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DTC codes / B00xx · Airbags, seats, doors, lights and comfort systems / B0062

B0062Knee Airbag Deployment Loop Short to Ground

B0062 means the airbag control module has detected a short to ground in the deployment circuit for the knee airbag, which is a supplemental restraint mounted low in the dashboard to protect the driver's or passenger's legs. The module monitors the loop's resistance and voltage and sets this code when the circuit is grounded when it should not be, disabling that airbag to prevent an unexpected deployment.

SystemBody
Code typeGeneric (all makes)
SeverityHigh
Fix difficultyProfessional
AreaAirbags, seats, doors, lights and comfort systems

Symptoms you may notice

  • The airbag warning light stays on after the bulb check, and the passenger airbag indicator may also show a fault.
  • Often no symptoms besides the warning light, because the knee airbag is a supplemental restraint that does not affect normal driving.
  • The knee airbag is disabled and will not deploy in a collision, reducing occupant protection.
  • Other airbag-related warnings or a message to service the restraint system may appear on the dashboard.
  • In some vehicles, remote start or other convenience features tied to the restraint system may be inhibited.

Common causes, most likely first

  1. A chafed or pinched knee airbag harness wire shorting to the vehicle body, often behind the lower dashboard trim or at a seat or console pass-through.
  2. Moisture or corrosion in a connector or splice in the knee airbag circuit, particularly at the lower kick panel or floor area.
  3. A failed knee airbag module with an internal short to its metal housing.
  4. A damaged airbag control module connector or internal fault in the module's deployment driver.
  5. Aftermarket accessories or previous repairs that tapped into or disturbed the restraint wiring.
  6. A misrouted harness that has rubbed through insulation against a sharp metal edge or fastener.

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Verify the code with a scan tool that reads body codes and record any freeze-frame or circuit status data before clearing anything.
  2. Inspect the knee airbag harness and connectors for chafing, pinching, corrosion, or loose pins, starting at the lower dashboard and kick panel areas.
  3. Disconnect the battery and wait the manufacturer's specified time, then measure resistance from the knee airbag circuit to a known good ground to confirm the short.
  4. Isolate the fault by disconnecting the knee airbag module and rechecking the circuit to ground, which tells you whether the short is in the harness or the module.
  5. Repair or replace the damaged section of harness, using proper splice and terminal procedures, and secure it away from sharp edges and moving parts.
  6. If the harness tests good, replace the knee airbag module or the airbag control module as indicated by the isolation test.
  7. Clear the code, perform the required airbag system self-test, and verify the warning light goes out and stays out.

What a knee airbag short really means

  • A short to ground in a deployment loop is not the same as an open circuit, and mixing the two up leads technicians to replace modules that are perfectly good.
  • The knee airbag circuit often shares a connector or splice with seat position sensors or pretensioners, so a fault there can set B0062 even when the knee airbag itself is fine.
  • Water intrusion from a clogged sunroof drain or a leaking windshield can travel down the A-pillar and corrode the lower dashboard connectors, causing this code without any visible damage.
  • After any airbag circuit repair, the module may need a learn or reset procedure, and simply clearing the code will not turn the light off if the short is still present.
  • A pinched harness behind a trim panel that was reinstalled after a radio or dash repair is one of the most common causes, so ask about recent interior work.

Can I keep driving with B0062?

The vehicle is safe to drive in the sense that it will operate normally, but the knee airbag is disabled and will not deploy in a crash, so have it repaired promptly. Avoid hard impacts to the lower dashboard area and do not attempt to test the circuit with a multimeter unless you are trained, because airbag circuits can deploy unexpectedly.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for all OBD-II vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

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