Yes, if the airbag (SRS) warning light shows a fault with the system. A light that only shows the passenger airbag has been switched off isn't a defect.
Testers grade each defect: a major or dangerous defect fails the MOT, a minor one passes but is written on the certificate.
| Defect | Result |
|---|---|
| An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction | FailsMajor |
From DVSA's MOT inspection manual for cars and passenger vehicles. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
In 2025, 125,938 car MOTs failed on the airbag warning light: 0.40%, or about 1 in 250. Testers also noted it as an advisory on 8,757 MOTs: something to keep an eye on that didn't fail the test.
Share of the MOTs that failed on the airbag warning light. One MOT can fail for more than one reason.
Share of car MOTs in each mileage band that failed on the airbag warning light.
1.47% of MOTs on cars registered in 2005 failed on the airbag warning light, against 0.10% for cars registered in 2022.
Models that failed on the airbag warning light at least 1.15 times as often as the average car of the same age and mileage, out of 95 with at least 30 MOTs failed on it.
Least often: Toyota RAV4 (0.1×), MINI Countryman (0.2×), Toyota C-HR (0.2×), Toyota Yaris (0.2×), Mazda 2 (0.2×).
Yes, if it shows a fault
In 2025, 125,938 car MOTs failed on the airbag warning light, about 1 in 250.
1 in 250car MOTs failed on the airbag warning light in 2025
Yes, if the airbag (SRS) warning light shows a fault with the system. A light that only shows the passenger airbag has been switched off isn't a defect.
In 2025, 125,938 car MOTs failed on the airbag warning light: 0.40%, or about 1 in 250.
Against the average car of the same age and mileage, the Mercedes A-Class (5.1 times as often), Hyundai i20 (3.6 times as often) and Nissan Qashqai (3.4 times as often), going by 2025 MOT results.