Component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2,792 NHTSA complaints about air bags:frontal:sensor/control module issues across 44 makes and 412 models.
The air bags:frontal:sensor/control module is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,792 filings from 44 manufacturers and 412 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 187 crashes, 17 fires, 220 injuries, and 6 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the HONDA ACCORD with 266 filings, followed by HONDA CIVIC and CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. 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 | HONDA ACCORD | 266 |
| 2 | HONDA CIVIC | 111 |
| 3 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 97 |
| 4 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 90 |
| 5 | HYUNDAI ELANTRA | 88 |
| 6 | DODGE CARAVAN | 77 |
| 7 | HYUNDAI SONATA | 60 |
| 8 | VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 47 |
| 9 | FORD ESCORT | 39 |
| 10 | KIA SORENTO | 36 |
| 11 | FORD ESCAPE | 36 |
| 12 | FORD EXPLORER | 35 |
| 13 | FORD TAURUS | 34 |
| 14 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 32 |
| 15 | FORD F-150 | 30 |
| 16 | FORD CONTOUR | 28 |
| 17 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 27 |
| 18 | KIA SPECTRA | 27 |
| 19 | HONDA ODYSSEY | 27 |
| 20 | CHEVROLET AVEO | 27 |
| 21 | NISSAN QUEST | 25 |
| 22 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 24 |
| 23 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 24 |
| 24 | KIA OPTIMA | 23 |
| 25 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 23 |
| 26 | CADILLAC CTS | 22 |
| 27 | SUZUKI FORENZA | 20 |
| 28 | TOYOTA COROLLA | 19 |
| 29 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 19 |
| 30 | HYUNDAI SANTA FE | 19 |
Recent Complaints
KEEP GETTING MESSAGE "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED" WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE SET SENSOR AT MY COST. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 41,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 GMC YUKON DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER (REEDMAN TOLL AUTO WORLD, 1700 EAST LI
2009 MAZDA 6. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VARIOUS SAFETY RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED.
THE SDM (SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE) ON MY 2005 HUMMER H2 IS NOT WORKING AND IS CAUSING MY AIR BAGS TO NOT WORK, AND ALSO CAUSES OTHER MODULES TO NOT BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND CAUSE MY GAUGES AND
AIRBAG SHOWED AS FAILED UPON STARTING MY MINIVAN. TOOK THE VAN TO MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SENSORS WERE BAD AND I ORDERED NEW SENSORS. CONTACTED CHRYSLER AS PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V00
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET S-10. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ROGUE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR BEGAN FLASHING OFF AND ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS
RECALL NUMBER: 10V008000RECALL DATE: 01/11/2010 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM SUMMARY: CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 2005-20
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS LATCHED IN PLACE, THE AIR BAG AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED TO DETECT WHEN SOMEONE WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SENSO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED TO DETECT WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER W
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN WARM WEATHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC STS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. AN INDEPENDENT DEAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
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.