Saxo Active Hood Fault

The "Active Hood" system is designed to pop the hood up slightly in a frontal collision to create more space, increasing pedestrian safety. It uses sensors, typically accelerometers, to detect a collision. The spring actuators you mention are what lift the hood. If the system is faulting and those actuators are triggering, it's likely the control module is receiving incorrect data. Do you have access to diagnostic tools to read the specific error code?

I do have a basic OBD2 reader. It points towards a fault in the impact sensor circuit. Could a faulty sensor really cause the actuators to deploy?

A fault in the impact sensor circuit, especially if it's falsely indicating an impact, could absolutely cause the actuators to deploy. The system is designed to react instantly to protect pedestrians. Given the complexity and the potential for unintended deployment during troubleshooting, I'd recommend getting it checked by a qualified workshop.

Thanks for the confirmation and advice. Took it to a shop, and you were spot on. Faulty acceleration sensor. Cost me 315€ to get it sorted.