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 2008 Nissan Rogue owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving on Highway I-10 at 65 MPH, there was an extremely loud popping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact immediately pulled over, assuming there was a failure with the tire. Upon further investigation with her parents, it was determined that the tires were intact, and the abnormal sound came from the side air bag deploying unintendedly. Additionally, the seat belt seized. The vehicle was towed to the local Nissan dealer, where it was diagnosed with an erroneous rollover detection by the crash sensor, which triggered the deployment of the side air bags. The crash sensor detected a rollover, causing the side airbag to deploy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a case, and informed the contact that a response would be provided later. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact's mother owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that the front passenger's side air bag sensor warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the message "Passenger Air Bag Off" was displayed while the front passenger's seat was occupied. The contact stated that he connected an OBD reader to the vehicle and retrieved diagnostic codes that indicated that the passenger occupant sensor unit had failed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact's stepsister owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag light remained off while occupied or while unoccupied. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) which he linked to the failure. The contact's stepsister called the dealer and was provided an estimate for the repair after being informed that her vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact then called and informed the manufacturer of the recall however, the manufacturer stated that they had no record of the recall. The manufacturer then referred him to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light was flashing off and on. Also, while turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a creaking sound coming from the steering column. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 08V521000 (Air Bag) and 09V411000 (Steering). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 95,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver's side air bag warning light continued to blink on and off. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000(AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 112,851.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light constantly flashed while driving. Additionally, the passenger's side air bag warning light remained illuminated while passenger's seat was occupied. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was then informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign number: 08V521000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that air bag warning light was flashing and illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The contact called an unknown local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that a seat replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the repairs were not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 95,117.
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the driver's and passenger's side air bags deployed without warning or impact. The contact was able to safely pull over to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Problem 1: I always put my purse on the passenger seat, and the air bag deactivation light turns on on the dashboard. One day, I took the purse off yet the light did not turn off. Ever since then the airbag light has been on. The car has been fixed by Nissan since then for another recall, but the airbag was not fixed as they said it was not a recall. When I took it to Nissan to access having them fix the issue last year, they said I would have to pay about $600 out of pocket. The year it occurred was 2014, and the car has not been driven much since then. Problem 2: The left rear door's handle simply broke off in my hand last year. When I took the car to Nissan to see if they stand behind their handles staying on cars, and would replace it, but they gave me an estimate upwardsnof $600 to repair it. …
Airbag complaints in other Rogue years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Nissan Rogue?
NHTSA has 129 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Nissan Rogue, 30% of the model year's 429 complaints. The component named most often is on-off switch assembly (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Nissan Rogue airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2008 Nissan Rogue, though it has 5 recalls 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 2008 Nissan Rogue airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 3 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.