The problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles manufactured June 4, 2012, to April 9, 2016. The front passenger seat belt bracket may become deformed if it is used to secure a Child Restraint System (CRS). The deformed seat bracket may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) to incorrectly classify the installed CRS, resulting in the front passenger air bag to not be turned off as designed when a CRS is in the seat.
The risk
If the frontal passenger air bag deploys in the event of a crash when a child seat is installed in the front passenger seat, there will be an increased risk of injury to the child in the CRS.
The fix
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016. Owners are warned not to install a CRS in the front seat. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 16V-242 (16V242000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| Component | Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification |
| Report date | April 26, 2016 |
| Owners notified | June 13, 2016 |
| Vehicles affected | 645,898 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the air bags
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 16V-242 repair free?
Yes. Nissan dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket as well as reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU), free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2016.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 645,898 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.