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 2006 Nissan Sentra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V747000 (Air Bags) and had the vehicle taken to the dealer to be repaired. Additionally, the transmission fluid was flushed and refilled. The contact stated that after the vehicle was returned, the transmission fluid was checked and looked the same as before the transmission flush. Additionally, the airbag was not repaired properly. The contact was concerned that no repairs had been performed on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light would remain illuminated and the b1066 front passenger air bag module due to electrical circuit shortage. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22E066000 (Air Bags). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Air bags deployed, the drivers side deployed while closing the door vehicle not moving, the steering wheel airbag & the dash airbag deployed while the vehicle was in motion, on rural road, it was a short distance from my house so after the bags blew, I drove the vehicle back to the house, no police were involved. Did not have collision insurance on the vehicle, I called Nissan and they said there was no recall on the airbags at that time, since there is a recall I asked Nissan to replace the blown airbags and they refused, said it was not their fault. The passenger side airbag did not deploy, and I was told that is the only one on recall, what can if anything I do? [redacted] '
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The frontal passenger air bag deployed and shattered the windshield. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.
My wife was in an accident with said car she was side swipped on passenger side fender.. No front end damaged was done only damage was the fender and rim on the passenger side where she was hit but both driver and passenger airbags deployed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Nissan Sentra. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the driver crashed into the rear of another vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained bruises to the breast, collar bone and neck and sought medical attention. The police reported to the scene and a report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junk yard. The manufacturer was made aware of the crash and sent an engineer to inspect the vehicle. The engineer determined that the crash did not meet the specifications for air bags deployment and stated to the contact that there was no defect found within the air bags or the driver's side seat belt. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. Updated 01/25//12 the passenger was also injured. 03/05/12
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Nissan Sentra. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact crashed the vehicle into a house. The driver and passenger side air bags deployed; however, the contact discovered that the passenger side air bag contained a hole. The contact sustained minor injuries from the air bag deployment, but did not receive medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V287000 (air bags); however, the failure was already experienced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Hi there, I have a 2006 Nissan Sentra 1.8 s and unfortunately I have an single traffic accident on 31 dec, 2009. I skid on the snowy-icy highway and hit the road side barriers about 20-30 MPH. Airbags didn't deployed. I injured my neck. I sent all informations Nissan USA about me, vehicle and accident to and asked why? However, they couldn't give me any reasonable answer. I got final response from Nissan almost 2 months later than accident. They forward me to dealer for airbag diagnosis but it's not free of charge. I have all records about accident and Nissan. Thanks for your considerations...
I have a 2006 Nissan Sentra and involved in a crash. Another driver turned left in front of me. I hit her going approximately 45mph. My front driver's side hit her front driver's side. My air bag did not deploy. At 45mph the air bag should have deployed. I now have neck injuries. There was a little over $2,200 damage to the front of my car and it was not drivable due to the front left tire being pushed almost all the way into the wheel well. I just saw a safety recall for other Nissan's for airbag problems and am wondering if the Sentra's should have been included. Thank-you.
My wife skidded off a freshly graveled road and nose-dived into a ditch frontend first, catapulted the vehicle into a c/clockwise spin and wrapped the vehicle around a tree. The original impact was front end and no airbags deployed. The passenger side was completely crushed hitting the tree with what would appear as a side curtain airbag deployment. On investigation, it appears the air bag was torn out of the center wall (no propellant smell or residue). Had the air bags deployed there would not have been injuries that certainly would not have required med-a-vac. Jpc/sc .
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 2006 Nissan Sentra?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Nissan Sentra, 26% of the model year's 116 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 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 2006 Nissan Sentra airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 0 fires and 16 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.