22 complaints reported

2002 Nissan Altima Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
22
Crashes
11
Fires
0
Injuries
6

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Sep 2013 Crash Injury

I WAS AT A LIGHT PROCEEDING TO GO AND A VEHICLE DID NOT YIELD TO TURN AND SHE SLAMMED RIGHT INTO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AT 50 MPH, MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD .IM GLAD I HAD MY SEATBELT .THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE WAS BROKEN BY MY HEAD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2013
Feb 2012 Crash Injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA.WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. DURING THE CRASH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2012
Sep 2009

MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUE FOR 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS. ONE WAS RECALL #69520 ON APRIL 17, 2002, FOR WHICH NISSAN DID SEND ME A RECALL NOTICE. THE OTHER WAS RECALL #44046 ON FEBRUARY 27, 2003, FOR WHICH I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY NISSAN. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2009, THEY STUDIED MY CASE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 AND ADVISED ME THAT RECALL #44046 DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN AND THAT I WAS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, IN EXCESS OF $2,000. GIVEN THAT MY DAUGHTER WILL SOON BE DRIVING THE CAR, I FEEL I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR, AT MY OWN COST. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS TO ME THAT THE RECALL #44046 DESCRIBES MY AIRBAG PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT COVER MY SPECIFIC VIN. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2009
Aug 2009

NISSAN RECALL ON FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. SHORTAGE THAT WOULD PREVENT AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CONTACT NISSAN MY VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2008
Mar 2008

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAYS CODES POINT TO SPIRAL CABLE OR AIR BAG UNIT BUT CAN'T SAY FOR SURE WHICH CAUSED ONE LIGHT TO COME ON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2006
Dec 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT DURING DIAGNOSIS THE CODE WAS B1057. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE. THERE WAS RECALL 02I001000 FOR THE CONNECTORS RELATED TO THAT CODE. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE AIR BAG APART, AND STATED THE CONNECTORS WERE NOT THE FAILURE, THE MODULE WAS THE FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 PREVIOUS RECALLS, CAMPAIGN#02I001000, DATED APRIL 16, 2002, AND RECALL CAMPAIGN#03V061000, DATED FEB 21, 2003 FOR BAGS FRONTAL DRIVER SIDE INFLATER AIR MODULE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO CALLED THE NISSAN ALTIMA NATIONAL DIVISION, AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT THE REPAIR IF A COLLISION OCCURRED. THE ABS LIGHT WAS RESET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 72500. *AK THE AIR BAG WAS ON BACK ORDER. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2007
Dec 2006

TURNED ON CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. AIR BAG MODULE AND SWIRL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT $1500.00. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2006
Oct 2006

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING, SO A BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE SENSOR AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK IN A CRASH. AT THE TIME I WAS PURCHASING THE CAR THE SAME AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING DURING OUR TEST DRIVE OF THE CAR. THE DEALER CHECKED INTO THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHT AND RESET THE MODULE BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS STOPPED THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHT FROM FLASHING. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. THE DEALER RESET THE MODULE A SECOND TIME. ON MY LAST VISIT FOR THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHING ON 9/29/2006 THE DEALER SAID THE MODULE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESET AND THAT IT HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,100.00 PARTS/LABOR. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 59,000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS 79,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL R3001. I AM CONCERNED THE FLASHING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATED A PROBLEM EARLY ON, IT NEEDED TO BE RESET TWICE BEFORE IT FINALLY FAILED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2006
Jul 2006

