FaultScore

2016 Nissan Altima airbag problems

70 of the 790 complaints about the 2016 Nissan Altima are about the airbag system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 52,000 miles.

F

70

Complaints

12

Crashes

1

Fires

9

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 69 98.6%
Frontal Impact 1 1.4%

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.

Laurel, MS

AIR BAGS

There is an active recall for the generic 2016 Nissan Altima OCS sensor, but it does not apply to my specific VIN apparently. This sensor is a problem with other vehicles of the same year, make, and model, but I am apparently on the hook for almost $1000 repair cost because the recall did not extend to my VIN. Again, same year, make, model, and issue as other 2016 Nissan Altimas, but the recall did not extend for some reason.

NHTSA complaint #11753769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaverton, OR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Upon impact driver's side and passenger side airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA complaint #11751890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,464 miles Venice, FL

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with curtain air bags failure. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair, and the contact was informed that the cost of the repair would not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 102,464.

NHTSA complaint #11706770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

New Bern, NC

AIR BAGS

I am experiencing an issue with the airbag light on my 2017 Nissan Altima S model, which is showing code B0020. This airbag code indicates a problem with the passenger side airbag system, typically caused by damaged wiring, a malfunctioning seat sensor, or a loose connector beneath the driver's seat. The repair quote from my local Nissan dealership ranges from $1728 to $3500, depending on the faulty components and the labor required for installation. This is a recognized problem for Nissan, and their failure to address it raises significant concerns regarding safety. Currently, I am uncertain about how to proceed with the repair due to the high costs involved.

NHTSA complaint #11689757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westlake, OH

AIR BAGS

Air bag indicator light turns on indicating a failure of the airbag system. I understand this disables this safety system putting all passengers at risk. The dealer advised the issue is caused by the driver seat side airbag wiring failure. From reading other users, this appears to be a common issue due to severe bends of the wiring from the connector to the airbag. To me this is a design failure which normally does not occur. The cost is ~3000 USD to replace the seat back.

NHTSA complaint #11681300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkins Park, PA

AIR BAGS

Water leak...from trunk and sunroof....electrical problems airbag light on and off.....sensor issues i paid out of pocket.

NHTSA complaint #11672125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Argyle, TX

AIR BAGS

The air bag sensor light is on continuously. According to the manual it indicates there is something wrong with our airbag. After reading several comments from individuals this seems to be a problem with many.

NHTSA complaint #11667054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fern Park, FL

AIR BAGS

Airbag light sensor is on in the dashboard

NHTSA complaint #11658929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millersville, MD

AIR BAGS

Air bag sensor light comes on; took to Nissan Glen Burnie MD dealership and believed they rectified the issue (removing debris) and did a reset. Light came back on and took it to Nissan Bowie MD and they could not determine the cause and did a reset. Light came back on and took it to Nissan Bowie MD and B0020-13 code was returned resulting in having to replace seat and sensor (no issue with wiring found). Contacted Nissan after seeing many other complaints for same issue with Altima sensor. No help from Nissan since they don't have it listed for a recall. This represents a major safety issue as my understanding is the air bag is not active when the light is on.

NHTSA complaint #11608746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

AIR BAGS

Accident Description: On August 2024, a 2016 Nissan Altima SL was being driven at a low speed through a residential neighborhood under clear and dry conditions. The ambient temperature was between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Without any prior warning or external impact, the vehicle's airbag system suddenly and unexpectedly deployed. Both the driver and front seat passenger, who were wearing seat belts. Additionally, the vehicle's door locks appeared to malfunction, impeding the passenger's exit. The vehicle has approximately 76,000 miles and is not currently under recall. Component or System Failure: The airbag system, including the airbag modules and potentially the door lock mechanism, malfunctioned. The vehicle is currently undergoing inspection by the insurance company and will be made available for inspection by NHTSA upon request. Safety Risk: The unexpected deployment of the airbags while the vehicle was at a low speed posed a significant safety risk to the occupants. The injuries sustained, including neck, shoulder, and back pain, demonstrate the potential for serious harm. Furthermore, the malfunctioning door locks hindered passenger egress and could have exacerbated the situation in a more severe accident such as if this would have happened on an expressway or highway at a high rate of speed with other vehicles involved, this would have been a deadly accident. Reproduction or Confirmation: The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center yet. Inspections: The vehicle is currently scheduled to undergoing inspection by the insurance company. No inspections by the manufacturer, police, or other parties have been conducted yet. Warning Signs: No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating an issue with the airbag system was observed prior to the incident.

