OBD-II code B0061 indicates a fault in the passenger seat belt tension sensor circuit, which is part of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). The sensor measures how much force is applied to the passenger's seat belt, and its reading is used by the airbag control module to make deployment decisions. When the module sees a signal outside the expected range, it sets this code and typically illuminates the airbag/SRS warning light.
The sensor itself is the most common failure point. It contains strain-gauge or position-sensing elements that wear out or drift out of calibration over time, producing out-of-range signals.
The wiring running under the passenger seat is exposed to flexing, seat movement, and foot traffic, which can chafe or break conductors and create open or shorted circuits.
The multi-pin connector at the sensor or at the airbag control module can develop terminal tension loss, oxidation, or contamination from spills and debris under the seat.
Mechanical problems in the retractor, webbing spool, or anchor can produce abnormal tension readings that the sensor interprets as an electrical fault.
Less common, but the restraints control module itself can develop a faulty input circuit or internal reference issue that triggers B0061. This is far less likely than the sensor or wiring.
The vehicle will drive normally because this is a safety-system code, not a drivability code. However, the passenger airbag may not deploy as intended in a crash, so it should be diagnosed and repaired before relying on the system.
Usually not. The tension sensor and its wiring fail far more often than the module itself. Replacing the module without first verifying the sensor, wiring, and connectors is one of the most common and expensive misdiagnoses for this code.
Clearing the code will typically turn the light off temporarily, but the fault will usually return once the module runs its self-check. The light exists because the system cannot confirm the airbag will perform correctly.
No. B0061 specifically refers to the passenger-side tension sensor. Driver-side components have their own dedicated codes, although related B-codes may be stored if the module has flagged multiple issues.