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.

2,792
Complaints
412
Models Affected
187
Crashes
17
Fires
6
Deaths

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

2016 SUBARU FORESTER

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

2008 GMC YUKON DENALI

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 MAZDA6

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.

2005 HUMMER H2

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

2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

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

2003 CHEVROLET S10

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

2010 NISSAN ROGUE

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

2006 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

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

2008 HYUNDAI SONATA

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

2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

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

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA

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

2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE Crash

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.

2013 TOYOTA COROLLA

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

2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO

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

2010 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

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

2010 NISSAN ALTIMA

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

2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA

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

2005 CHEVROLET IMPALA

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

2006 CADILLAC STS

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

2006 CHEVROLET COBALT

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)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve air bags:frontal:sensor/control module issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,792 complaints about air bags:frontal:sensor/control module problems across 412 vehicle models from 44 manufacturers.
How dangerous are air bags:frontal:sensor/control module defects?
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE issues have been linked to 187 crashes, 17 fires, 220 injuries, and 6 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most air bags:frontal:sensor/control module problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for air bags:frontal:sensor/control module issues is the HONDA ACCORD with 266 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

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.

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