DF035 - Fault memory locked, crash data stored airbag control unit fault

What does error code DF035 mean in the airbag control unit?

On Renault vehicles, error code DF035 reports that the fault memory is locked and that crash data has been saved in the control unit following an accident. The control unit itself switches on the airbag warning light, which shows the driver the fault and thus points to the restraint system (SRS).

The crash data is stored in the control unit while the fault memory is locked, which means the entry cannot be deleted.

The control unit that triggers the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners in an emergency is therefore affected.

How do you recognise error code DF035?

You recognise error code DF035 by the airbag warning light staying on permanently and the code being in the locked fault memory. The entry cannot be permanently deleted, and it is read out with a suitable diagnostic tool connected to the vehicle.

A permanently lit airbag warning light is the visible sign of a fault in the control unit. However, the exact code only appears once you read out the fault memory with a diagnostic tool. The display alone does not yet reveal which cause lies behind it.

What causes error code DF035?

Error code DF035 has its cause in the control unit itself, because the crash data was saved there after an accident. Other possible triggers are ageing electronic components, soldered joints, moisture or corrosion in the control unit, and voltage spikes caused by a weak battery or jump-starting.

• Crash data saved in the control unit after an accident
• Ageing electronic components in the control unit
• Soldered joints, moisture or corrosion in the control unit
• Voltage spikes caused by a weak battery or by jump-starting

Which of these causes is present cannot be stated with certainty without examining the control unit.

In which vehicles does error code DF035 occur?

Error code DF035 is known on Renault vehicles, for example the Clio, Espace, Rafale, Scénic, Symbioz and Twingo models. The meaning may also differ on other vehicles, and the list is not complete, because not every model has been recorded.

Whether your Renault is affected is only shown by reading out the fault memory. The make and model alone say nothing about this.

How is error code DF035 resolved?

If the cause lies in the control unit, error code DF035 is resolved by removing the unit and repairing it at Airbag24 in Berlin. Beforehand, you have the fault memory read out with a suitable diagnostic tool and disconnect the battery before removing the control unit.

You create the repair order online, then send the control unit to Airbag24. The inspection, the repair and the testing usually take 3–4 working days.

The repaired control unit comes back with all vehicle data and is ready for use as soon as it is refitted — no coding or programming is required.

Work on the airbag system should be left to qualified specialists. Removal is part of this, and the battery is disconnected beforehand. Safety comes first.