Component
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
50 NHTSA complaints about air bags: air bag/restraint control module issues across 22 makes and 45 models.
The air bags: air bag/restraint control module is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 50 filings from 22 manufacturers and 45 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TESLA MODEL X with 2 filings, followed by JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE and HYUNDAI SANTA FE. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TESLA MODEL X | 2 |
| 2 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 2 |
| 3 | HYUNDAI SANTA FE | 2 |
| 4 | FORD FUSION | 2 |
| 5 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 2 |
| 6 | VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN | 1 |
| 7 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 1 |
| 8 | VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS | 1 |
| 9 | TOYOTA RAV4 | 1 |
| 10 | TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | 1 |
| 11 | TOYOTA COROLLA | 1 |
| 12 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 1 |
| 13 | TOYOTA 4RUNNER | 1 |
| 14 | SUBARU OUTBACK | 1 |
| 15 | NISSAN XTERRA | 1 |
| 16 | NISSAN VERSA | 1 |
| 17 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 1 |
| 18 | MINI COUNTRYMAN | 1 |
| 19 | MERCEDES-BENZ C300 | 1 |
| 20 | MAZDA CX-9 | 1 |
| 21 | LEXUS IS 250 | 1 |
| 22 | KIA FORTE | 1 |
| 23 | JEEP LIBERTY | 1 |
| 24 | JEEP GLADIATOR | 1 |
| 25 | INFINITI G37 | 1 |
| 26 | HONDA PILOT | 1 |
| 27 | HONDA CR-V | 1 |
| 28 | HONDA ACCORD | 1 |
| 29 | GMC SIERRA 1500 | 1 |
| 30 | GMC SIERRA | 1 |
Recent Complaints
This recall remedy is overdue and poses a safety risk to passengers. Toyota is currently preparing the remedy for this issue. When the remedy is available, Toyota dealers will inspect the OCS sensors
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Restraint System Fault" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local Tesla Service Ce
The contact owned a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a metal guard rail on the driver's side along the len
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the message "Secondary Restraint System Failure" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driverâs side rear passengerâs seat belt failed to release the child occupying the seat. The contac
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds with an occupant in the passengerâs side front seat, the air bag light off message was displayed. The veh
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X6. The contact that while starting the vehicle, the check air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the warning lights remained illumi
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Canyon. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the âService Safety Restraint Systemâ message was displayed. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle
The contact owns a 2018 Cadillac ATS. The contact stated that while the front passengerâs side seat was occupied, the air bag (SRS) restraint system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken
The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and produced codes: B1049 and B1054
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that the passengerâs side restraint system warning message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the sensor failed to reco
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bull
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that th
The contact owns a 2016 BMW I3. The contact stated that the driver restraint warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, and the contact was informed that the front driverâ
The contact owns a 2016 Mini Cooper S Countryman. The contact stated that intermittently the âPassenger restraint system malfunction - Fault in passenger-restraint system affecting air bag - Consult
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact was alerted by OnStar of a malfunction with the air bag system. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that a module ass
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had become an ongoing issue. The con
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag control module
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that t
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.