796 of the 8,300 complaints filed about the Nissan Sentra are about the airbag system — 10% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2013.
796
Complaints
10%
Share of all complaints
330
Crashes
5
Fires
AIR BAGS
Was going down some s curves when the car started trying to turn me to the left when I needed to go right. I started trying to correct it but I had no control of the steering wheel. The car then immediately accelerated which in turn made me flip end over end 3 times . My air bag didn't deploy and my seat belt let me fly out the seat and bounce around the car
NHTSA complaint #11756363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
My car was legally parked on the street near my apartment, and was hit about a month ago that left my car totaled and my trunk completely crushed in, and the back seat caved in. My car was then hit a 2nd time two weeks ago, from the back, and both times, my car ricocheted and hit the car parked in front of mine. Both times. Police said first driver had to be going at least 80 to 90 mph, and would definitely killer someone if anyone was sitting in my back seat. 2nd car was going just as fast. Not as much damage to his front fender and minor side damage, but his air bag deployed. Why did my Nissan Sentra not deploy ANY airbags for EITHER of those accidents? Luckily I was not in or driving the car. But my safety all the other times I was driving?! Unacceptable. The air bag lights were working and on too. I no longer have the car since it has been towed away to a salvage yard. I only have pictures and videos of the damage with no airbag in sight. I bought the car in 2020 at Gardena Nissan, which is later found out and realized they gave me the wrong car fax report for my car, I think intentionally. I only have the accepted police report from 2nd accident. I’m still waiting for the 1st accident police report with the case number listed below on this form. I had to request by mail since it involved a criminal case now. Is been a few weeks now and I’m still waiting for them to mail it to me per my request. But there is still an ongoing court case going on against the 1st suspect.
NHTSA complaint #11750871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the front passenger's side air bag warning light remained illuminated while the front passenger's seat was occupied. The contact stated that the dealer had previously repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS), and the contact was provided a letter stating that the vehicle was eligible for additional repairs for 15 years. The manufacturer was contacted, a case was filed, and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who failed to honor the letter and provided an estimate for the diagnostic test, and the contact declined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer then closed the case. The failure mileage was approximately 16,050.
NHTSA complaint #11746802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
The contact called regarding the ownership of the 2002 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V008000 (Air Bags); and would like the address to be removed from the vehicle recall distribution list because the vehicle owner does not live at the contact’s address. The manufacturer was contacted.
NHTSA complaint #11720117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I am reporting a failed remedy for Recall R1608 (Occupant Classification System). My 2013 Nissan Sentra was serviced at Nissan of Van Nuys for this recall. Despite the dealership marking the recall as completed, the safety defect persists. Specifically, the passenger seatbelt warning light remains illuminated when the passenger seat is empty, indicating the OCS sensor is incorrectly classifying seat occupancy. This malfunction directly impacts the vehicle's ability to correctly deploy or withhold airbags in a collision. The dealership refused to re-evaluate the failed repair without legal representation. Furthermore, the Multi-Point Inspection provided during this safety recall visit was falsified; a technician hand-wrote a failing brake measurement of '3mm,' yet the Service Advisor marked the system as 'Green/Safe' on the final document. This documentation fraud makes their certification of the recall repair unreliable. They have since refused to re-inspect the safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11708671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
When a passenger sits in the passenger seat it doesn't register them in the seat and doesn't turn passenger airbag on. It always stays off and my air bag light on the dash never turns off. It's been like that since I bought the car in May of 2025. So any additional details are unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11708284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
While reverse parking into a single parking space at my apartment complex, the driver-side airbag deployed unexpectedly without any collision or impact. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was moving at a low speed and there were no warning lights, messages, or alerts prior to the airbag deployment. The airbag deployment struck me in the face and right arm, creating an immediate risk of injury. Following the deployment, the vehicle became non-drivable. The vehicle would not accelerate and would not move forward or in reverse when the accelerator pedal was pressed, indicating a possible electronic or powertrain safety system failure. There were no prior incidents, accidents, or modifications to the vehicle before this event. The vehicle was operating normally immediately prior to the airbag deployment. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning. The vehicle and deployed airbag are available for inspection upon request. At the time of this report, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer. Inspection by insurance and/or authorized service personnel is pending. This unexpected airbag deployment and subsequent loss of vehicle control posed a serious safety risk, both due to the physical injury caused by the airbag and the sudden inability to operate the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11705725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I rear ended another vehicle and my airbags did not deploy.
