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.
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, VACrash
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, TXCrash1 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, NYCrash1 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, COCrash
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, CACrash
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, TXCrash1 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, MACrash
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, CACrash
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, CACrash
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, CACrash1 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, CACrash1 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, FLCrash1 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, FLCrash1 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, 00Crash4 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.