B0561 code meaning
Driver Power Seat Up/Down Circuit
What B0561 means
B0561 has no entry in the accessible J2012 lists and no public manufacturer definition. The title refers to the motor that raises and lowers the driver seat; Chrysler's US4682088A splits this into front and rear cushion motors with about 1.5 in of travel. In the Saab 9-3 the height motor circuit is B1765 in the driver seat module: 04 for an open output, 0B for more than 40 A; the output is shut off and retried once per ignition cycle. GM's 2011 Saab 9-5 instead tests a shared 2.5 V bias point before any seat motor runs and sets B3920 if it stays above 2.78 V or under 1.47 V for a tenth of a second, blocking every motor on that power rail. A failed height axis therefore often stops other axes too.
B0561 at a glance
- Check engine lightUsually not
- Emissions testNot an emissions code
- Limp modeNot expected
- Repair difficultyMedium, DIY possible
- Typical labor1 to 3.5 hours
- Clears after repairWhen cleared with a scanner
Symptoms of B0561
- Driver seat height cannot be adjusted
- Other seat axes may stop working as well
- Memory recall incomplete or blocked
Common causes of B0561
- Most likelyHeight motor or spindle gear seized
- PossibleMotor wires pinched by the seat frame when lowering
- PossibleShort on a motor line shared with other seat axes
- Less likelySeat module driver stage faulty
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
Driver seat lift motorSeat control module
What each part of B0561 means
| B | Body system: airbags, seat belts, power seats, lights and climate control. |
| 0 | Generic code: it means the same on every make (SAE standard). |
| 61 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note B0561 and any other codes stored with it: several codes together often point to one cause.
- Check for loose connectors and damaged wiring around the parts the code names.
- Check open recalls for your car: some faults are fixed for free by the dealer. Enter your VIN.
- Clear the code only after the repair. If it comes back, the fault is still there.
Buying a used car? Scan it for stored codes before you pay. A recently cleared memory can hide a problem.
Questions about B0561
What does B0561 mean?
B0561 means "Driver Power Seat Up/Down Circuit". B0561 has no entry in the accessible J2012 lists and no public manufacturer definition. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with B0561?
B0561 does not normally turn on the check engine light by itself. Watch for the symptoms above and have it checked soon.
Will B0561 fail an emissions test?
B0561 is not an emissions code, so on its own it usually does not fail an emissions test. Other stored codes or a lit check engine light still can.
How hard is B0561 to fix?
Difficulty: medium. A typical repair takes 1 to 3.5 hours of work. A careful DIY repair is possible with basic tools and a scanner.
Will B0561 clear itself after the repair?
Clear the code with a scanner after the repair. If the fault is fixed, it does not come back.