Fault Code Lookup › Body codes › B0081
B0081 Body · generic range, no listed definition
B0081 fault code: what 6 Chevrolet owners reported
B0081 sits in the generic body range (body: airbags, seats, lighting, climate and comfort electronics), but its SAE definition is not in CarHooq's list, so this page shows only what owners reported. What it meant in practice is below, from 6 complaints owners filed with NHTSA. Updated November 9, 2026.
- 6owner reports
- 4car models
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention a fire
- 2012–2015model years
Which cars get code B0081?
Every model whose owners mentioned B0081 in a complaint, most reports first. Each year opens that car's full problem report. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Where does B0081 show up?
By brand
- Chevrolet6
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for B0081?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Air Bags) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Side: Inflator Module General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.
2013 Chevrolet Volt. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain: Inflator General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
2015 Chevrolet Silverado. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain: Inflator General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
2015 Chevrolet Silverado. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Air Bags: Frontal General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax…
2015 Chevrolet Silverado. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Air Bags: Frontal General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice…
2015 Chevrolet Silverado. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Air Bags: Side/Window General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
2015 Chevrolet Malibu. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Air Bags General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured July 28, 2014, to August 1, 2014. Due to a loss of electrical connection in the steering column, in the event of a severe crash, the driver's frontal air bag deployment may be limited to the…
2014 Chevrolet Sonic. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw B0081?
6 of the 6 reports, spread across the models above, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
HI SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MY 2013 CHEVY VOLT WHEN I GOT THE MESSAGE OF SERVICE AIRBAG AND THE LIGHT OF AIRBAG ON THE DASHBOARD, I TOOK IT TO O'REILLY TO CHECK THE CODE ON IT AND THEY SAID IT HAS TWO CODES OF BEES 0074 AND B0081 WHICH RELATED TO PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. THIS CAME ON BY ITSELF!! *TR
EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR, IT STATES SERVICE AIRBAG WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT, CODES C0196, C0186, C0287, B101D, B0081
THE TRUCK IS WELL MAINTAINED WITH 66500 MILES AND THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE IS MALFUNCTIONING AND TO FIX IT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S GOING TO BE 967.70 IS THERE A RECALL OR WARRANTY ON THIS IT ALREADY COST ME 106.73 TO PUT IT ON A COMPUTER FOR THE CODE THAT I COULD HAVE DONE AT HOME I'VE OWNED IT SINCE NEW IT WILL BE 5 YRS IN A WEEK OR SO JUST FEEL FOR 49000.00 TRUCK SHOULDN'T HAVE AIRBAG ISSUES ALREADY. THE CODE IS B0081-00 AND B1000 AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING WITH OUT ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT IF SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY WEIGH IT DOESN'T THROW A CODE
TAKATA RECALL THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON I CALL ON STAR AND THEY SAY ITS A DEFECT IN DEPLOY DIAGNOSTIC CODE B0081 AND WHEN I TAKE IT IN THE LIGHT IS OFF. I DONT WANT TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND THEN THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOY
THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO AN OPEN INVESTIGATION (PE19013). AIRBAG WARNING DISPLAYED AFTER PASSENGER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE ('SERVICE AIRBAG'). APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY FAULTY PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR. FAULT CLEARED WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF/ON. DEALER (PARADISE CHEVROLET, VENTURA, CA) ADVISED THAT PASSENGER PRESENCE AND AIRBAG SYSTEMS HAVE AN 'INTERNAL FAULT' (B0074, B0081) WHICH DEALER SERVICE REP STATED MAY CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY CORRECTLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. QUOTED REPAIR COST OF $499 FOR SENSOR AND 3 HOURS LABOR (@$150/HR).
I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAIN REGARDING A "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT PRESENT IN MY CAR. THE LIGHT TURNS ON SUDDENLY REGARDLESS A PASSENGER IS PRESENT OR NOT. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR PARKED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND THE CODES GIVEN WERE: B0081 AND B0074 (PASSENGER PRESENCE MALFUNCTION) THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IF THE PART WAS NOT CHANGED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT; IT HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO ANY LIQUIDS THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE. THE ESTIMATE PROVIDED AND REPAIRS WERE $980 (PART ONLY: $500) PLUS TAX. SO FAR, I WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR BUT IT IS VERY…
B0081: questions drivers ask
What does code B0081 mean?
B0081 sits in the generic body range (body: airbags, seats, lighting, climate and comfort electronics), but its SAE definition is not in CarHooq's list, so CarHooq shows only what owners reported. 6 owners reported it to NHTSA, most often for the Chevrolet Volt (3), Chevrolet Malibu (1), Chevrolet Silverado (1); their reports describe what happened.
Which cars get code B0081 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, B0081 is mentioned most for the Chevrolet Volt (3), Chevrolet Malibu (1), Chevrolet Silverado (1), across 4 models and model years 2012 to 2015. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code B0081?
No NHTSA recall text names B0081 directly. 7 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Air Bags); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows B0081?
Write down when the code appeared and what the car did (warning lights, loss of power, noises, speed, weather). Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer or independent workshop to read the stored freeze-frame data before anyone clears the code, and keep the repair order. If the car loses power in traffic, stop driving it. CarHooq does not diagnose: these are owner reports and official recall notices, not repair advice.
How this page was made
CarHooq read the text of every owner complaint filed with NHTSA for 19 US and European brands (model years 2012 onwards) and picked out the diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote down. This page lists every mention of B0081. The code is in a generic range but its standard definition is not in CarHooq's list, so CarHooq shows only what owners reported. Nothing here is a diagnosis. More answers: the fault code FAQ. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 9, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.
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