NHTSA complaint #11607780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wauwatosa, WI

AIR BAGS

Air bag light is on and occupant classification sensor is malfunctioning. Passenger airbag will not deploy in the event of an accident.

NHTSA complaint #11595378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Augusta, GA

AIR BAGS

My airs bags lights on it won’t go off The contact is hoping for a recall relating to this issue or defect.

NHTSA complaint #11556940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saugus, MA

AIR BAGS

air bag light stays on error code B0020-13 they repaired occupancy sensor drivers side at a cost of $310.00 light went off came back on next day took it back to nissan they reset it again they said they would reach out to nissan so the light next day come back on

NHTSA complaint #11547556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

AIR BAGS

I have a 2016 Nissan Altima S. The airbag light is on without accident. I went four times to the Nissan dealer to fix the problem. They just told me it was a past code (B0020-13), cleared it the first three times, and told me the problem was on the driver-side airbag. But after a few months, the airbag light was still on again. I was told the problem was on the passenger side the last time. Ask me to replace the airbag module and seat back; the parts cost $3110, and the labor is $2600. It is ridiculous... The airbag is the car safety system; the parts have never been used before, so it should be okay if there is no accident.

NHTSA complaint #11540643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Sanger, TX

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the air bag warning illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the air bag sensor module in the seat. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11539306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverbank, CA

AIR BAGS

Air bag light is on. Was told at Nissan dealing I need to have a module replaced in the driver seat for $2,300.

NHTSA complaint #11537230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelby, NC

AIR BAGS

The airbag light will. Not go off

NHTSA complaint #11533815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, GA

AIR BAGS

My air bag light is on and will not go out. I have not been in a accident and I am aware of the previous recall on the air bags back in 2016. I tried to have the Nissan dealership in Lithia Springs, GA check on the issue, but they stated they would have to keep the car for at least 3 days to be able to review the problem. I am unable to be without my vehicle for 3+ days for a known issue with the air bags on these cars. My current mileage is around 86,000. I estimate the airbag warning light came on around 75,000. I can't afford to correct this manufacturer defect that could possibly cost my life in an accident if Nissan doesn't fix this soon. I see so many reports of this problem on the nhtsa website, but still no recall has been issued since the original one in 2016. I guess I or my family will just have to sue Nissan if I end up in a accident and the airbags don't deploy. This is really scary how many people are having the same issue with these cars that were under the original recall. It is clear that this is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed ASAP.

NHTSA complaint #11515305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hudson Falls, NY

AIR BAGS

Based on the air bag warning light showing on my 2016 Nissan Altima I had Lia Nissan of Glens Falls, NY conduct a diagnostic inspection to determine the cause the noted warning light problem on February 22,2023. The technician determined that the air bag system in the back of the passenger seat was not functioning properly with a related code B0020-13 side a/b ih (open). To correct this problem, module i/f seat back, part #87650-phs7a, needed to be replaced at a cost of $2128. The noted part is the entire back side of the passenger seat where the air bag is housed. They also informed me that unless the needed repair was done, the entire air bag system throughout the car would not function, thus creating a major safety hazard. Upon further investigation, I discovered there is a NHTSA recall, #16V244000 dated 2016-04-25, Air Bag: Sensor: Occupant Classification. This recall notice directly relates to problems with the functioning of the front passenger [OCS] air bag system. Noting the potential for non-deployment of the frontal air bag and risk of injury. Upon my contacting Nissan USA and the above noted dealer, they claim no recall exists. The above noted NHTSA recall noted does reflect a clear correlation between my existing air bag system malfunction and the recall mandate for Nissan to address. Instead, they simply claim there is no recall on this vehicle, of which, I strongly disagree. In the meantime, all passengers in my vehicle are at risk. Since there have been no accidents or issues that I have created, it appears very clear that this is a safety equipment problem which Nissan is responsible for and has already been directed to address based the NHSTA recall. It would be appreciated if this matter is addressed since no action by Nissan is forthcoming.

