A smart airbag (14) is monitored by a vehicle restraint control module (24) and includes a state sensor (42) that generates an airbag state signal. A smart airbag fault circuit (40) is coupled to the state sensor (42) and includes multiple state devices (50). Each of the state devices (50) has a characteristic that is indicative of the state of the smart airbag (14). The state devices (50) are configured to be monitored by the vehicle restraint control module (24). A smart airbag state monitor (44) is separate from the vehicle restraint control module (24), is coupled to the state devices (50), and alters the state in response to the airbag state signal.