NHTSA complaint #11703717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic, the vehicle was diagnosed computer system failure, causing the vehicle to fail to start. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V287000 (Air Bags), which was associated with the VIN. The manufacturer had the vehicle towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The dealer notified the manufacturer that the contact had refused to pay for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11696056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
The vehicle sustained major damage in a collision totaling the vehicle and no airbags deployed
NHTSA complaint #11681684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
My wife who was driving had stopped at a pedestrian crosswalk behind another car that had stopped to allow people to cross. While we were stopped a GMC truck plowed into the rear of our car at a high rate of speed. Police, fire, and an ambulance were called to the seen. The occupant driving the truck was ticked for driving to close and taking his eyes off the road. My wife and I suffered injuries because the airbags did not deploy. She had a leg contusion, arm, neck, back, injuries whiplash, and an erratic heart rhythm. I suffered a mild concussion from hitting the windshield causing a severe nose bleed and whiplash. We spent 4 hrs. in the Middlesex ER in Westbrook CT. I was given a CATSCAN and my wife two EKGs. We are both scheduled for follow-up visits with our primary care Doctors as well as Physical Rehab Therapy. The driver of the GMC had coverage and at present my car is at Grossman's Auto Body Repair located in Old Saybrook, CT. They are waiting for the appraiser from U.S.S.A insurance to arrive.
NHTSA complaint #11677097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
My wife was rear ended and side collision accident. She was injured with side airbags both arm was severely cut. The steering airbag did not deploy as a result she had head injury and the upper teeth was push up when her head hit the steering wheel. She had to be pry out with a Crowbar tool.
NHTSA complaint #11675400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
On [XXX] I was driving my 2015 Nissan Sentra S (manual transmission) in Los Angeles, CA. While traveling at a moderate speed on a city street, another vehicle crossed into my lane, resulting in a direct, head-on collision. The impact caused severe damage to the entire front end of my vehicle: the hood crumpled, the front bumper and grille detached, and internal components such as the radiator support and crash bar were visibly deformed. The damage was so extensive that vehicle two’s (at-fault driver’s) insurance company declared the car a total loss. Despite the severity of the frontal impact, none of the airbags deployed. This was unexpected, as the collision was strong enough to stop both vehicles instantly—pushing my vehicle backwards until both vehicles came to a halt, resulting in significant structural deformation. There were no warning lamps, error messages, or previous issues with the airbag system prior to the accident. Photographs and video footage of the incident are available. As a direct result of the airbag non-deployment, my head and jaw made contact with the steering wheel, causing chest, jaw, neck, back, and shoulder pain, as well as severe headaches. After the accident, the vehicle was inspected by vehicle two’s insurance company and reviewed by Nissan’s Incident Investigation Specialist, Dakota McGregor. Nissan denied my claim for non-deployment of airbags verbally via landline. Nissan’s specialist, Dakota McGregor, refused to provide written documentation, technical justification, or a written denial of my claim, despite my requests. Furthermore, the specialist did not provide or disclose the threshold for airbag deployment in this vehicle, and no crash data or event data was collected or reviewed from the vehicle’s onboard computer. As a result, I am unable to determine the exact cause of the airbag system’s failure to deploy. I am filing this complaint because I believe this incident represents a potential safety defect with the air INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO
NHTSA complaint #11670434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
On 6/22/25, I was in a side-impact collision while turning into a gas station. A driver waved me through, but another car came rushing through the outer lane and hit the front passenger side of my 2014 Nissan Sentra. The impact caused serious damage, but none of the airbags deployed. There were no warning lights before or after. My hip hit the emergency brake during the collision. I felt okay at first, but I’m starting to notice some discomfort now. I also have scoliosis, which makes even small impacts something I have to watch closely. My VIN shows no recalls, but I’ve found this model has had known airbag issues. I’m reporting this as a serious safety failure. If this had happened at higher speeds, it could’ve been fatal.