NHTSA complaint #11508532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lunenburg, MA

AIR BAGS

The "Airbag off" light often illuminates when a 130lb adult is sitting in the passenger seat. I assume this means the airbag is disabled, a severe issue.

NHTSA complaint #11508378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lithonia, GA

AIR BAGS

My airbag light is on. It just came on one day. (No accident or anything else to cause this to happen) I checked to see if a recall was on my vehicle but it was not. There are other Nissan Altima"s that have a recall for this reason.

NHTSA complaint #11499630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lithonia, GA

AIR BAGS

The light for airbags stays on. It has been on for about two weeks. I see there is a recall call for this problem but it is not coming up with a recall for my vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11484941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sanger, TX

AIR BAGS

About a month ago my driver side airbag indicator light came on. I called the dealership and they said there were no recalls on my airbag nor had any airbag been repaired. I took my vehicle to an independent mechanic and he told me that the module was disconnected from the airbag and he reconnected it and reset the module and the light indicator went off. Yesterday, the airbag indicator light came on again. It came off and on several times yesterday and this morning. I was told by the private mechanic that when the airbag indicator light is on the airbag will not deploy. Is my vehicle under the Takata airbag recall even though my dealership says no?

NHTSA complaint #11481251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD Crash

AIR BAGS

car was in a accedent the air bags did not deploy

NHTSA complaint #11479975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 74,000 miles Payson, UT

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while sitting in the driver's side front seat, the air bag light failed to detect occupancy and was not illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a faulty air bag sensor. The contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA complaint #11470617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ringwood, NJ Crash 5 injured

AIR BAGS

As we were getting the highway the breaks had failed and then we some were able to get off the highway but the steering wheel cruise control decided it was gonna work by itself it was a very accident. And not only that my identity has been affected so bad because of the situation with mission and the dealership that I’m unable to use my name for anything anymore my credits ruined and now they want 18 grand for me to pay off the vehicle that’s they purposely made the car look like a rebuild so it was no longer covered I guess because the person set up the insurance with Geico and actually some how have me insurance in my father dl number and later on start changing stuff removing the insurance forging documents My name is [XXX] Email is [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11464601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 73,547 miles San Angelo, TX

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:FRONTAL IMPACT

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag sensor light illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle but was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer cleared and reset the air bag sensor however, after several months the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced; however, due to the cost for the repair the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,547.

NHTSA complaint #11450802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burke, VA

AIR BAGS

Airbag light came on dashboard all of a sudden there was recall before with airbag I called Nissan is doing nothing that issue thanks please help

NHTSA complaint #11448407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Magnolia, TX

AIR BAGS

For the past two years I have been experiencing dim headlights. I have had them change twice and still cannot see 5 feet ahead of me. I was unaware that this could be a common problem with this model. Also, the passenger air light stays on even when no one is sitting in the seat. this problem started about six months ago. Now I think the transmission maybe starting to slip.

NHTSA complaint #11435797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

AIR BAGS

Transmission seems to get stuck and not want to move at times. Airbag light on dash and some times shows pass air bag light off when there is a passenger in the seat.

NHTSA complaint #11435629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2016 Nissan Altima problems

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