B1481: owner reports and bulletins
Got B1481 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
12 complaints filed with NHTSA mention B1481, 10 of them since 2015, across 6 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: air bags.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| KIA OPTIMA | 5 | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 |
| HYUNDAI SONATA | 3 | 2012, 2013 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name B1481
2 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention B1481, from 1 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- KIA RIO (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), bulletin 10184998: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CLOCKSPRING REPLACEMENT FOR AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DTC B1346/B1481 - This bulletin provides information related to the replacement of the drivers airbag clock spring assembly on some 2012-201…
- KIA FORTE KOUP (2014, 2015, 2012, 2013), bulletin 10189271: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CLOCKSPRING REPLACEMENT FOR AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON - DTC B1346/B1481 - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by…
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.