How to find your airbag module location

The general rule

Carmakers put the airbag control module low and near the center of the vehicle, because that is the spot least likely to be crushed in a crash. On most cars and trucks you will find it in one of three places: under the center console, on the floor under the dash near the transmission tunnel, or under one of the front seats.

It is a small metal or hard plastic box, usually with a multi-pin connector or two and a few mounting bolts. If you want to understand what the box actually does before you go digging, our explainer on what an SRS airbag module is walks through it in plain terms.

What each brand calls it

The part has a different name depending on who built your car, which matters when you search or order. Here is the quick translation:

• Ford and Lincoln: RCM, the Restraint Control Module. Often mounted on the floor under the center console or near the transmission tunnel.
• GM (Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick): SDM, the Sensing and Diagnostic Module. Commonly under the center console or beneath a front seat.
• Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram: ORC, the Occupant Restraint Controller. Typically center floor under the console.
• Honda and Acura: the SRS unit. Often under the center console or front seat.
• Nissan and Infiniti: the air bag diagnosis sensor unit, usually center console area.
• Toyota and Lexus: the airbag or center airbag sensor assembly, commonly center of the floor.
• Volkswagen and Audi: the airbag control module, usually on the center tunnel under the console.

For the specific location, part name, and common trouble codes on your exact vehicle, find your make on our vehicles page. We list the exact mounting spot and brand name for each one.

How to locate it on your car

Start at the center console. On many vehicles you can lift the console trim, the shifter surround, or a small access panel and see the module bolted to the floor. If it is not there, check under the front seats by sliding the seat all the way forward and back and looking underneath. The third common spot is up under the dash near the center, which usually means pulling a lower trim panel.

A factory service manual or a quick search for your year, make, and model plus the brand-specific name above will usually pin it down fast. The connectors are the giveaway. The module is the box where the airbag and sensor wiring all comes together.

Pulling it safely

Because this is part of the airbag system, take the standard precautions. The point is to avoid an accidental deployment while you are working.

1. Disconnect the negative battery terminal and let the car sit several minutes so the system fully powers down.
2. Remove the trim or panel covering the module.
3. Unclip the connectors carefully. They usually have a locking tab. Do not yank.
4. Remove the mounting bolts and lift the module out.
5. Note its orientation so it goes back the same way.

If any of that feels beyond your comfort level, a local shop can pull it in a few minutes. Plenty of customers have their shop remove the module, then mail it to us themselves. Either way works.

What to do once you have it out

Take a quick look at the module before you ship it. If the case is cracked, connectors are burnt, or there are signs of water, note that. A clean module holding crash data is a straightforward reset. A damaged one may need replacing, which we cover in our guide on whether you need a new airbag module. Either way, mail it to us and we will read it and tell you. Our airbag module reset service clears the crash data and returns it factory-ready.

If your airbags deployed, your seat belt pretensioners likely fired too. Many customers pull the module and the belts together and send them in one shipment so the whole restraint system comes back ready.

One safety note

Working around airbag components carries real risk if a charge fires unexpectedly. Always disconnect the battery and wait before you touch anything in the system, keep your body clear of the airbags themselves, and if you are not confident, let a shop handle the removal. Remember too that finding and resetting the module belongs at the end of the job, once the vehicle has been properly repaired and is mechanically safe to drive.