B0081: owner reports and bulletins

Body. We haven't written the explanation for this code yet. Below is what owners and manufacturers have filed with NHTSA.

Got B0081 on your scanner? Tell the mechanic your year, make, model and any symptoms and you'll get the likely cause and what to check first. Ask about this code.

What owners report to NHTSA

61 complaints filed with NHTSA mention B0081, 42 of them since 2015, across 20 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: air bags.

Most-reported models

VehicleComplaintsModel years reported
PONTIAC G8122008, 2009
PONTIAC SOLSTICE72006, 2007, 2008
CHEVROLET EQUINOX72007, 2008, 2009, 2011
SATURN SKY52007, 2008
SATURN AURA42007, 2009
SATURN OUTLOOK42007, 2008
CHEVROLET MALIBU32008, 2015
CHEVROLET COBALT32007, 2008
CHEVROLET VOLT32012, 2013

Manufacturer service bulletins that name B0081

12 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention B0081, from 4 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:

  • CHEVROLET IMPALA (2016, 2017), bulletin 10140345: This engineering information ends the need for information from the field on vehicles that have the condition of Service Air Bag Indicator Illuminated and DTC B0081 and/or B0074-0D Set.
  • BUICK VERANO (2017), bulletin 10159553: N182188910 - Special Coverage. On some 2017 model year Buick Verano vehicles, the Passenger Presence Sensor (PPS) Module wire may have been pinched in the seat trim during seat assembly or servicing. If the wire is pinch…
  • CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), bulletin 10160660: This Preliminary information communicates the need for dealers to contact SPAC to obtain qualified parts to repair SIR light on with B0081 SYM4B after replacing PPS kit.
  • CHEVROLET AVALANCHE (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), bulletin 10160660: This Preliminary information communicates the need for dealers to contact SPAC to obtain qualified parts to repair SIR light on with B0081 SYM4B after replacing PPS kit.
  • GMC SIERRA 1500 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), bulletin 10160660: This Preliminary information communicates the need for dealers to contact SPAC to obtain qualified parts to repair SIR light on with B0081 SYM4B after replacing PPS kit.
  • GMC SIERRA DENALI (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), bulletin 10112536: This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B0081 in the Sensing and Diagnostic Module and Passenger Presence Sensor modules. Techn…

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.