NHTSA complaint #11668512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
On [XXX], my 2018 Nissan Sentra was involved in a severe accident on [XXX] in Maryland. Despite the high-impact nature of the collision, none of the airbags deployed. The driver’s seat collapsed completely, causing total loss of control, and the seatbelt system applied excessive pressure, restricting movement dangerously. Nissan North America refused to inspect the vehicle and redirected responsibility to the insurance company without addressing the obvious technical failures. Additionally, I have provided video footage and photographs documenting the extent of the damage. My son, the driver, suffered serious physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial loss due to post-accident disability. I respectfully request an immediate investigation into the safety defects of the 2018 Nissan Sentra regarding airbags, seat structure, and seatbelt system. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11657020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I filed a complaint a couple months ago, about my car driving erratic and slipping of gears , jolting, cutting off in traffic etc; Now this complaint is about an accident caused by the jolting of the car which crashed my car into the back of someone else’s… this car is a death trap… Nissan needs to be held responsible for these death trap cars Cvt transmission is its major problem… this season of car was recalled but my car was not…. It was a major recall on these cars I need my transmission repaired by Nissan…. My first complaint was of driving disasters jerking of transmission slipping cutting off in traffic my life’s been in danger since I bought this car now I damaged my car and someone else car do to Nissan’s negligence….Not holding up to repairing their malfunctioning cars….
NHTSA complaint #11652481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
I have been getting recall notices for over 2 years on my 2004 Sentra concerning airbag replacement. I called the number on the recall mailing and was told on multiple occasions that the car was dangerous to operate. I am a [XXX] and was assured that the Nissan recall team offered a mobile repair service and that my repair was in the range of mobile repair service technicians and that a repair tech could be sent to my location. I agreed to the time line that they suggested. I just requested the exact time and date of the repair work. Nissan agree to the repair service arrangements and I thought that I would have the service work done at my location. As time passed the Nissan agent called multiple times assuring me that when a repair unit was available that it would be dispatched to my location to preform the required service. After 2 full years of delays and failed attempts, I am suddenly told that no mobile service repairs are possible in my location. When I asked why I was told the mobile service could be preformed at my location I was subjected to the agent speaking abusive and hostile attitude. The issue has not been resolved as of this date. So I do want to file a compliant and also make the company aware of this situation. Thank for the opportunity to present my concerns. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11648465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
Unknown
NHTSA complaint #11647072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
Airbag light is on
NHTSA complaint #11636042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
incident I would like to report involves the crash of a 2018 Nissan Sentra (VIN: [XXX] ) that occurred on the morning of [XXX], coinciding with [XXX] on [XXX] at the [XXX] location. It is very concerning and puzzling how, in rainy conditions, after the vehicle collided with the highway barrier, the airbag of the Sentra failed to deploy, resulting in the driver’s head hitting the steering wheel and the driver’s neck colliding with the seat. Furthermore, the driver’s seat shifted from its normal position to a horizontal one, making it impossible for the driver to control the car. After two complete spins of the car, it crashed again into the highway barrier from the rear. The failure of the airbag to deploy resulted in severe bruising and pain in the driver’s head, neck, and back. Despite the driver being an athlete with a strong physique, this led to a minimum of one month of being bedridden and unable to work. Additionally, despite undergoing physiotherapy, pain remains in the head and neck area. The car was declared a total loss and could not be repaired after the crash. Do you not think that if the airbag, which is designed for the driver’s safety, does not deploy in such situations, then when will it deploy? If the driver’s seat, in such situations, bends and turns horizontal, depriving the driver of control over the car, how can one drive safely? Aren’t these instances indicative of a malfunction in the vehicle’s safety system? Does this not raise questions about the safety standards and build quality of a brand like Nissan, which is an international company? If the airbags or other safety systems fail to operate in emergency situations, this could jeopardize people’s lives. These safety features are designed to protect drivers and passengers, and it is expected that they function correctly in all circumstances. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11633783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.