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DTC codes / B00xx · Airbags, seats, doors, lights and comfort systems / B00F6

B00F6Third Row Center Inflatable Seat Belt Deployment Control

B00F6 indicates that the restraint control module has detected a fault in the deployment circuit for the third row center inflatable seat belt, which is a seat belt that inflates like an airbag during a crash to spread crash forces across the occupant's torso. The module monitors the circuit's resistance and continuity and sets this code when the readings fall outside the expected range, which disables deployment of that specific seat belt and turns on the airbag warning light.

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

Symptoms you may notice

  • The airbag or supplemental restraint system warning light stays illuminated on the dashboard.
  • A message such as 'Check Airbag' or 'Service Restraint System' may appear in the driver information center.
  • The third row center inflatable seat belt may not deploy in a collision, reducing protection for that occupant.
  • Often no symptoms besides the warning light, because the fault is electrical and does not affect normal seat belt latching.
  • Other restraint system functions may be inhibited depending on how the module prioritizes the fault.

Common causes, most likely first

  1. A damaged or disconnected electrical connector at the third row center inflatable seat belt buckle or retractor.
  2. A broken or chafed wire in the seat belt deployment circuit, often where the harness flexes near the seat hinge or folds.
  3. Corrosion or water intrusion into the connector or module pins, especially in vehicles with rear cargo area leaks.
  4. A failed inflatable seat belt module (the belt's internal inflator and squib) with an open or shorted circuit.
  5. A faulty restraint control module that is misreading the circuit, though this is less common than wiring faults.
  6. Improperly performed prior repairs, such as a seat removal that pinched the harness or left a connector unseated.

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Inspect the third row center seat belt connectors and harness for looseness, corrosion, or physical damage, and reseat any connector that is not fully latched.
  2. Check for stored history codes and freeze-frame data with a scan tool to confirm the fault is current and isolated to this circuit.
  3. Measure resistance across the inflatable seat belt squib circuit at the connector and compare it to the manufacturer's specification to identify an open or short.
  4. Perform a wiggle test on the harness while watching live resistance data to expose an intermittent wire break near the seat hinge or fold.
  5. Repair or replace the damaged section of harness or the faulty connector, using proper crimps and heat shrink rather than twist-and-tape repairs.
  6. If the circuit tests good but the code persists, substitute a known-good inflatable seat belt assembly to rule out the belt module before condemning the restraint control module.
  7. Clear the codes and verify the warning light goes out and stays out after a road test that exercises the seat and harness.

What technicians miss on inflatable belt codes

  • The inflatable seat belt squib circuit is often confused with a standard seat belt buckle switch circuit, so technicians who probe the wrong pins waste time and may set additional codes.
  • A common miss is a pinched harness under the third row seat after a cargo load or a prior seat removal, which creates an intermittent open that only appears when the seat is folded or occupied.
  • Water leaks into the rear quarter panel or cargo area can corrode the connector pins and cause this code without any visible damage to the belt itself.
  • This code does not always mean the inflatable seat belt is defective; a loose connector at the restraint control module can set the same code, so always check both ends of the circuit.
  • After any repair, the restraint control module may need a learn or clear procedure with a capable scan tool before the warning light will extinguish, and some systems latch the fault until the ignition cycle is completed.

Can I keep driving with B00F6?

The vehicle remains safe to drive in normal conditions because the fault only affects deployment of the third row center inflatable seat belt, but that occupant loses supplemental protection in a crash. Avoid carrying a passenger in the third row center position until the fault is repaired, and do not attempt to test or probe the squib circuit with a standard multimeter unless you follow the manufacturer's safety procedure.

Tools that help

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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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