B16BC

DTC B16BC indicates the airbag control unit (SRS ECU) detects an internal system fault or critical safety circuit abnormality — Seal 6 EV

Safety System

DTC B16BC indicates the airbag control unit (SRS ECU) detects an internal system fault or critical safety circuit abnormality.

Specifically, this fault typically indicates an SRS ECU internal processor self-test failure, corrupted non-volatile memory (NVM) data, a power management module fault, or a communication interruption between the driver-side Occupant Classification System (OCS) and the ECU.

BYD e-platform models integrate the SRS ECU near the body control module.

The ECU monitors crash sensors, seat belt pretensioners, airbag ignition circuits, and seat occupancy status.

This fault may prevent the airbag system from deploying correctly during a collision or trigger a warning without a collision.

It constitutes a critical fault affecting passive safety.

5
Cases Logged
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Seat water ingress caused OCS sensor short circuit in Yuan EV

A 2019 BYD Yuan EV came in with the SRS warning light constantly on. Retrieved DTC B16BC. Found the vehicle had recently had its interior cleaned, with standing water beneath the driver's seat. Removed the seat and found water inside the OCS sensor connector; the terminals had oxidised and turned black. Used compressed air to clean and dry the wiring harness, applied conductive grease to the terminals, and reconnected the connector. Cleared the fault. Advised the owner to avoid pouring water directly onto the seats when cleaning.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Tang DM unstable battery voltage caused ECU self-test failure

2021 BYD Tang DM. The owner reported the airbag warning light occasionally came on during cold starts, going out after driving for a while. The scanner showed historic DTC B16BC. Freeze frame data showed the battery voltage was 8.2V when the fault occurred. Inspection found the battery had deteriorated, causing a severe voltage drop on cold starts. Replaced the battery and checked the charging system (alternator output 13.8–14.4V, normal). The fault has not returned. Root cause: low voltage caused SRS ECU initialisation failure.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Song MAX SRS ECU not reset after collision repair

Repaired a 2019 BYD Song MAX after a minor front impact. Replaced the front bumper and left collision sensor. The airbags had not deployed. Post-repair, the instrument cluster displayed an airbag fault and logged DTC B16BC. Inspection found the shop had not cleared the SRS ECU's collision data or reconfigured it. Performed the 'Airbag Control Unit Replacement' procedure using the BYD dedicated diagnostic tool, wrote new configuration data, and cleared collision records. The system returned to normal.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Qin Pro (Petrol) CAN harness chafing causing communication fault

2020 BYD Qin Pro petrol. Intermittent airbag warning light on rough roads. Stored DTCs B16BC and U0151 (lost communication with SRS). Checked SRS ECU connector – normal. Traced the body floor harness and found it rubbing against the seat slide rail. CAN-H wire insulation worn through, causing intermittent short to ground. Repaired the harness, re-secured and rerouted it clear of the seat travel area. Fault resolved.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Outdated software version on the Yuan EV caused false alarms.

2019 BYD Yuan EV with no accident history or water ingress intermittently set fault code B16BC. Checked the wiring and sensors; all normal. Consulted a BYD technical bulletin and found that the SRS ECU software in this production batch has a bug causing false ECU fault reports at specific temperatures. Used the VDS diagnostic tool to upgrade the SRS system software from V1.02 to V1.05. The fault has not returned since the upgrade.
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.