Body, generic

B0038 Second Row Right Side Airbag Deployment Control

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modeNo

B0038 watches the firing loop of the side airbag for the right-hand second-row seat, fitted in the rear door trim or in the outer bolster of the rear backrest. Mitsubishi lists it as rear side airbag module RH with exactly this J2012 wording and logs B0038-12 when the circuit has been shorted to supply for 2 seconds. On Mercedes-Benz compact models (A-Class, CLA, GLB) B003813 is an open squib in the right rear sidebag. A GM patent family keeps rear-row side bags on their own gas generators, separate from the front-row system. GM's Saab 9-4X 2011 manual lists B0038 in the same procedure as its front seat side bags. Left twin: B0030. The airbag lamp is lit.

Likely causes

Poor contact at the rear side airbag connector in the door or rear seat
Internal fault in the right rear side airbag module
Lead chafed against a powered wire, e.g. at the rear seat fold or B-pillar

Symptoms

  • Airbag warning lamp on
  • Right rear passenger may lack side airbag protection
  • Safety note: do not probe the airbag circuit yourself; unplug airbag connectors only with the battery disconnected and the stated wait time observed

Repair estimate

DifficultyShop_onlyWorkshop job
Parts and labour€80–900
Time0.5–3 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

second row right side airbagsquib circuitsrs wiringsrs control module

Related codes

B0030B0028B0048

References: mitsubishitechinfo.com, static.nhtsa.gov, saabwisonline.com, patents.google.com.