Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 9% | 25,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 3% | 39,000 miles |
| 2017 | 18 | 17% | 28,000 miles |
| 2016 | 14 | 10% | 24,000 miles |
| 2014 | 24 | 25% | 37,000 miles |
| 2013 | 16 | 26% | 4,000 miles |
| 2012 | 27 | 25% | 31,000 miles |
| 2011 | 23 | 22% | 26,000 miles |
| 2010 | 15 | 5% | 21,000 miles |
| 2009 | 43 | 13% | 81,000 miles |
| 2008 | 23 | 29% | 70,000 miles |
| 2007 | 18 | 14% | 98,000 miles |
| 2006 | 13 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 2005 | 9 | 1% | 108,000 miles |
| 2004 | 13 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 2003 | 35 | 17% | 102,000 miles |
| 2002 | 29 | 14% | 110,000 miles |
| 2001 | 29 | 17% | 128,000 miles |
| 2000 | 23 | 6% | 126,000 miles |
| 1999 | 18 | 11% | 91,000 miles |
| 1998 | 24 | 21% | 90,000 miles |
| 1997 | 10 | 10% | 64,000 miles |
| 1996 | 16 | 17% | 75,000 miles |
| 1995 | 25 | 16% | 138,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
First, my passenger airbag light came on and will not go off. then my emergency breaking system activated while I was driving on the interstate and I was almost hit by a semi from behind I didn't manage to get the vehicle off the road I took it to Nissan . They did a diagnostics and couldn't find anything wrong with the car the emergency braking system has activated several times since then and now my whole dash system seems to freeze up completely and will not let me use anything in the car. I have to put it in park the car off and restart for it to work. Nissan has my vehicle now . …
I have been taken my vehicle back and forth for the airbag lights coming on and staying on. They have changed the driver side seatbelt in which they installed in wrong and I had to take it back. Every time they say they fixed the problem, within a few weeks the airbag lights come back on. They have told my husband to check the wiring under the passenger seat, and when I took it back due to the airbag lights still staying on. They say they fixed the problem. This last time I took it back, now they are saying I need to replace the whole driver side seat. Saying something in the seat cushion is faulty, which is why the airbag light stays on.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact noticed that the front passenger side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front seat passenger's Occupant Classification System sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V244000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was 84,741.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the codes were cleared; however, two days later the warning light returned. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The air bag located in the seat failed to activate as designed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the passenger's side seat sensor was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the occupant sensor was inoperable. The dealer confirmed that the part was no longer in production. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.
Passenger air bag light warning came on. Diagnostics confirmed the passenger front seat cushion Assy with OCS unit required replacement. The cost is $2108.10 and the part is on back order. This vehicle was purchased new and the passenger side seldom has a passenger. I believe this is a manufacturer responsibility as evidenced by the many recalls documented. The new seat order is placed through Premier Nissan of Metaire, LA. Please consider placing this claim into recall. Thank you for your assistance.
Passenger side airbag turns on and off with a passenger (weighing over 120 lbs.) seated with the seat belt fastened and the vehicle is in motion. The airbag shows off at times when the vehicle is first started if the passenger is already seated with their seatbelt fastened. Even taking the seatbelt off and getting up does not seem to make the light go off. Our Nissan service center explained to me that Nissan north America is aware of this particular problem, but since no resolution/fix has been determined, there is nothing they can do. The service department also verified that if the passenger airbag light is on, the airbag will not work! The service department said that I should not allow anyone in the passenger seat until the problem is fixed. …
When transporting some adult passengers in the front passenger seat, the "passenger airbag off" light remains on throughout the trip. This would seem to me to indicate that in the event of a front-end collision, the airbag would fail to deploy because it is off. I brought my car in to the dealer, who was unable to replicate the situation (perhaps because the mechanics weigh more than my wife); no problem could be found. I remain concerned because the light still remains on with other light adult passengers.
Related recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City…
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano,…
Air bags
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Maxima years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (43), 2003 (35), 2001 (29), 2002 (29) and 2012 (27) model years. Airbag complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Nissan Maxima airbag problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 20V-008 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2020); 16V-911 (occupant classification, Dec 19, 2016); 16V-244 (occupant classification, Apr 26, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Maxima airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles; 39% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (82 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (15).
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.