1997 Nissan Pathfinder airbag problems

13 of the 293 complaints about the 1997 Nissan Pathfinder are about the airbag system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 62,615 miles.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 8 61.5%

AIR Bags 5 38.5%

Airbags across every Nissan Pathfinder year

1996 11 2.0%

1997 13 2.4%

1998 10 1.8%

1999 12 2.2%

2003 14 2.5%

2004 11 2.0%

2005 23 4.2%

2006 15 2.7%

2007 23 4.2%

2008 41 7.4%

2009 11 2.0%

2010 11 2.0%

2011 12 2.2%

2013 178 32.3%

2014 93 16.9%

2015 55 10.0%

2016 18 3.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Filed 23 Dec 2011 Salinas, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

THIS WAS A MULTICAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE PATHFINDER DRIVEN BY MY SON. THE PATHFINDER WAS STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER CAR (A PRIUS) AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE PATHFINDER WAS REAR-ENDED BY A SUV AT FULL SPEED (NO ATTEMPT TO BRAKE). THE SHOCK FROM BEHIND WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE PATHFINDER HIT THE PRIUS, CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE PATHFINDER (BUMPER, GRILL, ENGINE HOOD, RADIATOR, ETC.) AND THE REAR OF THE PRIUS. THE INSURANCE DECLARED THE PATHFINDER A TOTAL LOSS. DESPITE MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE BACK AND FRONT OF THE PATHFINDER, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED! LUCKILY FOR MY SON, THE SEAT-BELT DID ITS WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10441115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Oct 2005 Cincinnati, OH

AIR BAGS

#1 AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHING - CAR 7 YEARS OLD- MANUAL SAYS CHECK AT 10 YEARS -NISSAN CHARGED $80.00 TO CHECK- TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $750.00 TO FIX- I REFUSED- LIGHT IS OFF SINCE THEY CHECKED IT- WAS TOLD IT WILL COME BACK ON-AIRBAG IS SUPPOSED TO WORK WHILE LIGHT IS OFF -#2 ALSO CORROSION-SUPPORT BAR FELL OFF -DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10139016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Oct 2004 at 62,615 miles Quail Valley, CA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHICH RENDERED THE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10095261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Jun 2004 Fairfax, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TRAVELING 20-30MPH, REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR - SIDE PANEL WHERE THE SEAT BELT DISAPPEARS INTO BROKE APART FROM THE SIDE FRAME CAUSING ME TO COME WITHIN 5 TO 6" OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND A BRUISE ON THE BACK OF MY LEFT ARM. I NORMALLY SIT ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 14 INCHES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR - CRUSHED RADIATOR AND BUMPER AND GRILL ASSEMBLY DEMOLISHED; CAR WAS TOTALED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT.

NHTSA complaint #10079008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 26 Jun 2001 Linwood, NC Crash

AIR BAGS

IN ALL EFFORTS TO CONTACT THE NISSAN CO. NOONE WAS INTERESTED IN HEARING MY COMPLAINT. THEY JUST SAID I WASN'T EDUCATED IN WHAT MAKES AN AIRBAG WORK. WITH ALL DO RESPECT I FEEL LIKE A HEAD-ON COLLISSION WITH A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR AN AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY AND IF NOT THEY ARE NOT WHAT SAFETY REGULATORS SAY THEY ARE.

NHTSA complaint #747284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 22 Mar 2001 Alexandria, VA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION ON DRIVER'SSIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #883826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Oct 2000 SAN Jose, CA

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO FIX PROBLEM, CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #873305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Aug 1999 Stone Mountain, GA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #844534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Dec 1998 North Andover, MA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE ANOHTER CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO START, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND THE PASSAGER SIDEALSO DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #832490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 12 Aug 1998 Upper Arli, OH 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT SUFFICIENT CAUSE.

NHTSA complaint #539783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 Jan 1998 Mount Wash, KY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER STRIKING A DEER.

NHTSA complaint #529562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Oct 1997 Brandon, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A COLLISION. DRIVER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #526661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 3 Mar 1997 Strawberry Plains, TN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00, POSITION SPEED 50MPH, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #809585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Exactly what failed

Airbags across every Nissan Pathfinder year

What owners said

Other 1997 Nissan Pathfinder problems