OBD-II trouble code
B0097: Right Side Restraints Sensor 2 (Subfault)
The airbag/SRS control module detected a fault in the right side restraints (impact) sensor 2 circuit. Side airbag timing on that side may be affected, so this needs prompt professional attention.
Quick facts
- System
- Body
- Category
- Airbag / SRS Restraints
- Severity
- High severity
- Drivable
- Usually safe to drive short-term
- Repair cost range
- $100 – $700
- DIY difficulty
- Shop recommended
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What does B0097 mean?
B0097 is a body (B) code stored by the airbag control module. Its SAE-generic definition is 'Right Side Restraints Sensor 2,' referring to the second of the right-side satellite impact sensors that detect a side collision. It is the right-side mirror of B0092 (Left Side Restraints Sensor 2) and the companion of B0096 (Right Side Restraints Sensor 1). Side-impact sensors are commonly mounted in the B-pillar, the door, or along the rocker/floor on the side they monitor, where they can react quickly to a side crash and tell the module to fire the side and curtain airbags and pretensioners on that side. Vehicles that use more than one satellite per side number them 1, 2, and sometimes 3 (B0098).
The module sets B0097 when the circuit reads open or shorted, when the sensor's supply or return is out of range, or when the sensor stops reporting valid data. It is worth being clear about what this circuit is not: a satellite impact sensor is an active electronic device that reports over a two-wire link, not a resistive element like an airbag squib, so it has no loop-resistance specification to measure against. The narrow resistance window belongs to the deployment loops, not here. Because side-impact sensors live in the doors and lower body, their connectors are exposed to door-hinge harness flex, water intrusion from clogged door drains or a car wash, and disturbance during door, seat, or trim service — the most common sources of these faults. When several right-side sensor codes appear together, a shared power feed, ground, or connector is more likely than several sensors failing at once. As with all B-codes, confirm the exact definition and sensor location against your make's service data.
This is a supplemental restraint fault, not a driveability fault: the vehicle drives normally, but the right-side airbags may not deploy as intended in a side impact, and airbag circuits carry a small risk of unintended deployment when mishandled. SRS diagnosis and repair should be performed by a qualified technician who can safely disable the system, and the fault should not be left unrepaired.
Common causes
- Corroded, wet, or loose connector at the right side-impact sensor (B-pillar, door, or rocker)
- Water intrusion from a clogged door drain, car wash, or flooding
- Door-hinge harness flex fatigue or damage from door/seat/trim work
- Failed right side impact/satellite sensor
- Prior side-impact damage or repair that disturbed the sensor
- Faulty airbag/SRS control module
Symptoms
- Airbag / SRS warning light on
- Stored B0097 fault in the restraints module
- No effect on engine or driving performance
- Sometimes set together with the companion right-side sensor code B0096, which points at something the two share
Diagnostic steps
- 1.Use a scan tool that can access the airbag/SRS module and record B0097 and any companion right-side restraint-sensor codes.
- 2.Confirm the exact location of right side sensor 2 for the specific make and model (B-pillar, door, or rocker).
- 3.With the system safely disabled per service procedure, inspect the sensor connector and harness for corrosion, moisture, or door-hinge flex damage.
- 4.Check for water intrusion — clogged door drains or a recent car wash/flood can wet a door-mounted sensor connector.
- 5.Test the harness for opens and shorts with the sensor AND the module both disconnected, then with the sensor reconnected verify its supply voltage and return at the sensor connector against service data. Do not look for a loop-resistance specification — an active satellite sensor does not have one, and ohming across a connected one measures its input network rather than the circuit.
- 6.If both B0096 and B0097 are set, check the shared power, ground, and connector before condemning two sensors.
- 7.Repair wiring/connector faults or replace the indicated sensor, then clear codes and confirm the SRS light stays off.
Repair cost
$100 – $700
Drying and repairing a wet connector can be inexpensive, while replacing a side-impact sensor commonly runs $150-$500 including diagnosis. Costs rise if a door or trim must come apart to reach the sensor, or if the airbag/SRS control module itself is at fault. SRS work should be done by a qualified technician, so plan for professional diagnostic time.
Estimate your repair
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Open the Repair Cost Estimator with airbag / srs crash sensor replacement preselected. Adjust labor rate and vehicle category to fit your situation.
DIY vs shop
Leave this one to a qualified shop. The barrier here is live pyrotechnic devices, which must be powered down and allowed to discharge before a connector is touched, and which are tested only with equipment approved for restraints work. DIY attempts often produce a more expensive problem than the original code.