Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Nissan Altima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vehicle was in a mild frontal collision at 5 MPH and both air bags deployed. Per the owners manua, the air bags should only deploy in 30 MPH and faster collisions. Vehicle had been totaled due to the deployment of the air bags. Consumer felt that the defect described in recall 03 v 150 000 was the cause of the air bag failure.
Both air bags deployed without warning - no crash involved. Car was moving about 1 MPH - had just barely started to pull forward. Base of bags caught fire - smoldered for 30-40 minutes. Bags had to be cut off to provide vision to drive car home. Current, car will turn over but not start up.
Ltr fm lawrence baron on behalf of client jerae b jelland(or)individual injured by the passenger side air bag which caused eye damage and questioned the status of NHTSA defect investigation of the Nissan Altima model years 1994 and 1995 reply to portland ofc. Another vehicle side swiped the front of the vehicle, then the passenger side air bag deployed hitting the consumer in the right eye. The air bag was folded and when deployed, it shot straight out like an arm, hitting one in the face. Scc
95 Nissan Altima shows "air bag warning" without any discrepancies. I showed my car to Nissan dealer and he said that sensor failed , so it is showing warning. He said that would cost me $900 bugs. I asked the dealer to not to do any work on this . I want to let highway safety to know this and take action on this, replace the sensor freely, because it is not driver's fault and there is no wear and tear and remaining all works fine.
I was stopped on interstate due to collison in front of me I was struck from behind my drivers seat broke backward, I struck the car infront of me and my air bags deployed, I was struck in the rear again. After the collison I cllimbed out of the car and immediately notice it was on fire. The fire began in the driver side rear of the car. My concerns are the seat breaking backward and the fire.
As consumer was completing a turn to pull forward onto the road, with no prior warning. The air bags deployed accompanied by a fire. The consumer had contacted Nissan for two reasons #1 there was no impact of any kind or accident and #2 Nissan engineers should find out why the air bas deployed own it's own because consumer safety is involved.
The consumer was involved in an accident earlier this year. The driver side air bag deployed which caused damage to the facial area and a broken wrist. The consumer received a letter from the manufacturer about changing the passenger side air bag. The consumer would like something to be done about the driver side air bag.
Traveling 70mph with cruise control on and began to slow down, but cruise control would not release. Swerved to avoid vehicles in front. Hit concrete barrier several times. Upon impact, neither air bag deployed. Cruise control never released. Driver suffered whiplash. Passenger had broken bones & bruises.
When accelerating after coming to a complete stop, traveling 10 to 15 MPH, vehicle impacted with the rear of another vehicle, causing driver's and passenger's side air bags to deploy. Passenger sustained an eye injury, broken nose, facial swelling and concussion. Driver was also injured.
Vehicle was mistakenly put into neutral instead of park position, allowing vehicle to roll into a pole at approximately 2-3 MPH upon impact dual airbags deployed, causing severe injuries to the driver. Airbags deployed without warning and less than 3 MPH.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Nissan is recalling my 1994 and early 1995 altima vehicles following reports that passenger air bag deployments in these vehicles had caused a number of moderate-to-severe eye injuries.
Remedy: Nissan will replace the passenger air bag at no charge to the consumer. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began April 28, 2003. Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA investigations
Passenger air bag-related eye injuries
Passenger air bag-related facial/eye inj
By letter datedapril 11, 2003, Nissan notified nhtsait will conduct a campaign to replace the passenger air bag module with a depowered air bag module in model year 1994 - early 1995 (built prior to March 2, 1995) Nissan altima vehicles. The replacement module will be provided at no charge to owners.the depowered air bag should reduce the overall risk of air bag deployment-related injuries.
Airbag complaints in other Altima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1995 Nissan Altima?
NHTSA has 61 complaints about the air bags of the 1995 Nissan Altima, 34% of the model year's 180 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (40 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Nissan Altima airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-150 (frontal, Apr 25, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Nissan Altima airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 103,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 26 crashes, 3 fires and 25 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.