FaultScore

1993 Nissan Altima airbag problems

21 of the 150 complaints about the 1993 Nissan Altima are about the airbag system — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 99,000 miles.

F

21

Complaints

15

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 16 76.2%
AIR Bags 3 14.3%
Sensor/Control Module 2 9.5%

Airbags across every Nissan Altima year

1993 21 1.1%
1994 42 2.2%
1995 61 3.1%
1996 38 1.9%
1997 37 1.9%
1998 15 0.8%
1999 13 0.7%
2000 14 0.7%
2001 16 0.8%
2002 35 1.8%
2003 29 1.5%
2004 11 0.6%
2005 49 2.5%
2006 43 2.2%
2007 64 3.3%
2008 147 7.5%
2009 92 4.7%
2010 61 3.1%
2011 21 1.1%
2012 57 2.9%
2013 513 26.3%
2014 208 10.7%
2015 175 9.0%
2016 70 3.6%
2017 72 3.7%
2018 36 1.8%
2019 11 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 99,000 miles Point Roberts, WA Crash

AIR BAGS

1993 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED. BODY SHOP & INSURANCE ESTIMATOR INDICATE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE PARKED ALTIMA WAS TRAVELING FASTER THAN 35 MPH. THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS (SEATBELTS) FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE, AND THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. THE ALTIMA WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE QUARTER PANEL/BUMPER - AREA SURROUNDING FUEL CAP. ODDLY ENOUGH, AFTER THE BODY WORK WAS COMPLETED, THE MERCURY SWITCH THAT IS DESIGNED TO LOCK THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS IN PLACE DURING A CRASH HAD BEEN TRIPPED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER. WHEN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UPON PICKING UP THE ALTIMA I NOTICED A RED AIRBAG LIGHT SOLIDLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS CONDITION THAT DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO THEIR REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SENSOR IN THE TRUNK, THEY INVESTIGATED. THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF, BUT INDICATED THAT THE "AIRBAG CONTROLLER CARD (ACC)" ESSENTIALLY A CIRCUIT BOARD WAS FAULTY - OR WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY UNLESS I REPLACED IT. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THE REASON IT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY WAS BECAUSE THE "ACC" WAS NOT SEALED AND AS A RESULT WAS PRONE TO TOTAL FAILURE ON A VERY HOT OR COLD DAY. THE MANAGER INDICATED FURTHER THAT WHEN HE HAD BEEN A MECHANIC HE HAD SEEN MANY ALTIMA'S, SENTRA'S AND A FEW OTHER MODELS THAT USED THE SAME VERSION "ACC" AND THAT NISSAN HAD BEEN REPLACING THEM ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. HOWEVER, THEY CHOSE TO TELL ME THAT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY OR EVEN OUTSIDE WARRANTY DESPITE IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PART, AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS PART HAVING A HISTORY OF FAILURE. I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT IF MY AIRBAG IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT THE HARD WAY.

NHTSA complaint #10037008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upland, CA

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8015060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Francisco, CA

AIR BAGS

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR QUARTER PANEL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO WHILE AT BODY SHOP SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS DAMAGED, DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT SENSOR, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. *AK

NHTSA complaint #898665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Emporia, VA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT & AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, FILLING VEHICLE WITH SMOKE. VEHICLE SEEMED LIKE BEING ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF FUMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY NEVER HEARD OF AIRBAGS EMITTING SUCH A VAST AMOUNT OF SMOKE. ALSO, MOTORIZED SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED. CONUSMER HAD HARD TIME TRYING TO GET IT OUT.

NHTSA complaint #861926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicopee, MA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE IS A BAD AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR ON THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT'S WHY THE LIGHT IS ON. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #849948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA complaint #831124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coram, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER WHEN A VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER, REAR ENDED AND TOTALLED HER VEHICLE (NISSAN). THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS FRACTURED RIB CAGE .

NHTSA complaint #823105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colorado Springs, CO Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH HAD A HEAD-ON FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #822910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHLE DRIVING 25MPH AND GOING OVER A SPEED BUMB THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A FRONTAL IMPACT, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. NO PRIOR PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PBOBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #822520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tamarac, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

WHILE DRIVNG ALONG THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY THE DEALER. ON JAN 26, 1998 THE AIR WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AGAIN. THE DEALER WILL BE CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED IN ALMOST A 2 MONTH PERIOD.

NHTSA complaint #820897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT Worth, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH, WHEN WINDOWS FOGGED UP & SUN IN FACE; STARTED TO PROCEED TO SIDE OF ROAD TO CLEAR WINDOW., WHEN VEHICLE REARENDED A SEMI; UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT OF VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #818632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penn YAN, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WANTS TO DEACTIVATE AIR BAG DUE TO HER SHORT STATURE AND FEAR OF INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #517233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, WHILE AT COMPLETE STOP WITH NO IMPACT INVOLVED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #810520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winthrop, MA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION THERE WAS PARTIAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, THERE WAS NO FRONTAL COLLISION INVOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #982690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delano, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE SEAT DID NOT LOCK. TT

NHTSA complaint #978140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delano, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE SEAT DID NOT LOCK. TT

NHTSA complaint #978140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Concord, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY-MINOR INJURY WAS SUSTAINED TO CONSUMER. TT

NHTSA complaint #978104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Concord, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY-MINOR INJURY WAS SUSTAINED TO CONSUMER. TT

NHTSA complaint #978104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maples, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INJURED THE DRIVER'S ELBOW. TT

NHTSA complaint #976077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plant City, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP DURING FRONTAL COLLISION; RAN RED LIGHT, BROADSIDED ANOTHER MOVING VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA complaint #972907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Godfrey, 00 Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #489697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1993 Nissan Altima problems

← Full 1993 Nissan Altima report