B1861 code in owner complaints

Code B1861 is named in 14 US owner complaints. Models: 5, model years 2006–2014.

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 B1861: 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 861 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: 14
Models: 5
Model years: 2006–2014

Which models and years

Models whose owners name this code (5). Years link to the model year problems page.

Model	Years	Complaints
Lexus IS 250	2006, 2008, 2014	8
Lexus IS	2007, 2008	3
Lexus GS	2007	1
Lexus IS 350	2007	1
Lexus RX Hybrid	2006	1

Components named together with the code

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

Air bags 14
Electrical system 1

Complaints by model year

2006 5
2007 4
2008 4
2014 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.

Air bag light came on out of nowhere, went to take the car in for diagnosis and they stated that the issue code was the airbag B1861 is open in drivers side knee airbag squib circuit. Now all airbags are disabled due to circuit malfunction.
Lexus IS 2007 · 2022-10
As inspected by lexus dealership in woodland hills ca, my car has airbag light on/off intermittently. Error code B1861 was found that is tied to knee airbag on the driver side. There is a problem with the squib circuit in the instrument cluster I believe. Car has around 99k miles but this safety concern is serious.
Lexus IS 250 2008 · 2019-01
Sewell lexus in fort worth, texas requested that the vehicle be brought in for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic as having squib circuit failure inside of the air bag, which caused the srs indicator to illuminate under code: B1861.
Lexus IS 350 2007 · 2017-10

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.