B0080 B0xxx · Body (B) Medium severity
Passenger Presence / Occupant Classification System
The system that decides whether an adult is sitting in the passenger seat has failed. The airbag is typically suppressed as a precaution.
Severity guidance: Medium — drivability or emissions affected, book it in this week
Symptoms you will notice
- Passenger airbag off lamp stuck on
- Airbag warning lamp
- Warning message on the cluster
Common causes
Ordered from most to least likely — start at the top.
- 1 Failed occupant classification sensor mat
- 2 Calibration lost after seat removal
- 3 Damaged wiring under the seat
- 4 Control module fault
How to diagnose it
Cheapest and least invasive first — most of these codes are not a parts problem.
- ✓ Check whether the seat was recently removed — recalibration is often required afterwards.
- ✓ Read the classification ECU for sensor status and calibration state.
- ✓ Inspect the wiring and connectors under the seat.
- ✓ Run the manufacturer's re-zero procedure with the seat empty.
Repair options
- Recalibrate the occupant classification system
- Repair the wiring
- Replace the sensor mat (seat cover removal required)
B0080 — frequently asked questions
Why is the passenger airbag now disabled? +
It is a deliberate failsafe: if the system cannot tell whether someone is there, it suppresses deployment.
Can a heavy bag on the seat cause it? +
It can confuse classification temporarily, but a stored code means there is a real fault or a lost calibration.
Confirm the diagnosis before you buy parts
Send us the code, freeze-frame data and the vehicle — our engineers will tell you what to test first.