B178A

DTC B178A indicates the Stage 2 Passenger Front Airbag inflator circuit resistance measures 0 ohms (or near 0 ohms; normal range is 2 — Atto 8

Safety System

DTC B178A indicates the Stage 2 Passenger Front Airbag inflator circuit resistance measures 0 ohms (or near 0 ohms; normal range is 2.0–3.0 ohms). "Stage 2" refers to the secondary trigger circuit of a dual-stage airbag, providing greater deployment energy during a severe collision.

A resistance of 0 ohms indicates a hard short (short to ground or short to power), not an open circuit.

This fault triggers the SRS fail-safe mechanism: the control unit disables the passenger airbag Stage 2 deployment function, or disables the airbag entirely, and illuminates the instrument cluster SRS warning light.

During a collision, this causes insufficient passenger protection, posing a serious safety hazard.

4
Cases Logged
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Water-damaged vehicle, passenger-side A-pillar wiring harness chafed and shorted

A 2019 BYD Song MAX developed active fault code B178A after driving through heavy floodwater. Inspection revealed standing water under the front passenger carpet that hadn't drained. The wiring harness retaining clip inside the A-pillar had detached, causing the harness to chafe against the metal bracket until the insulation wore through and rainwater caused a short to ground. Repair action: Cleaned up the water and dried the interior thoroughly, replaced the damaged wiring harness section (approx. 40cm), re-secured the harness routing with cable ties, and ensured more than 20mm clearance from metal edges.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Aftermarket airbag module internally shorted after accident repair

2021 BYD Tang. After front-end collision repairs at a non-authorized shop, the SRS light stayed on following passenger airbag replacement. DTC B178A stored and would not clear. Harness side resistance measured normal, but the replacement airbag module (aftermarket second-hand unit) showed 0.3Ω across the terminals—indicating an internal short in the gas generator. Installed a new genuine airbag module; resistance returned to 2.4Ω and the fault cleared. Note: Airbag components must be genuine new parts; second-hand parts present serious safety hazards.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Blocked AC drain caused connector corrosion and short circuit

BYD Yuan EV owner reported the SRS warning light occasionally coming on. Scan tool showed DTC B178A as an intermittent fault. Inspection found the air conditioning evaporator drain hose blocked with leaves; condensate overflowed behind the glove box and oxidized the passenger airbag connector pins (yellow 2-pin plug), creating verdigris and a micro-short. Cleaned the connector terminals with electronic contact cleaner, applied conductive protective grease, cleared the drain hose, and wrapped the connector with waterproof tape.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Dashboard frame pinched wiring harness after aftermarket large screen installation

A Qin Pro logged code B178A one week after its centre screen was replaced at a third-party modification workshop. Removing the dashboard revealed the installer had failed to properly reposition the passenger airbag wiring harness. The instrument panel metal frame crushed the harness, fracturing the internal copper conductors and causing a short to earth. Technicians rerouted the wiring, fitted rubber protective sleeving, and repaired the damaged conductors to resolve the fault. Have qualified professionals perform any dashboard removal work, and verify SRS wiring harness integrity.
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.