I NOTICED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED BLINKING FOR NO REASON. I PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM NISSAN WORLD,SPRING FIELD NJ STATING THERE WAS A RECALL OUT ON MY CAR. I WENT ON LINE AND CHECKED WWW.NISSANUSA.COM WEBSITE TO SEE IF I CAN IDENTIFY IF MY CAR WAS AFFECTED. I SAW A NOTICE ON THE SAME 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AIR BAG CONNECTOR CLIP CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO BLINK ON AND OFF WHICH IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. AS NOTED BY NISSAN, I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS OUT FOR MY VEHICLE (MY VIN). JUST BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE APPROXIMATED RANGE AS POSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE, I SEE NO REASON WHY A COMPANY SUCH AS NISSAN WILL NOT RE-COMPENSATE ME FOR THE COST TO REPAIR THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED ON THEIR WEBSITE. I DO HOPE NISSAN USA CAN RE-EVALUATE THIS AIR BAG ISSUE SINCE IT DEFINITELY NOT LIMITED TO THE VIN RANGE AS POSTED. ALL IT REQUIRE IS A MINIMAL COST OF REPAIRING A CONNECTOR CLIP. THIS SMALL DUTY WILL AND CAN PROVE TO SAVE LIVES. NISSAN SHOULD EXTEND THE POSTED RECALL TO ALL 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS, AND COMPENSATE THOSE OF US WHO HAD TO PAY FOR THE SAID PROBLEM THEY CLAIM TO AFFECT THE SELECTED FEW. THANK YOU. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2006
Jun 2006

I HAD A SMALL INCIDENT WHERE SOMEBODY DAMAGED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC PLACE. I GOT BODY WORK DONE AFTER ABOUT 15 DAYS (NO PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG UNTIL NOW) AND WHEN I TOOK THE DELIVERY OF THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE BODY SHOP AND THEY WERE CLUELESS. NEVERTHELESS THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE IT A NISSAN DEALER TO GET IT INSPECTED. NISSAN DEALERSHIP CHARGED $110 AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AGAIN AFTER 2 DAYS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CABLES ARE SHORTED AND IT WILL COST $1170 TO REPLACE THE SPIRAL CABLE. I DO NOT THINK THE AIRBAG ISSUE IS GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH INCIDENT I HAD. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE SO WEAK TO CAUSE THIS KIND OF ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY PUT ME AT RISK EVERYDAY NOT KNOWING IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FOR NISSAN ALTIMA 2002, BUT THAT DOES NOT MATCH THE VIN NUMBER OF MY CAR. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY TELL ME IT IS NOT RELATED. REGARDLESS WHETHER IT IS RELATED OR NOT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD FIX IT FREE OF COST. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2006
Oct 2005

DT: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SENSOR FAILED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON BEFORE THIS. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SHE WAS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT, AND HER 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS NOT HURT. ALSO, THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE NOT INJURED. *AK *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2005
Aug 2005

WITHOUT NOTICE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER & THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $80+ TAX TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I JUST HAPPENED TO CHECK FOR RECALLS AND THE RECALL HAS STATED THAT MY ISSUE IS DUE TO A DEFECT AND IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED NISSAN WHO, OF COURSE, IS NO HELP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT A PART OF THAT RECALL. THEY COULDN'T EVEN TELL ME WHERE MY RECALLS WERE EVEN REPAIRED. I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD LET THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS & ADVISE ANYONE YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH NOT TO BUY A NISSAN. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!! *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN NISSAN, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2005
Jul 2005 Crash

DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED TWO ACCIDENTS IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02I001000; AIR BAGS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. NOW, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN. THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2005
Jun 2004 Crash Injury

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE VEHICLE NOSED DIVED INTO A DITCH AND LANDED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS PINNED IN THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *SC *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2004
Apr 2004

THE DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR THE VEHICLE'S RECALL (RECALL NO. 03V061000) REGARDING ON DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS INFLATOR MODULE. DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED FIRST. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA *SC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2004
Jan 2004 Crash Injury

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS HIT GOING ABOUT 35 MPH IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CORNER AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2003
Jul 2003 Crash Injury

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH. VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2003
Jun 2003 Crash

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL ,AND HIT A TREE. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Jun 2003 Crash

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE IMPACT WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH , THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DID.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2003
Jun 2002 Crash

ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THAT VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR AT ABOUT 15 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2002
May 2002 Crash Injury

IN A SIDE COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES.*AK.*JG

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2002
Jan 2002 Crash

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2002

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2002 Nissan Altima has 22 Air Bags complaints on file. 11 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.