B1621-00

DTC B1621-00 indicates a short to ground in the driver side airbag (typically the seat-mounted side airbag or side curtain airbag) igniter circuit — Atto 8

Safety System

DTC B1621-00 indicates a short to ground in the driver side airbag (typically the seat-mounted side airbag or side curtain airbag) igniter circuit.

In the BYD SRS system, the ECU continuously monitors the circuit resistance of each airbag igniter (normal value: approximately 2.0-5.0 Ω).

When the ECU detects resistance below 1.0 Ω or voltage close to 0 V, it identifies a short to ground.

This fault causes the system to disable the affected airbag circuit, preventing normal deployment during a side impact.

In extreme cases, unstable resistance at the short circuit causes intermittent contact, posing a risk of unintended airbag deployment.

When this DTC triggers, the SRS control unit illuminates the instrument cluster airbag warning light and stores freeze frame data recording the vehicle status at the time of the fault.

5
Cases Logged
BYD DTC AI AnalysisFrom Chinese market (translated)

Worn seat rails caused a wiring harness short circuit.

Model: 2017 Qin EV300, 82,000 km. Symptom: Airbag warning light continuously illuminated on the instrument panel. DTC: B1621-00 (current fault). Diagnosis: Inspected the wiring harness beneath the seat and found the protective sleeve worn at the left rail of the driver's seat, with internal copper wires exposed and contacting the seat frame. Long-term friction from frequent seat adjustments wore through the insulation. Repair: Repaired the damaged harness using heat-shrink tubing for insulation, rerouted the wiring and added protective corrugated tubing, then secured the harness to non-moving sections of the seat frame using cable ties to prevent interference with the seat rails. Cleared the fault code and the system returned to normal.
BYD DTC AI AnalysisFrom Chinese market (translated)

Connector water ingress and corrosion after wading

Model: 2018 BYD Qin EV450. Driven through floodwater after heavy rain. Fault symptom: After drying, the airbag warning light illuminated upon starting, logging DTC B1621-00. Diagnosis: Inspected the SRS connector under the driver's seat. Found muddy water residue inside the yellow connector plug, with green copper corrosion on the terminal surfaces creating a short circuit path between terminals and the connector housing. Resolution: Disconnected the battery. Thoroughly cleaned the connector terminals with electronic contact cleaner. Dried them with compressed air, then applied DENSO conductive paste (or equivalent protectant). Replaced the waterproof seal ring and ensured the connector locking tab was fully seated. Cleared fault codes and tested; fault resolved. Recommend checking the vehicle floor seals to prevent further water ingress.
BYD DTC AI AnalysisFrom Chinese market (translated)

Misdiagnosed as spiral cable internal short circuit

Vehicle: 2017 Qin 100, collision-repaired. Symptom: B1621-00 DTC appeared after replacing front bumper and driver seat. Diagnosis: Initially suspected the replacement seat side airbag, but the fault persisted after substituting it with a simulator. Further inspection found that steering wheel removal had damaged the clock spring (spiral cable) tail harness, causing the side airbag circuit wires to short against the steering column. Repair: Replaced clock spring assembly (part number must match VIN), recalibrated steering angle sensor. Fault cleared. Tip: Some Qin models route side airbag circuit signals through the clock spring. Take care during repairs.
BYD DTC AI AnalysisFrom Chinese market (translated)

Airbag module internal igniter short circuit

Vehicle: 2017 BYD Qin 80, involved in a side collision. Symptom: After accident repairs (damaged door and airbag replaced), the airbag warning light came on with DTC B1621-00. Diagnosis: Replaced the airbag module with a simulator, and the fault cleared. Measured the old module's resistance: 0.3Ω (well below normal 2–5Ω). This confirmed a short circuit in the igniter bridge wire inside the airbag inflator. The short circuit likely resulted from igniter deformation caused by the impact, or a parts quality issue. Fix: Replaced the driver's side airbag module with a genuine unit, verifying the part number matched the vehicle configuration since high-spec and base models use different airbags. Verified the connector shorting bar worked properly before installation. Configured the SRS system after installation. Fault resolved.
BYD DTC AI AnalysisFrom Chinese market (translated)

SRS control unit internal circuit fault

Vehicle: 2017 BYD Qin EV300. The fault kept coming back after several repair attempts. Symptoms: The car repeatedly stored DTC B1621-00. The wiring harness and airbag module had been replaced earlier, but the fault stayed intermittent — especially over bumps. Diagnosis: Harness resistance tested within spec. Vibration testing revealed an intermittent short to ground at the control unit connector. We removed and inspected the SRS control unit (under the centre console or dash) and found cold solder joints on the internal circuit board, causing a fault in the driver's side airbag deployment circuit. Repair: We replaced the SRS control unit, programmed it to match the vehicle (writing the VIN and configuration codes), then ran system calibration and crash sensor zero-point calibration. The fault never came back.
Data confidence: Community This information is for reference only. Always consult a qualified technician for diagnosis and repair. Do not attempt high-voltage system repairs yourself.