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 Sentra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic, the vehicle was diagnosed computer system failure, causing the vehicle to fail to start. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V287000 (Air Bags), which was associated with the VIN. The manufacturer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The dealer notified the manufacturer that the contact had refused to pay for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
I have been getting recall notices for over 2 years on my 2004 Sentra concerning airbag replacement. I called the number on the recall mailing and was told on multiple occasions that the car was dangerous to operate. I am a [redacted] and was assured that the Nissan recall team offered a mobile repair service and that my repair was in the range of mobile repair service technicians and that a repair tech could be sent to my location. I agreed to the time line that they suggested. I just requested the exact time and date of the repair work. Nissan agree to the repair service arrangements and I thought that I would have the service work done at my location. As time passed the Nissan agent called multiple times assuring me that when a repair unit was available that it would be dispatched to my location to preform the required service. …
No Nissan dealership wants to honor the safety recall on my vehicle due to it being a rebuilt title. I have filed a complaint before in 2020 with NHTSA & the issue has still not been resolved. Unfortunately, this is the only vehicle I own & drive day to day & my life as well as the life of my special needs grandchild is in danger with this recall that no one wants to honor & repair.
1.) Both driver and passenger airbag replacement replacements. 2.) If I get into a reck then me and my passenger have a chance of death due to the recall on the airbags. 3.) Yes. 4.) No. 5.) Unknown. Every time I schedule to get the recall fixed either the shops don't have the parts or they don't have the time to do it.
Went into the dealership to talk about the air bag issue, turns out they fixed the check engine light. Next on the paper it says they found there was no airbag and tried to perform recall, and that they could not perform the recall
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a metal guard rail. During the crash the front end of the vehicle had sustained severe damage but the air bags 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 determined. The local dealer and manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000. The consumer provided a photo.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 45 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained chest and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was made aware that there was a recall related to the failure under NHTSA campaign number: 14V361000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 170,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. While driving 10 MPH, the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the crash. The failure mileage was approximately 206,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. While driving 25 MPH, another vehicle failed to yield and crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained rib injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. On another occasion, while at a stop light, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries, but received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V287000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. While the driver was making a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The passenger side air bag deployed, but not the driver's side air bag. The driver sustained upper torso injuries, head trauma, and pelvic fractures and died due to the injuries. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V287000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a police impound lot. The failure mileage was unknown. *..
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles whose passenger air bags were previously inspected and may have been released without replacing the Takata air bag inflator.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been completed. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the air bag inflator, free of charge.
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
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
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…
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…
Airbag complaints in other Sentra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Nissan Sentra, 16% of the model year's 197 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Nissan Sentra airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-747 (inflator module, Dec 1, 2020); NHTSA recall 20V-008 (inflator module, Jan 9, 2020); NHTSA recall 15V-287 (air bags, May 15, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Sentra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 12 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries and 1 death 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.