Wiring or connector fault in the sensor circuit under the passenger seat, such as chafed or pinched wires or a loose plug; Faulty occupant position sensor E; Seat mat, seat cushion or sensor assembly damaged, displaced or contaminated, for example by liquid spills or by aftermarket seat covers; Corrosion or poor contact in the seat connector or yellow SRS connector; Fault or outdated calibration or software in the restraint or occupant detection control unit, where the manufacturer lists it as a known issue; Low or unstable supply voltage to the restraint system after battery trouble.

B00CB

Passenger Seat Occupant Position Sensor E.

Generic
Body
Generic code
Medium severity

How this code is built

B: SystemBody
0: Defined bySAE, the same on every car
0: AreaBody area 0
CB: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

B00CB is the generic SAE J2012 code for a fault in Passenger Seat Occupant Position Sensor E, part of the system that detects whether and how someone is sitting in the front passenger seat. The restraint control unit set it because the signal from this sensor, or its circuit, was missing, out of range or implausible. Which sensor 'E' is, and how many the seat has, depends on the model and seat design.

Symptoms

Airbag or SRS warning light on
Passenger airbag off or status light showing incorrectly
Passenger airbag status changing while the seat is occupied or empty
Passenger seat belt reminder warning behaving oddly or not working
Fault appears after seat work, a heavy item on the seat or a battery disconnection

Possible causes

Wiring or connector fault in the sensor circuit under the passenger seat, such as chafed or pinched wires or a loose pluglikely
Faulty occupant position sensor Elikely
Seat mat, seat cushion or sensor assembly damaged, displaced or contaminated, for example by liquid spills or by aftermarket seat coverspossible
Corrosion or poor contact in the seat connector or yellow SRS connectorpossible
Fault or outdated calibration or software in the restraint or occupant detection control unit, where the manufacturer lists it as a known issuerare
Low or unstable supply voltage to the restraint system after battery troublerare

How to diagnose

Read all stored and pending codes plus freeze frame data, noting any other SRS or occupant detection codes that point to a shared cause.
Ask about recent seat removal, trim work, seat covers, spillages or heavy items on the seat, and check the seat for visible damage.
Check battery condition and supply voltage, as low voltage can set restraint system faults.
With the battery disconnected and the manufacturer's waiting time observed, inspect the seat wiring and connectors under the passenger seat for chafing, pinching, corrosion and bent or pushed-out pins.
Check the connectors are fully seated and the seat harness is routed correctly and not trapped by the seat runners.
Using the manufacturer's procedure, view live occupant sensor data with the seat empty and occupied to see if sensor E responds sensibly. Do not probe SRS circuits with a meter unless the procedure allows it.
Clear the code and retest, checking whether it returns straight away (hard fault) or only after seat movement (intermittent wiring).
Check for manufacturer service bulletins or software updates for the restraint control unit and seat sensor system for the specific model.

How to fix

Repair or replace damaged wiring and connectors in the seat harness, following the manufacturer's SRS repair guidance.
Clean and reseat corroded or loose connectors, replacing terminals or the connector if they are damaged.
Replace the faulty occupant position sensor or seat sensor assembly as the manufacturer specifies, and complete any required calibration or initialisation.
Remove unsuitable seat covers or accessories and refit the seat components correctly.
Update or replace the restraint control unit software or hardware only where a known fault or outdated calibration is confirmed for that model.

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can usually be driven, but the passenger airbag may not work correctly or may be disabled, so get it checked soon. Avoid carrying a front passenger, and never a child, until the system has been repaired and tested.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.