VW Sharan Airbag Warning Light: Fix Guide & Costs

Had a very similar issue with my 2006 VW Touran diesel last year. The SRS light started appearing on the dash suddenly, and being concerned about automotive safety, I took it to a workshop right away. The diagnostic revealed a faulty airbag sensor connection, specifically a loose cable connector near the driver seat. The airbag deployment system needs these connections to be perfect to function properly. After checking the airbag recall status (which was clear), the workshop found the cable or plug connection was defective and needed attention. The fix involved cleaning the connector pins and securing the plug properly. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostics. Since then, no warning lights have appeared and the airbag system is functioning as intended. Could you share: Has the airbag light been constant or intermittent? Have you had any water damage or spills near the seats? Did you get any specific error codes scanned? Have you checked if your vehicle is subject to any airbag recalls? With this information, I might be able to give more specific advice based on my experience with a similar VW model.

Last service was done at 62000km about 3 months ago. The warning light has been constant since it first appeared, no blinking or intermittent behavior. The crash sensor diagnostic showed error code 01217 which suggests an issue with the side airbag wiring. No water damage near seats and checked the airbag recall database, no open recalls for my model. The SRS light staying on constantly makes me think its more than just a loose connection. Since the airbag deployment system is critical for safety, I want to resolve this properly. Certainly dont want to risk any malfunction if the airbags are ever needed. I will book it in for a proper diagnosis to check if its just wiring or if the crash sensor needs replacement. Thanks for sharing your repair experience, helpful to know what kind of costs to expect if its just a connection issue.

Thanks for those additional details. Since we share similar VW models, I can say that error code 01217 is quite specific and tells more than what I initially dealt with. While my issue was a simple loose connection, your constant warning light combined with that particular code suggests a potential problem with the side airbag wiring harness. In my Touran, I actually had a follow-up issue six months after the first repair where the restraint system warning came back on. That time it was indeed a damaged wire in the side airbag circuit, cost was higher at around 280€ for the repair since they had to replace part of the wiring harness. The airbag sensor network in these VW models is quite sensitive, and when the warning stays constant (rather than intermittent like my first issue), it often indicates a break in the circuit rather than just a connection problem. For automotive safety, I definitely recommend having it checked soon. The complete airbag deployment system needs to be fully operational. Given your error code and symptoms, prepare for potentially higher costs than my initial repair if wiring replacement is needed. The good news is once properly fixed, these airbag systems are quite reliable. My car hasnt shown any warning lights since the wiring harness repair.

Thanks everyone for the insights. After reading the responses, I decided to take action and had the car inspected today. The mechanic confirmed exactly what was suggested, a damaged section of the side airbag wiring harness needs replacement. The total quote came to 310€ including parts and labor, which aligns with the repair costs mentioned. Vehicle safety being the priority, I scheduled the repair for next week. The crash sensor itself appears fine, so hopefully replacing the wiring harness will resolve the airbag warning light completely. Really appreciate the detailed information about similar VW airbag system issues. It helped me understand the problem better and know what to expect for the repair. Will update once the work is done in case others encounter similar restraint system warnings in their vehicles.