B0081 — Passenger presence / occupant classification sensing circuit — airbag system fault

Code B0081 is a standard OBD-II diagnostic trouble code: Passenger presence / occupant classification sensing circuit — airbag system fault.

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In our record, B0081 is reported most often on Chevrolet, Saturn and Pontiac vehicles , against airbags and electrical failure patterns , across 2007–2015 model years.

In ProblemsByVin's analysis of the NHTSA owner-complaint record, owners cite B0081 across 31 vehicle failure patterns. Diagnostic codes in complaints are reported by owners and are unverified — they point to where this code shows up, not a confirmed diagnosis. Open a page below for the full pattern (symptoms, mileage, repair costs owners cite).

Vehicles where owners report B0081 31 patterns

2015 Chevrolet Silverado

airbags — Airbag warning light with passenger presence module malfunction

2015 Chevrolet Malibu

airbags — Airbag Control Module / SDM Failure

2014 Chevrolet Sonic

airbags — Passenger Airbag Occupancy Sensor Malfunction

2013 Chevrolet Volt

airbags — Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor (Passenger Presence Module/PSS) Failure

2012 Buick Verano

airbags — Passenger Airbag Indicator Malfunction — Intermittent On/Off

2012 Chevrolet Volt

airbags — Passenger Presence Sensor / Passenger Sensing System (PSS) Malfunction

2011 Chevrolet Equinox

airbags — Intermittent Service Airbag warning light

2011 Chevrolet Traverse

airbags — Service Airbag Warning Light - Intermittent or Persistent Illumination

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

airbags — Passenger seat occupant sensor mat deterioration/failure

2009 Chevrolet Equinox

airbags — Passenger Occupant Detection Sensor Malfunction

2009 Chevrolet Equinox

electrical — Passenger-presence detection module failure

2009 Pontiac G8

airbags — Passenger Presence Module Failure

2009 Pontiac G6

airbags — Airbag warning light / airbag disabled fault code

2009 Pontiac G8

electrical — Passenger presence module (seat sensor) failure — disables all airbags

2008 Buick Enclave

airbags — Passenger seat occupancy sensor intermittent or continuous failure

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

airbags — Airbag Failure to Deploy in Crash

2008 Chevrolet Equinox

airbags — Passenger presence sensor malfunction

2008 Chevrolet Malibu

airbags — Service airbag warning light illuminates intermittently or constantly

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

seatbelts — Front Passenger Seat Belt Retractor Malfunction

2008 Pontiac G8

airbags — Passenger Presence Module Malfunction

2008 Saturn Sky

airbags — Passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) Sensor Failure

2008 Saturn Outlook

airbags — Passenger Presence Sensor Malfunction — Airbag Shows 'OFF' with Occupant

2008 Saturn Outlook

electrical — Sunroof/roof water intrusion affecting electrical system

2008 Saturn Outlook

powertrain — Passenger Seat Airbag Malfunction

2007 Chevrolet Equinox

airbags — Passenger Presence Sensor Failure—Airbag Off with Occupant

2007 Chevrolet Cobalt

airbags — Service airbag warning light illuminates; airbags disabled when lit

2007 GMC Acadia

airbags — Passenger Occupancy Sensor Malfunction

2007 Pontiac Solstice

airbags — Passenger Presence Module (PPM) / Pressure Sensor Failure

2007 Saturn Aura

airbags — Passenger Airbag Detection System Malfunction

2007 Saturn Sky

airbags — Passenger Presence System (PPS) Module / Seat Occupancy Sensor Failure

2007 Saturn Ion

airbags — Airbag warning light—intermittent or persistent illumination

Codes are pulled from what owners wrote in their NHTSA filings — they're allegations, not a shop diagnosis. Always confirm with a live scan. Browse all diagnostic codes →