Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2025 | 2 | 4% | 5,000 miles |
| 2024 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% | 10,000 miles |
| 2022 | 5 | 4% | 39,000 miles |
| 2020 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2019 | 4 | 5% | 90,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 5% | — |
| 2017 | 7 | 4% | 58,000 miles |
| 2016 | 18 | 17% | 9,000 miles |
| 2015 | 55 | 17% | 13,000 miles |
| 2014 | 92 | 16% | 10,000 miles |
| 2013 | 177 | 20% | 11,000 miles |
| 2012 | 4 | 17% | 36,000 miles |
| 2011 | 12 | 27% | 91,000 miles |
| 2010 | 11 | 28% | 136,000 miles |
| 2009 | 11 | 30% | 92,000 miles |
| 2008 | 41 | 13% | 130,000 miles |
| 2007 | 23 | 4% | 117,000 miles |
| 2006 | 14 | 2% | 70,000 miles |
| 2005 | 22 | 2% | 117,000 miles |
| 2004 | 11 | 16% | 82,000 miles |
| 2003 | 14 | 13% | 130,000 miles |
| 2002 | 9 | 6% | 140,000 miles |
| 2001 | 9 | 4% | 140,000 miles |
| 2000 | 4 | 4% | 109,000 miles |
| 1999 | 11 | 11% | 80,000 miles |
| 1998 | 10 | 7% | 86,000 miles |
| 1997 | 13 | 6% | 63,000 miles |
| 1996 | 11 | 7% | — |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while the wife was driving approximately 60 MPH and attempting the stop, the braking system malfunctioned and the vehicle did not stop or reduce speed while the brake pedal was being pressed causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash, the collision avoidance system did not activate and the air bag did not deploy. No injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 38,600.
The 2nd row seats (captain chairs) are tilted upward at edge of seats and my infant carseat is not leveled as it should be. Due to the chairs seat being tilted upward causes child carseat level to be off and making carseat tilt forward causing babies head to go forward more than they should. Passenger seat is also very low causing concerns for airbag deployment and serious injury to face. Low viability in rear mirror due to large long headrests.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH and attempting to come to a stop, the vehicle failed to decelerate sufficiently, resulting in a rear-end collision. Upon impact, the frontal air bags failed to fully deploy, as they only partially emerged from the housing. The vehicle's front bumper was a bit scratched. The failure experienced was a malfunction of the braking system that failed to stop the vehicle during deceleration, followed by a failure where the frontal air bags only partially deployed upon impact. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Driving at 75 miles per hour on highway. We Heard an explosion, and airbags deployed. There was no collision or front end hit, there was no warning lights or sounds, no deceleration. My husband was somehow able to pull to the side, we were not injured, except for the airbag hitting me in the head, egg noted. No EMS treatment. Police report confirms this, when towed, the tow guy noticed loud clanging when driving onto flat bed. He looked underneath and noticed the axel shaft was broken. I think this could have been tragic for many reasons- high speed with air bags open unable to see and driver disoriented momentarily. This could have killed us or someone else had there been heavy traffic or cars near us, the fumes were bad. …
As we were driving on the highway about 70 miles per hour, no traffic relatively, the vehicle started to violently shake and then we heard a loud explosion in the front end, prompting the front drive and passenger airbags to deploy, as well as the full right side curtain airbags. This curtain airbag struck my wife in the head and prompted her apple watch to call 911. we initally thought we popped a tire or ran over something but no damaged at all visible to the car. even the state trooper was baffled by the situation as emergency personnel arrived. the car was not driven home so when the tow facility assessed the vehicle even he was baffled and assumed perhaps the explosion happened in the front end inside the cvt transmission. the officer on site stated this couldve ended horribly with us going the normal speed on the highway but somehow we were guided safely to the side of the road.
Our vehicle has 22,000 miles and the air bag sensor on the front passenger side has malfunctioned. The passenger air bag light stays on and flashes on the dash board. After being diagnosed at a local car shop they advised the vehicle would be unsafe for a passenger to sit on that side and even with weight distributed on the seat, light stays on indicating the no airbag. As the vehicle does not have much mileage this has become a huge safety concern for myself and family. We would like to acknowledge that this is a defect of the vehicle and hope for a proposed recall for safety.
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine maintenance, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the air bag and sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact refused the repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
I was involved in a collision, and despite the force of the impact, the vehicle's airbags failed to deploy.Following the accident, the main dashboard SRS airbag indicator light began flashing. Additionally, the passenger airbag light indicates that the passenger airbag remains "OFF" even when an adult is properly seated in the front passenger seat.
Related recalls (12)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Air bags › Frontal
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2008-2011 Titan, Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder, Armada, and 2008-2009 Quest vehicles. The resin emblem on the driver's air bag cover may develop cracks and detach during air bag deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's airbag cover. Owner letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall are PC944, PC945, and PC946.
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 › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with Takata air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March, 31, 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,…
Show 7 more recalls
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
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.
Air bags › Frontal
Nissan North America Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2014 Pathfinders manufactured from July 25, 2013, to September 5, 2013 with Almond interiors only. The instrument panel tear seam on the passenger frontal air bag was incorrectly cut on the back side of the instrument panel which could cause the air bag to not deploy…
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected instrument panel assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air bags
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air bags › Frontal
Nissan is recalling forty-six certain model year 2002 pathfinder and Infiniti qx4 vehicles manufactured from August 24, 2001 through August 28, 2001. The air bag inflator contains propellant wafers that are required to properly deploy the front passenger air bag.
Remedy: Nissan will notify the owners of the forty-six affected vehicles. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module assembly with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began on August 19, 2010.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Nissan has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2010 frontier, pathfinder, and xterra vehicles manufactured from February 22, 2010 to March 13, 2010. On some of the potentially affected vehicles, the fasteners securing the passenger front air bag module, and also the fasteners securing the steering shaft positioning…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column and the passenger front air bag fasteners and any missing fasteners will be replaced and all loose fasteners will be retightened to the proper torque specifications free of…
Air bags › Frontal
Nissan is recalling 242,720 my 2005-2009 pathfinder, frontier and xterra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island,…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front czs with a redesigned sensor. The recall began on January 26, 2009. Owners in the other states will receive extended warranty coverage for the sensor to 10 years.
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.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Occupant Classification System Failure
In April 2014, Nissan North America launched Safety Recall 14V-138 to address problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS) algorithm in the following vehicles: model year (MY) 2013-2014 Nissan Altima, Pathfinder, Sentra and LEAF; MY 2013 Infiniti JX35; MY 2014 Infiniti QX60 and Q50; and MY 2013 Nissan NV 200/Taxi vehicles.According to Nissan, the OCS may misclassify adult front passenger occupants and turn…
Occupant Classification System Failure
In May 2016, Nissan North America issued a safety recall (16V-244) to address the problem of improper classification of adult front seat passengers in approximately 3.3 million vehicles, including those in the scope of this investigation when it was opened (almost one million vehicles) and additional vehicles, as shown below.Nissan models: certain model year 2013-2016 Altima, 2013-2016 LEAF, 2016-2017 Maxima,…
Frequently asked questions
Which Nissan Pathfinder years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (177), 2014 (92), 2015 (55), 2008 (41) and 2007 (23) model years. Airbag complaints make up 20% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Nissan Pathfinder airbag problems?
Yes — 12 recalls, including 24V-154 (inflator module, Feb 27, 2024); 23V-067 (frontal, Feb 10, 2023); 20V-008 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Nissan Pathfinder airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles; 61% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (46 mentions), followed by the side/window (3).
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.