SRS in a car stands for Supplemental Restraint System , which is the official name for the airbag and related safety‑restraint system in your vehicle.

Quick Scoop

SRS is the computer‑controlled system that manages your airbags, seat‑belt pretensioners, and sometimes other automatic restraints so they deploy in a crash to reduce injury. It’s called “supplemental” because it works with your seat belts , not instead of them.

What “SRS” Actually Controls

  • Airbags : driver, passenger, side, curtain, and sometimes knee airbags.
  • Seat‑belt pretensioners : automatically tighten belts during a crash.
  • Crash sensors and control module : detect impact, speed change, and passenger presence, then decide which restraints to trigger.

SRS Light on the Dashboard

When you see an “SRS” or airbag warning light , it means the system has detected a fault and may not deploy properly in a crash. Common causes include:

  • Faulty crash or seat‑occupancy sensor
  • Loose wiring or damaged connectors
  • Airbag module issues or previous crash repairs

If the light stays on, it’s generally recommended to have the system scanned and repaired by a qualified technician, because driving with a disabled SRS reduces crash protection.

Why SRS Matters in Modern Cars

Modern SRS setups often tie into advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS) and passenger‑weight sensors, so the system can adjust how (or whether) airbags deploy depending on who’s sitting where. That’s why, in today’s cars, SRS is more than just “airbags”—it’s a core part of the overall safety architecture.

Quick reference table

Term / Feature| What It Means in a Car Context
---|---
SRS| Supplemental Restraint System (airbags + pretensioners + related safety hardware). 13
SRS light on| Fault in airbag or restraint system; may not deploy in a crash. 57
Primary restraint| Seat belts (SRS is the supplement to them). 37

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.