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 2004 Nissan Quest owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Quest. The contact stated while at a complete stop, the driver and passenger side front overhead airbags deployed without impact. The contact sustained headaches and sought medical treatment 2 days later with his doctor. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,000.
The air bag light glitches on the dashboard, it turns on and off. The only windows that open are the front door windows, the back side windows could barely crack open && the temperature inside the vehicle "with the windows open" reach dangerously high temperatures that literally are harmful and dangerous. A family vehicle with no ability to open any window on the 2 sliding doors, can lead to very high temperatures even though the front 2 windows open is still not enough for air to reach passengers who sit in the middle-row especially passengers who sit on the 3rd row seat in the back of the van. A recall must be done to adjust the windows on both sliding doors on each side to be able to roll down the windows... The temperature trapped inside the vehicle[passengers and seats area] with all the windows open was of 99, on a regular sunny day.... …
5/10/08-just had a front end collision in our 2004 Nissan Quest minivan carrying myself, husband & 3 children-one in a carseat. Driver in other vehicle failed to yield to my right of way and impact was made by my van to the side of her car with me going approx. 35mph and she was going about the same. My body came forward even with the seatbelt buckled, my sons chests are bruised from the seatbelts and none...none...of the airbags in that van deployed!!! We bought the van for safety reasons! We purchased it because of the side curtain airbags & not even the front airbags deployed! I want this looked into and I want some answers as to why they didn't deploy. Were there even airbags in the van? Obviously we haven't seen the damage in daylight hours, but at those speeds and since we hit head on at the very least the airbags in front should have deployed. Thank you.
Alarm beeps when set but does not sound if car is broken into. Car was parked. Power sliding door does not always shut when power button is pushed. Does not always lock and latch as well. Door flew open while driving on the freeway. Also when closing does not stop if someone is in the way. Caught my four yr old daughter's leg and shut on it. Tire pressure light constantly comes on even when tires are completely aired up. Back rear door does not always open whether button inside van or remote key is pushed. Has to forcefully be opened and shut. Sometimes will slam shut and it has fallen on my back before. Many electrical functions within the dash and console do not always work or register. Does not register for oil, coolant, or temp.
On 1-11-08 I was involved in a single car collision in my 2004 Nissan Quest. I was avoiding another vehicle and swerved into a cement barrier wal, head on. I then tried to correct the vehicle and struck the right front bumper into another cement wall. Neither airbag deployed. My vehicle has been looked at by progressive and a body shop, plus sent for diagnostics to a Nissan dealer. Everyone agrees the airbags should have deployed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Nissan Quest. While driving various speeds, the front passenger side air bag off indicator illuminated when an occupied was present. The failure recurred sporadically. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numebr: 16V244000 (air bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Nissan Quest 2004 service engine soon light on and problems with steering. The service engine soon light had come on 3 times, creaking was felt in the steering wheel and or the front end, sounds were heard coming from the engine compartment, computer tire monitor indicated a flat tire and or low tire pressure during cold weather, the vehicle would run for five minutes then go up to 4 degrees higher (over inflated), when the weather was warm, the setting would then be above 40 psi which was dangerous to drive if not adjusted (incorrect results on the display), SRS light had come on after recall campaign #04V103000 was performed, driver's side power window was intermittent, sliding doors made loud bump noise when opened all the way, especially on inclines, heat outlets located on the floor behind the first row seat can't be controlled by the passenger rear controls, the dome lights were …
We bought our Quest used from a Honda dealership in December 2008. We were told it was in very good condition. The electric doors do not always open or close when we want them to... They seem to have a mind of their own. The passenger airbags turn themselves on and off. After only driving it for a few months, the front end started popping when we would turn a corner. We checked the lower ball joints, being as this is a typical characteristic. There was no problem with them. We continued to drive it. About 3 months ago, the van started shaking real bad when we would brake, and the front tires started lifting tread. We took the van to a mechanic to check the alignment and source of shaking. He told us the alignment was fine... No adjustments were needed. He said the popping was the ball joints. …
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling various speeds, the airbag warning light remained illuminated after an occupant who weighed 115 pounds sat in the seat. The front passenger air bag would not deploy in the event of a crash when the air bag light was illuminated. On another occasion, an occupant who weighed 150 pounds sat in the passenger seat, and the air bag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a diagnostic, and did not provide any error codes. The dealer and contact encountered a NHTSA recall #04V103000, regarding the air bags: frontal: sensor/control module. The dealer determined the vehicle was not involved in the recall due to the VIN. Also, the fuel gauge on the instrument panel, did not display the correct amount of fuel in the fuel tank. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Nissan Quest. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal scraping noise heard from the front end of the vehicle. The contact also mentioned that the air bag warning light would illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the driver's side caliper, brakes, rotors, front brake, front driver's side wheel bearing, passenger's side lower control arm, and the frame needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 114,000. Updated 06/15/16
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the advanced air bag requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the air bag for the front passenger seat is to be turned off (so that it does not inflate) when certain occupants, such as small children, are in the front seat.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat cushion/sensor assembly. If the seat cushion/sensor is found to be operating improperly, the seat will be removed and recalibrated.
NHTSA investigations
Side air bag non-deployment
The subject vehicles are equipped with optional seat-mounted side air bags.all vehicles are equipped with standard frontal air bags and side air curtains.installation of the incorrect SRS diagnosis sensor unit does not impair deployment of the frontal air bag and side air curtain in the event of a crash.no reports of non-deployment of the subject seat-mounted side air bags have been received by the manufacturer or…
Airbag complaints in other Quest years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Nissan Quest?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Nissan Quest, 9% of the model year's 445 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Nissan Quest airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-103 (sensor/control module-inactive, Mar 1, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Quest airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 36% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 8 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.