B1448 code in owner complaints

Code B1448 is named in 84 US owner complaints. Models: 12, model years 2004–2018.

There is little data for this code or its meaning is ambiguous, so this page is not indexed.

What the code means

This is a manufacturer-specific code: the meaning depends on the make and sometimes on the year.

How to read B1448: the letter B means body (including airbags and belts); the second digit 1 marks a manufacturer code whose meaning is set by the make; the last three characters 448 identify the specific fault.

Restraint system codes: airbag squibs, belt pretensioners, crash sensors and occupant classification. After a crash with airbag deployment, many makers require the restraint module to be replaced or reset by procedure because it stores crash data. An airbag light on an auction car is not cosmetic: airbags, the module and sensors can cost more than the body repair.

Key figures

Complaints with this code: 84
Models: 12
Model years: 2004–2018

Which models and years

Models whose owners name this code (12). Years link to the model year problems page.

Model	Years	Complaints
Hyundai Sonata	2006, 2007, 2008	35
Hyundai Accent	2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009	14
KIA Spectra	2006, 2007, 2008, 2009	10
KIA RIO	2006, 2008, 2009, 2018	5
Hyundai Elantra	2004, 2006	4
KIA Sorento	2008, 2011, 2017	4
KIA Spectra5	2006, 2008	4
Hyundai Santa FE	2006	2
KIA Optima	2009, 2010	2
Suzuki Forenza	2006, 2007	2
Chevrolet Aveo	2008	1
Hyundai Veracruz	2008	1

Components named together with the code

Component as the owner filed it (one complaint can list several).

Air bags 83
Seats 13
Seat belts 8
Electrical system 1
Equipment 1

Complaints by model year

2004 1
2005 1
2006 29
2007 20
2008 19
2009 10
2010 1
2011 1
2017 1
2018 1

What to do if an auction car has this code

Ask for a dash photo at start-up: the airbag light must go off after the self-test.
Check the interior photos for deployed airbags and fired belt pretensioners: replacing the restraint module, airbags and sensors is a large separate part of the estimate.
Budget a scan with a restraint module read-out: the code alone does not say which part failed.

What owners report

Excerpts of owner complaints in the original wording. Owner statements not verified by the regulator; personal data removed.

Car has a B1448 (ACTIVE) Passenger Occupant Detecting System (PODS) Circuit Fault Related to the passenger detecting pad in the front passenger seat problems started at 120,000 miles
Hyundai Sonata 2008 · 2026-03
Recently my airbag light came on and I had a diagnostic run that showed a B1448 code indicating an OCS mat defect in the passenger seat. The 2015-2018 Kia Sedona models also had the same problem and were issued safety recalls.
KIA RIO 2018 · 2026-01
The airbag light stays on and the Tunersville NJ dealership charged me $169 for a diagnostic of the problem. The error code was a B1448 OC sensor MAT defect and they need to replace the cushion because the Occupant Detection System (ODS) Sensor Pad is located inside the seat and quoted me around $2000 to replace it.
KIA Sorento 2017 · 2024-03

Related codes

Sources: public official US data (owner complaints) and the SAE J2012 standard. Complaints are owner statements not verified by the regulator. A code from a complaint does not replace a scan tool diagnosis. Data updated 2026-11-10.