored
Providing accurate information can help determine whether your airbag control module is likely to be suitable for resetting.
How Long Does an Airbag Module Reset Take?
Turnaround times vary depending on the service provider, module and delivery method.
For mail-in services, the overall time will typically include the time required to send the module to the specialist, process the unit and return it.
If getting your vehicle back on the road quickly is important, check the current turnaround time before sending your module.
Can You Reset an Airbag Module Without the Car?
In many cases, an airbag control module can be removed from the vehicle and sent to a specialist for assessment and reset.
This can make a mail-in airbag module reset service convenient for garages, bodyshops, vehicle repairers and private vehicle owners across the UK.
The module must still be correctly removed and refitted, and the vehicle’s complete SRS system should be checked after installation.
Why Choose a Professional Airbag Module Reset Service?
Airbag systems are an important part of modern vehicle occupant protection.
Using a specialist service means the control module can be assessed and handled using appropriate equipment and procedures.
A professional reset service can potentially offer several advantages:
- Retain the vehicle’s original airbag control module
- Clear supported stored crash data
- Avoid unnecessary replacement of a serviceable module
- Provide a convenient mail-in option
- Support garages, bodyshops and private customers
- Potentially reduce the cost of accident repairs
The key is ensuring that the module reset is carried out as part of a complete and appropriate vehicle repair.
Need an Airbag Module Reset in the UK?
If your vehicle has been involved in an accident and the airbag control module contains stored crash data, Reset My Airbag can assess whether your module is suitable for a professional reset.
Our airbag module reset service is designed for customers across the UK, including private vehicle owners, garages, mechanics, accident repair centres and bodyshops.
Send us your airbag control module and our specialists can assess the unit and, where supported and appropriate, reset stored crash data before returning the module to you.
Need to know whether we can reset your airbag module?
Contact Reset My Airbag with your vehicle details and airbag module part number, or view our airbag module reset service to find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Airbag Module Resets
Can airbags be reset after an accident?
The deployed airbag itself is normally replaced rather than reset. However, the airbag control module or SRS module may be suitable for a professional reset if it contains stored crash data and the module itself is serviceable.
Can an airbag module be reused after a crash?
In some vehicles, yes. A suitable airbag control module may be professionally reset and reused in the original vehicle. Whether this is possible depends on the module type, its condition and the vehicle manufacturer’s requirements.
Does an airbag module need replacing after airbags deploy?
Not necessarily in every case. Some modules can be professionally reset, while others may require replacement. The module and complete SRS system should be assessed individually.
Will disconnecting the battery reset the airbag module?
Generally, disconnecting the battery will not remove crash data permanently stored within an airbag control module. Specialist servicing may be required.
Can an OBD scanner clear airbag crash data?
A diagnostic scanner may clear certain fault codes, but stored crash or deployment data often requires specialist equipment and procedures. If the underlying fault remains, the SRS warning light is likely to return.
Will my car fail its MOT with the airbag light on?
If the SRS malfunction indicator lamp is indicating a system malfunction, the current UK MOT inspection manual categorises this as a Major defect. A lamp showing that a passenger airbag has simply been disabled is treated differently.
Is it safe to drive with an airbag warning light?
An illuminated SRS warning light indicates a potential fault within the restraint system. The system should be professionally diagnosed because affected safety components may not operate as intended during a collision.
What is the difference between an airbag module reset and an airbag replacement?
An airbag module reset involves servicing the electronic SRS control unit to clear supported stored crash data. Airbag replacement involves physically replacing an airbag that has deployed or been damaged. They are separate procedures.
Where can I get an airbag module reset in the UK?
Reset My Airbag provides airbag module reset services for customers across the UK. Contact us with your vehicle details and module information to check whether your specific airbag control unit is supported.
Final Answer: Can Airbags Be Reset After an Accident?
The airbag itself is not normally reset after deployment, but many airbag control modules can potentially be professionally reset after an accident.
If crash data has been stored in the SRS module, a specialist may be able to clear that data and return a suitable original module for refitting.
However, an airbag module reset does not repair deployed airbags, activated seat belt pretensioners or other damaged SRS components. The complete restraint system must be correctly diagnosed and repaired to address any remaining faults.
If you need an airbag module reset in the UK, contact Reset My Airbag with your vehicle make, model, year and module part number to check whether your unit can be reset.