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 2009 Nissan Maxima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while at a complete stop, another vehicle driving approximately 70 MPH, crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained hips and back pain. The contact was seen by emergency services and sought medical assistance later that day. The contact underwent physical therapy and hip replacement surgery. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 257,000.
The airbag light is on and blinking. I did call the local Nissan dealer and they told me there was not a recall for this problem on the 2009 Nissan maxima. This seems very unfair because several recalls have been made on the airbags. Also I was told over 5 years ago that the struts on my car were defective when I had my brakes repaired. I did call the Nissan company and they told me my year was not included in the recall. My car was driving so badly I was having problems controlling it and I had to go ahead and get the front struts replaced and shocks replaced on the back and they had to put a stabilizer bar (sway Bar Link) on it also. I recently had this done. This airbag light had come on 4 years ago but I was thinking it was my seat belt light. When I would remove my purse to the floor it would go off. …
The airbag warning light on the dash started blinking. The local dealer investigated and advised that the front passenger airbag occupancy sensor was defective. Repair would require complete replacement of the front passenger seat cushion at an estimated cost of about $2,000. The mechanic told me he has seen the exact same issue numerous times for the Maxima of multiple model years. This appears to be a persistent problem with these sensors as reflected in multiple Nissan user forum entries. This is a safety issue that has been detected on multiple Maxima model years over the past several years. It needs to be fully investigated and a safety recall needs issued to hold the manufacturer accountable. The customers should not have to bear the expensive repair.
Passenger front air bag defect. Since reading many post in this forum in relation to the same issue, manufacture should be held responsible to replace sensor. Vehicle have not been in a wreck as far as I know. The sensor light came on around June this year and haven't went off. I received a quote for approximately $2500 depending on available parts. If this issue is not rectified by the dealer, will make sure not to purchase another Nissan Maxima again. Just imagine if I have a family member in the front seat and a accident occur! Cannot even imagine the outcome.
Vehicle pulled out in front going at a minimum speed. Driver that hit the Maxima was on laptop thus pulling out in front of the Maxima which was traveling the full speed limit. Maxima was struck on drivers side causing the whole front of car to be obliterated. Bent the frame from the front of car all the way back to back door. Cracked driver side chrome rim in half and pushed the wheel well up into the interior of the car at the place that you rest your foot which caused jammed the drivers leg up into the pelvis. Not one airbag deployed, which left which caused the driver to suffer from major head trauma and passenger's neck was fractured. This sounds like a defect. The driver that hit the Maxima, his vehicle's airbags all came out. Steering wheel passenger side and all of the side curtain airbags deployed. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The contact's vehicle was struck on the front driver side by another vehicle. The air bags deployed and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact was injured and a police report was filed. The air bag deployment produced black markings and metal fragments that caused further cuts and bruises to the contact, which required medical attention. The contact asked the police if the black markings were normal and the police said no. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000..... Updated 06/30/15 ma 08/17/15 the consumer stated the airbag bursts. One occupant had cut toes from black shards that look like rocks. The vehicle was totaled updated 9/15/2015 updated 12/3/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Nissan Maxima. While driving 30 MPH, a vehicle ran a stop sign and crashed into the front driver's door of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for the air bag failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 118,000.
I purchased my 2009 Nissan Maxima from the dealer, brand new in June 2009. The car is now 7 years old and has 105,000 miles on it. My powertrain warranty is expired (as it ended at 100,000 miles). Within the last 3 months the passenger air bag light stays on constantly even when nobody is sitting in the seat. Also, the flashing air bag light on my dashboard continues to blink. Searching the web I found how to diagnose the error which pointed me to the occupant sensor in the passenger seat had failed and that the airbag SRS system would not deploy in the event of an accident. I took the car to the dealer and explained to them what was happening and that I feel unsafe driving the car with an inoperative SRS system. The dealer confirmed it's the occupant sensor in the passenger seat that has failed. Since the car is no longer under warranty, it will cost me $1,900 out of pocket. …
I own a 2009 Nissan Maxima. In the year 2016 the airbag light for the passenger seat began to continuously blink and the indicator light said 'airbag off' whether the seat was occupied or not. Thinking the light needed to be reset as my airbags have never deployed I tried this routes. It ultimately proved not to be the problem and the light continues to blink. The car was diagnosed by Nissan as am ocs sensor fail b1018 and the cost for the repair would be $2100. The weight sensor in the passenger seat failed. Without the repair the airbag system will not function for the entire car. Upon speaking to Nissan consumer affairs I learned the the part has been discontinued but offered no explanation as to why. Even with the failed part being a major safety concern Nissan refuses to offer any kind of assistance to fix the issue. …
Last week, the air bag light on my 2009 Nissan Maxima started flashing. I took my car to the don davis Nissan dealership and they ran the diagnostic tool to find the failure. They told me the occupant sensor in the passenger seat had failed, and they quoted $1476.30 for the repair. I contacted Nissan consumer affairs to see if the failure was covered by my warranty or if there was a recall for the part, but was told no. Nissan recorded my complaint and opened a case # for any future recall campaigns. Nissan consumer affairs called me, and told on 04/14/2015 they would offer no assistance. I do not understand why Nissan warranty does not cover a failure to a major safety component in their car. Their warranty does cover the seat belts, but not the air bag system??
Airbag complaints in other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Nissan Maxima, 13% of the model year's 339 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Nissan Maxima airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2009 Nissan Maxima, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Nissan Maxima airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 4 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.